Heaven [Linda Brindley]

HEAVEN nightclub has lost its fight to reopen having been shut down after a woman alleged she was raped by a bouncer.

The club will remain shut until a full licensing hearing takes place next month, Westminster City Council said.

The decision was handed down after a four-and-a-half-hour meeting on Tuesday, which took place after Heaven challenged an interim suspension placed on it.

A lawyer for the council said: “The committee felt that permitting the premises to open without the premises licence- holder working in partnership with police, who still have concerns, would still put members of the public at risk and the committee have a duty to ensure the premises licence-holder is promoting the licensing objective and, in particular, public safety.”

Police wanted the venue, in Villiers Street Charing Cross, to remain shut until a full hearing could take place but also proposed conditions such as reduced hours and capacity at the club should it reopen.

They also called for the club to remain shut for at least 14 days while the measures were implemented.

A police officer told at the meeting she had “grave concerns” about the venue, and added: “I’m not convinced that if the club opened up immediately that people would be safe.”

Jeremy Joseph, the licence-holder, said he was “devastated and shocked” by the alleged incident. He offered to employ extra security and temporarily reduce capacity to 1,600 people from 1,750.

He also promised to discipline security staff, whom he explained were not direct employees of the club.

“No one can work at Heaven if they’re not on our system,” he said. “If they turn up, they will not be allowed to work. We have always treated security as separ­ate employees because they are not employed by us but, as of now, we will be treating them with the same disciplinary procedures internal staff – like bar staff – face.”

Mr Joseph also said he was introducing ID scanners and that security guards would have to report their movements. He said: “We are tackling the issue with increased reporting.

“We should be credited for that and it not used against us,” he added.

• Morenikeji Adewole, from Dartford, has been charged with rape. Also known as Olu Julius or Olusolu Alabi, he has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on December 11.