Brixton Academy to reopen once it meets safety conditions

Lambeth Council has ruled Brixton Academy can reopen its doors once it has met 77 “extensive and robust” conditions “designed to promote public safety”.

The decision, announced late on Friday (15 September), followed a two-day hearing earlier in the week where the council’s Licencing Sub-Committee heard from representatives of venue operator Academy Music Group (AMG) and the Metropolitan Police.

The council’s Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Mahamed Hashi, said the agreed safety conditions include stronger doors, new crowd management systems, more detailed risk assessments, a new ticketing system, a centralised control and command centre and new security and management.

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These measures were among a series proposed by AMG during the hearing, when it was announced the operators had spent £1.2m in improvements since its forced closure following the fatal crush.

“At the hearing the council’s licensing officers asked that AMG’s initial proposals were greatly strengthened,” Hashi said.

“This was accepted by the operator. In total 77 conditions have been agreed by the subcommittee to allow reopening.”

The venue has been closed since 15 December 2022, when two people died during a crowd crush at a concert.

A separate investigation into whether any criminal offences have been committed remains ongoing and is being led by the Metropolitan Police, who were calling for AMG’s licence to be revoked during last week’s hearing.

'Very grateful'

AMG has said it will reopen through a series of test events. A timeline for reopening will be announced in due course.

A statement from the operators said it is “determined to learn all appropriate lessons from the night of 15 December 2022”.

“Working at a senior level with experts across all disciplines, AMG presented a comprehensive, multi-faceted response for the licensing authorities to support their case for the safe and secure reopening of the venue,” AMG’s statement continues.

“We appreciate having had the opportunity to present these detailed proposals and revised licence conditions at the hearing and we are very grateful they met with the approval of the Licensing Sub-Committee.”

Florence Eshalomi, Labour MP for Vauxhall, where Brixton Academy is situated, released a statement on Twitter stating she welcomed the proposed safety measures.

“Now that the decision has been made, it is now up to AMG to restore trust with the community and demonstrate their commitment to prioritising safety at all future events,” Eshalomi added.

“I will be requesting a meeting with them shortly to seek further reassurances over this.”