UPDATE: The Groucho Club will reopen in January 2025
A man has been arrested on suspicion of rape amid an investigation into a reported sexual attack at the Groucho Club in central London.
The Metropolitan Police said it had arrested a 34-year-old man at an address in Hertfordshire on Saturday evening and is currently in custody. The inquiry, which has led to the closure of the west end venue, centres on claims a woman was raped inside the Dean Street, Soho club on November 13. The Met said specialist officers are supporting the woman.
At the beginning of this week, a Westminster council licensing hearing decided unequivocally that the Groucho Club’s license would be suspended for as long as 28 days pending a rigorous full hearing. This action follows the police’s clear concerns regarding potential breaches of licensing conditions and the club’s association with serious crime.
The Met has since clarified that no evidence has been found to indicate involvement by the employees of the venue in the alleged rape. The investigation is being led thoroughly by detectives from the Met’s Central West public protection team. The nightclub–which charges up to £1,500 for membership and attracts hordes of celebrities – was shut down at the beginning of the lucrative festive period, underlining how seriously the authorities view the incident.
Elli Jafari, Groucho Club chief executive, told members last Tuesday that the board of directors had promised ‘total transparency’ over its temporary closure, adding that the review of the nightclub’s license is taken “extremely seriously”. The club’s licence has been suspended by agreement with Westminster City Council. We have decided to close the club pending a full hearing before Christmas,” Jafari confirmed. A spokesperson for the council said: ” At the request of the Metropolitan Police and with the agreement of the operator, the council’s licensing subcommittee has taken the clear decision to suspend the Groucho Club’s licence with immediate effect due to its association with serious crime.” This follows reports of serious criminal activity linked to breaches of the premises’ licensing conditions. No further comments will be made while the police investigation continues. Founded in 1985 by an influential committee of publishers and agents, the Groucho Club has been a hotbed for generations of artists, writers, and musicians. Its name pays homage to Groucho Marx, who once said that he wouldn’t want to join any club that would have him as a member.
The developments also bring into sharp focus Artfarm, the hospitality business behind the purchase of Groucho in 2022 for £40m. Its formula blends an eclectic mix of venues that feature art, culture, and high-end hospitality. They are owned by Artfarm, a separate company belonging to the Hauser & Wirth Gallery brand. H&W was founded in 1992 in Zurich by Iwan Wirth, Manuela Wirth and Ursula Hauser, who were joined in 2000 by Partner and President Marc Payot. The company has seen explosive growth recently, including the celebrated Fife Arms Hotel in Scotland and Mount St. Restaurant in Mayfair.
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