XXL London closing down: The City Hall Statement

On the 8th of August 2019, the closing date for the London XXL was announced on social media.

Dear valued customers. At this time Southwark Council and the Mayors office have not used any of their powers to prevent the closure of the venue. Our final XXL event at Pulse will be on the 21st September which will also be our 19th Birthday Party. No reasons have been given as to why a diversity impact report was never carried out by Southwark planning, nor why the Mayor could implement changes to allow us to stay to a currently submitted Minor Material Amendment for the development which is sitting on his desk. We were asked to retract all our statements by Native Land , which we will not do. This development is being funded by oversees investors from homophobic countries and they have paid Southwark council 65m. Southwark council are happy to take this money and silently watch the social cleansing of its Borough. We have fought very hard to save your space.

We have decided to contact the Mayor of London for an interview, and we have been forwarded the following statement and background.

A City Hall spokesperson said:XXL Nightclub has been a crucial part of the citys LGBTQ+ night life for almost two decades but faces closure due to a planning decision made by the previous Mayor. The Night Czar Amy Lamé has worked with the club for two years to try to save it from closure, raising the issue with the local council, exploring options for new premises and offering support through the Mayors London Growth Hub.

Following meetings with the Night Czar, the Culture at Risk Office and Southwark Council, the developer has agreed that the planned cultural space in their development will be protected for LGBTQ+ use.

Background

• In May 2017 the club contacted the Mayor about their concerns for the future of XXL. The next day the Night Czar met with the club nights owners and has been working with them for two years to secure the venues future
• Planning permission to redevelop the site was given in 2013 by the previous Mayor, and the developer served an eviction notice on the nightclub on 24 June 2019
• XXL submitted a legal challenge to the developer but lost, and has been told to vacate the site by September 2019

Background on City Hall work to protect Londons LGBTQ+ venues

• The number of venues has remained stable for the last two years, following a 62 per cent decline over the past decade
• The Night Czar, Amy Lamé, set up the LGBTQ+ Venues Forum to help build resilience amongst venues
• The Night Czar and the Mayor’s Culture at Risk Office have worked to protect more than 250 night-time venues at risk of closure, including almost 30 LGBTQ+ venues

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