Labour councillors call for Soho nightclub Madame Jojo’s to be re-opened under new management
Labour councillors have called for legendary nightclub Madame Jojo's to re-opened under new management, after its license was revoked last month following a violent incident.
By closing the iconic club Westminster council would "continue the remorseless process of Soho gentrification". Rather, it should be re-opened by a new owner under the same licensing terms.
The area, once famous for peep shows and late night cafes, has been deluged by expensive restaurants, bars and hotels.
A property on Brewer Street in Soho, which houses the club famous for its burlesque and cabaret shows, costs around £900,000 according to estimates by online property website Zoopla. This has surged by a staggering 50.45 per cent from five years earlier.
The Labour group said that the violent incident was "appalling" and offered full support to the police in their efforts to prosecute those involved.
Westminster Council revoked Madame Jojo's license last month after its security staff used baseball bats to attack assailants who had been throwing glass bottles at them.
Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, leader of the Labour Group, said:
There is precious little left of what made Soho unique. There is no need for more burger bars, pizza places and bland restaurants – there are plenty of these a few minutes away in the rest of the West End.
Madame Jojo’s is a unique part Soho where new and established bands and solo artists play (many established bands played some of their first gigs here).
Its club nights are different and imaginative and it’s one of the only bars with a 3am license every night of week.
Westminster Council should not let Madame Jojo’s die, but should do all it can to keep this unique Soho venue live on under new management.