A longstanding nightclub in northwest London could be forced to shut down after a nearby shooting left a young man fighting for his life.
Spice Klub in Wembley, also known as VT Club and The Basement, has had its licence suspended by Brent Council.
The Metropolitan Police have applied for a closure order, with the case due to be debated in court this week.
Officers responded to reports of a shooting at 3.45am on Saturday, October 3, on Douglas Avenue, between Wembley Central and Alperton Underground stations.
A 24-year-old man was found with gunshot wounds and was taken to hospital in a critical condition. The victim is understood to still be in hospital but his injuries are no longer thought to be life-threatening.
After the shooting, the Met Police applied to Brent Council for a closure order on Spice Klub, which is situated on the junction of Ealing Road and Douglas Avenue.
Brent Council has suspended the venue’s licence
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Spice Klub appears to be the name of a defunct Indian restaurant, with the last online reviews left more than four years ago.
A basement function room and club space has operated under a number of different names, including The Basement Club. Its entrance appears to be on Douglas Avenue.
Online, a venue linked to the Douglas Avenue address called VT Club and The Basement advertises itself as a premier nightclub with “state-of-the-art sound, electrifying dance floors, and meticulously crafted drinks”.
It has not been stated what connection the club had to the events surrounding the shooting. The Met said it could not comment on the link between the venue and the incident due to an ongoing investigation.
Magistrates opened a closure order hearing regarding the late-night venue but it was adjourned until Tuesday, according to Brent Council. A closure notice remains in force until then.
Separately to the legal proceedings, the council has suspended the venue’s licence with a view to holding a full licensing hearing at a later date.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “Following a shooting in Wembley on Friday, October 3, the Metropolitan Police applied to Brent Council for a closure order and an expedited review of the premises licence for Spice Klub, also known as VT Club and The Basement.
“The closure order was granted, and remains in force until Tuesday, October 20, where the matter will be considered at a further hearing.
“The premises’ licence has also been suspended with immediate effect pending a full review hearing. The hearings will be held in private due to an ongoing criminal investigation.”
A Brent Council spokesman said: “A Metropolitan Police application for an expedited review of the premises licence for Spice Klub (also known as VT Club and The Basement) was heard by Brent Council’s licensing sub-committee on October 15.
“The committee determined that the premises licence should be suspended with immediate effect pending a full review hearing.
“Separately, the magistrates’ court adjourned an application for a closure order to a full hearing on October 20 and directed that the closure notice remain in force until then.
“The premises must therefore remain closed unless otherwise directed by the court. The matter remains subject to ongoing legal and licensing proceedings.”