Brixton Academy concert hall must meet 77 conditions to reopen, council rules say

Brixton Academy will only be able to reopen once the venue has met 77 “extensive and robust” conditions “designed to promote public safety”, Lambeth Council has said.

The popular south London music venue was closed in December after a crowd gathering outside a show by Afro-pop singer Asake left two people dead.

In a statement on Friday, Mahamed Hashi, Lambeth Council’s cabinet member for safer communities, said the authority’s licensing sub-committee would allow Brixton Academy to reopen “only once it has fulfilled 77 broad and robust new conditions designed to promote public safety.”

The conditions include stronger gates, new crowd management systems, more detailed risk assessments, a new ticketing system, a centralized control and command center and new security and management. In a statement, the venue announced it would reopen with a series of test events.

Dr Hashi said: “They were part of the measures proposed by (owners) AMG (Academy Music Group) during the hearing to support their goal of regaining the venue’s license so it can reopen, and to to ensure that we never see a tragedy like this again. there in December 2022.

“At the hearing, council licensing officers requested that AMG’s initial proposals be significantly strengthened,” he added. “This was accepted by the operator. In total, 77 conditions were agreed by the subcommittee to allow reopening.

“The investigation into whether any criminal offenses have been committed is being led by the Met Police and their work continues. Lambeth Council will do everything in its power to support this police investigation so that there are answers and justice for the families of Rebecca Ikumelo and Gabrielle Hutchinson, who tragically lost their lives at the Academy in December.

One of the victims, Rebecca Ikumelo, died days after the December crush, leaving behind two young sons aged seven and five. The other victim of the crush, Gaby Hutchinson, 23, from Gravesend in Kent, also died from her injuries.

After Friday’s hearing, Academy Music Group (AMG), which owns Brixton Academy, said it was “immensely grateful” to Lambeth Council for its decision to reinstate the venue’s license.

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AMG said the academy would reopen with a series of test events and the reopening schedule would be announced in due course.

The statement added: “We continue to be devastated by the events of last December. Our deepest condolences go to the family and friends of Rebecca Ikumelo and Gaby Hutchinson. What happened was and remains a tragedy and we are determined to ensure that it never happens again.

“Over the past nine months, the importance of the venue to the local community and the UK live music scene has been clearly demonstrated by first-hand professional accounts, campaigns and petitions as well as economic evaluations demonstrating the financial impact on the surrounding region. caused by the closure.

“Academy Music Group is determined to learn all the appropriate lessons from the night of December 15, 2022. Working at a higher level with experts from all disciplines, AMG has presented a comprehensive and multifaceted response to the licensing authorities to support their arguments in favor of security. and secure reopening of the place.

“We appreciate having had the opportunity to present these detailed proposals and revised licensing conditions at the hearing and are very grateful that they have received approval from the Licensing Subcommittee.”