London's East Village Closed After Police Arrest Two Men Involved With The Club

London-based nightclub East Village has had its license suspended, after police reportedly arrested two men involved with the club this week.

The small club is now closed, and will now have to go through a full license review from Hackney Council - as local police consider it to be ‘associated with serious crime’, Resident Advisor reports.

The Hackney Metropolitan Police Twitter page has confirmed the news, tweeting:

A police application to close East Village Nightclub pending a full licence review has been granted. East Village is closed.

— Hackney MPS (@MPSHackney) June 18, 2013

When asked by another Twitter user what they'd been arrested for, the team replied saying it was a ‘serious crime’, and that it was ‘not appropriate to expand further until the full hearing’ - meaning the club, or at least the men involved, could be in some serious trouble.

Meanwhile, the East Village Facebook page has posted on the matter, saying that the news came as a ‘shock’ and was ‘totally unexpected’ - they wrote:

“The promotions and music team had the shocking and totally unexpected news that East Village's license was suspended this week with a full review pending within a month. Unfortunately we are unable to open this weekend so Player's Ball and The Village on Friday and Sunday respectively have both been cancelled and we apologize to both promoters and fans of the nights for the serious inconvenience caused.”

They’ve since posted another update - this time reading:

“We are still in a bit of shock about it and not really much information to add at present. All those involved in making the club what it is, with great music, artists and parties are completely gutted with the current situation. We hope this is not something that will last a long time for everyones sake, both inside the club and everyone that comes down and makes us special. We will keep everyone up to date with information as and when we can offer it and like I said, we hope to be back in action sooner rather than later!”

Not much else about the closure is known as of yet, so we’ll have to wait and see how the story unfolds. For now, we’ll have to cross our fingers and hope that any crimes remain independent from the club, and that their license review goes positively - we need all the music venues we can get!

DJ and promoter Stuart Patterson, who opened the club back in 2007, has also commented on the news from Spain, where he's currently on holiday. He's said:

"I know lots of people trying to reach me but I'm just heading back from Spain and the rumour mill seems to be in full flow plus genuine concern from friends. So... East Village has had its license suspended which came to me as an absolute shock and is completely unconnected to me so I'm gutted to say the least (please don't ask what it is connected to as its a legal matter now). Thanks for all the many messages of support and apologies for not being able to get back to everyone personally as yet.

"With being away, I am not clear on how this will develop but what I do know is that I have worked with great promoters, the finest DJs I've booked at the venue and to all of you that have come down so many times to party, I can't thank you enough. And to all the great East Village staff, many of whom i've spoken to already, I will be in touch asap. 

"After nearly 6 years of East Village and 4 years of Lodge this is pretty devastating after all the hard work, however over the next few days I am going to concentrate on supporting the promoters with events currently booked at the venue and get ready to play some records, what all of this is about, for a quality event this Saturday, Soultogether, now at Nomad on Old St and would be great to see some of you there. Again thanks for all the support, onwards and sideways."

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