Major London club Cable is to fight last week’s closure by Network Rail through the courts. In a press statement issued on the club’s Facebook page it is stressed that Cable London “tried every means possible to reach a compromise with Network Rail in the hope they would change plans.” Failure to avoid closure has now prompted Cable founder and Director Euan Johnston to seek “a Judicial Review against the entry notice which is yet to be determined.”
Cable London was closed with immediate effect on Wednesday, May 1, when, according to the club, a number of Network Rail workers arrived “equipped with battering rams and angle grinders” in order to gain access. The club confirmed at the time: “It is with a huge amount of sadness that we announce Cable has closed.... We have been forced to close following two years of ongoing legal battles with Network Rail, who took possession of the venue this morning with an entry order, putting us out of business and leaving our 70 staff without jobs. This is due to them allegedly requiring the space back for the redevelopment of London Bridge station. It is an utterly devastating blow to what is a much loved, hugely successful, well respected music venue and media business.”
Cable, which opened in 2009, and has developed a number of highly successful club nights including Jaded and We Fear Silence, has now shelved plans for the launch of a DJ agency, global events division and high-brow compilation series.
Network Rail have responded via a spokesperson: “Unfortunately Cable nightclub occupies one of our arches under London Bridge station that will form part of the rebuilding and modernisation of this critical station that serves some 180,000 passengers a day, and forms the central hub of the £6bn Thameslink upgrade programme. Our plans for the station have long been in the public domain and we gave our tenant two years’ notice of the need to take back possession to enable us to start our work on this essential project.”
Johnston added: “We were assured when we moved in that we would not be affected by the redevelopment and Network Rail have simply changed their minds.” Information on ticket refunds for cancelled events will apparently follow from the club; events were scheduled to feature the likes of DJ Hell and Sandwell District legend Function.
