The Groucho Club, a private members’ club in Soho, London owned by the founders of Hauser & Wirth gallery, has temporarily shut as police investigate allegations of a “serious crime” on its premises.
Westminster City Council said in a statement on Tuesday that the Groucho Club’s licence has been revoked for 28 days after a request from the Metropolitan Police.
“This decision follows reports that a serious crime may have taken place at the premises in circumstances linked to a breach in the premise’s licensing conditions,” a council spokesperson said in a statement. The nature of the crime has not been revealed.
“The allegations are subject to an ongoing police investigation and we cannot comment further at this stage,” the council spokesperson said.
A full hearing will be held by the council’s licensing sub-committee by 24 December, and the club has “cooperated with the committee, acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and accepted the decision to suspend their licence”, according to the council.
Since 2022, the Groucho Club has been majority owned by ArtFarm, a hospitality company established in 2014 by Iwan and Manuela Wirth. ArtFarm bought its stake in the club for a reported £40m. It is run separately to other businesses in ArtFarm’s portfolio, which itself is a separate company to Hauser & Wirth. ArtFarm was approached for comment.
