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Soho's The Groucho Club to reopen as authors discuss the club's impact on the industry
The Groucho Club in London’s Soho is set to reopen at midday today (Friday, 10th January), after being closed for more than a month.
The club had its licence suspended by Westminster City Council in late November following allegations that a woman was raped at the venue. A 34-year-old man – believed to be a non-member – was arrested in Hertfordshire on suspicion of rape and has since been bailed, according to the BBC.
The club’s CEO, Elli Jafari, resigned from her role just before Christmas, according to an email sent to members from the club. The email said: "We would like to extend our thanks to her for helping to steer the club through the last couple of months and wish her well for the future."
The club also announced that Simon Cooke will become interim managing director. Cooke most recently served 13 years as managing director of Ronnie Scott’s Club and is a "veteran in hospitality and entertainment management", as well as being a longstanding member of the Groucho Club.
The club also said there would be new sign-in processes and all guests must be pre-registered through the members’ app. Members will still be allowed to bring four guests, but guests will now be issued a QR code to present on arrival at the club, replacing the club’s traditional leather guestbook.
The email added: "We appreciate that this may take some getting used to, but it is important that we follow this process and greatly appreciate your patience and support. There is also a new process for signing in guests for private events which will be provided if you are hosting or attending a private event."
The email ended: "Finally, we would like to reiterate our sincere thanks for all the support you have shown to the club over recent months. It really has meant so much to the team and we look forward to welcoming you back from Friday!"
Westminster Council’s licensing committee reviewed the venue’s licence on 18th December and declared it could reopen today under conditions.
Since the announcement of the reopening, The Bookseller spoke to authors about the Soho institution role in the industry. The Groucho has hosted various book launches, prize events and publisher parties and networking meetings in the past 40 years.
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Helen Lederer, author and founder of Comedy Women in Print (CWIP), told The Bookseller: "I do all my Comedy Women in Print business in Groucho’s [...] I’m very invested in the Groucho Club as the CWIP winner event in November will be held there – it was also where I launched my own memoir last year Not That I’m Bitter Reviews [Mirror Books] and years ago, my early parody book Coping with Helen Lederer [HarperCollins], where I met my first husband."
Lederer added: "There are many good and exciting memories, but also relief that the unique club can now continue and flourish. I’ve been on a WhatsApp group while it was closed – and it is evident that good people want to return there and continue its flame of fun friendliness with work underpinning it.
"I even found myself being the elected spokesperson at the hearing [on 18th December] to explain what Groucho actually did and achieved and its qualities. It was quite surreal."
Dr Seth Alexander Thévoz, author of Behind Closed Doors: The Secret Life of London Private Members’ Clubs (Little, Brown), told The Bookseller of the venue’s impact: "The Groucho Club was absolutely critical in reinventing London private members’ clubs, from their traditional, fusty image into the fashionable phenomenon they are now – and it did that by being a hub for creatives, artists, writers, journalists and publishers."
A Scotland Yard spokesperson said: "New conditions were imposed at a Westminster Council licensing hearing on 18th December. We will continue to work closely with the club."
A spokesperson for Westminster Council said: "Having considered all the evidence presented by Groucho’s management and the Metropolitan Police, the council’s licensing sub-committee has agreed to modify the conditions on the licence and lift the suspension of the club’s licence with immediate effect.
"The committee was satisfied that Groucho’s management had demonstrated significant safety improvements and agreed that sufficient measures are now in place for the venue to operate safely. This decision means that the club will be allowed to reopen."
It is understood that the council’s decision is independent of the ongoing police investigation. The Bookseller has contacted The Groucho Club for comment.
