A 15,000-capacity ‘superclub’ in north London faces having its licence stripped following drug-related deaths and a stabbing on the premises.
Drumsheds in Tottenham, Enfield is at risk of closure after the Metropolitan Police submitted an application for its licence to be reviewed following a spate of recent serious incidents, including a drug overdose and a reveller attacked with a knife.
Four clubgoers were rushed to hospital on the night of October 12 after having taken drugs at the venue.
A 27-year-old man tragically died and another required urgent care following the incident which was not immediately reported to police.
On another evening, a 29-year-old woman died after taking a drug overdose.
And at another event on Saturday November 16, officers were called to the clubhouse after reports of a man being attacked with a knife. The victim was hospitalised after suffering several lacerations on his body.
A police report said that officers considered closing the venue that night given the venue’s lack of cooperation, but were left unable to do so due to the ‘size of the crowd’ and the ‘lack of resources to do so safely’.
Meanwhile, revellers at an event held at the party space – one of Europe’s largest – earlier this month complained of huge queues, crowd crushes and ‘physical violence’.
Drumsheds in Enfield, north London is facing a review of its licence following a spate of serious incident including a stabbing and several drug-related deaths
Clubbers on December 13 who were left in tears after being made to queue for ‘hours’ say they felt ‘unsafe’ after being ‘crushed’ in the crowds at a popular rave venue over the weekend – and are demanding refunds
On December 7, two clubbers were rushed to hospital after taking drugs on the premises.
A female partygoer allegedly mixed ecstasy in a fizzy drink can in the toilets, before drinking it through a straw. She received medical treatment but passed away ‘a short time later’.
Another clubgoer at the same event was found to have taken a ‘multi-mushroom pill’ before having a seizure in the venue’s medical facility.
He was taken to North Middlesex Hospital in an ambulance, from where he was later released. Police were informed of the incident by the hospital rather than by Drumsheds.
No arrests were made in relation to the drug or stabbing incidents.
A week later, clubbers reported being made to queue for ‘hours’ and felt ‘unsafe’ after being ‘crushed’ in the crowds at the popular party space, which is one of Europe’s largest.
Petitions calling for ‘accountability’ and compensation for the ‘unsafe conditions’ have been set up in the wake of another chaotic event on December 13.
Seasoned revellers who have been to ‘hundreds of raves’ slammed the Drumsheds event as ‘by far the worst they’ve been to’.
‘Highly disappointed at best, unsafe at worst,’ one penned.
Written representations to Enfield Council from clubgoers complained of a lack of toilets, severe overcrowding, queues of up to two hours and reports of people having panic attacks.
One attendee at the December 13 event said they witnessed someone ‘urinating in the queue’.
The venue is one several operated by Broadwick Live, which also owns Printworks in Canada Water and Meridian Water in Enfield. Drumsheds opened on the site of a former Ikea store in March 2023.
In a letter submitted to Enfield Council, the Met Police said the high number of dangerous incidents at the venue in such a short period of time warranted an urgent review of the club’s licence.
The force said that there remained a serious risk of further crime and disorder while the nightclub was allowed to continue to host events.
Its application for licence review said: ‘Given the serious nature of the incidents at Drumsheds, in such a short period of time, I believe that the venue’s licence needs to be suspended. So it can understood why these incidents are taking place, and measures put in place to mitigate them.
‘Keeping the venue open risks similar crimes and incidents taking place and risks the licensing objectives being further undermined.’
Dozens of revellers were left outraged after standing for hours in queues and reports of people having panic attacks and urinating at the venue on December 13
Councillors will consider the venue’s future at a committee meeting on January 7, after agreeing in an emergency meeting on December 12 to allow the party place to continue operating – although no events are currently scheduled at Drumsheds before the review.
Justine Simons OBE, London Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries, said that the company had a record of being ‘proactive’ and taking licencing duties seriously, but added that lessons needed to be ‘swiftly learned’ following the major incidents.
In a letter to the council, she wrote: ‘The safety of Londoners is the Mayor’s number one priority. We were therefore deeply saddened by the reports that a member of the public has tragically died in hospital after attending Drumsheds.
‘Our thoughts are with their family and friends and we are grateful to the Metropolitan Police who continue to investigate this very sad incident.
‘It is now important that lessons are swiftly learned and relevant measures put in place to address these complex challenges.
‘The safety and welfare of the public, including support for vulnerable drug users, is of utmost importance. We encourage all parties to work together to ensure that the venue can remain open and safe for everyone to enjoy.
MailOnline has contacted Drumsheds for comment.
