FOLD has license suspended by Newham council
Newham council has suspended the license to operate of London’s FOLD, the club has announced.
The 600-capacity club, situated on an industrial estate near Canning Town, opened in August last year.
A report published on Newham council’s website cites allegations of fraud following a search warrant conducted on October 22nd “relating to approximately £200,000 worth of material” to two persons believed to be “actively involved in the running and operation of the premises”.
“High value DJ equipment was seized […] as it is believed to have been purchased with fraudulent funds.”
The National Crime Agency is leading the investigation and so far two arrests have been made “on suspicion of conspiracy to commit money laundering”.
One of which is named in the report as Lasha Zhorzholiani, the sole director of Artsintheeast Ltd, which is the license holding company for FOLD.
The 24-hour institution recently hosted Leon Vynehall who played all night long over the weekend, and was gearing up to host Gabber Eleganza and Minimal Violence later this month.
UPDATE (15/11/19): FOLD’s license has been reinstated, according to a post on their Facebook page.
The statement reads:
FOLD is proud to confirm that the licensing suspension has been lifted, with a full licensing hearing to be scheduled in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, our schedule will be resumed as planned.
We at FOLD deny any accusations of wrongdoing or impropriety against us or any individual employee and are assisting with the police’s ongoing investigation.
We could not have achieved this without your ongoing support and the actions of our community in the last 36 hours.
We have proven once again that together we can stand strong in the face of adversity. We would like to thank every single one of you that has supported us in this difficult period; all your efforts and messages have meant the world to us.
Our activities will return with immediate effect, with the same passion, with the same love.
FOLD are confident that the police will conclude that FOLD have not acted improperly, failing which FOLD will fight until the truth is revealed.
See you on the dancefloor.
Doors open from 11pm.
FOLD Team x
