Fans leave flowers in tribute to Fabric after it's forced to close permanently

Flowers and tributes have been left outside Fabric in London after it was announced the club has been shut down.

The venue, which is one of the best known in the UK, has had its licence permanently revoked by Islington Council because of what it called a "culture of drugs".

It was temporarily closed this year after two teenagers died.

"R.I.P Fabric. You've gone to join the big club in the sky," one of the notes outside the club says.

"A culture. An institution. A club which transcended London," says another.

These are some of the flowers outside the club.

The club has called it "an especially sad day" for those who've supported them, "particularly the 250 staff who will now lose their jobs".

"Closing Fabric is not the answer to the drug-related problems clubs like ours are working to prevent," it says.

It claims the closure sets a "troubling precedent for the future of London's night-time economy".

Others have also questioned how the club's closure will stop people taking drugs.

But a friend of someone who died there (who doesn't want us to name her), thinks closing Fabric will "prevent more deaths".

"It upset me to think it was still open and people were still dying," she told Newsbeat.

"I understand his actions were voluntary but because it wasn't an isolated incident and because the reputation of the club was so drug-related, I'm glad it's closed.

"Hopefully it will show other clubs they need to take more action against drugs."

More than 150,000 people have signed an online petition to save the club.

But Katy B says clubbers have lost "the best club in London".

Joe from Sigma told Newsbeat that Fabric was an "institution" and "a breeding ground for young producers" like them.

"It was a great place for young people to hear exciting and underground music," he said.

He thinks the closure could lead to more illegal raves, where drug taking will be easier.

JME tweeted: "They've taken Fabric from us".

Saul from Chase & Status has also criticised the decision, saying it could limit opportunities for young people.

"For us alone, the history of Fabric is through the roof - let alone other genres and other scenes that have basically been built within those four walls," he says.

"Drum & Bass, Jungle, Grime, Big Beat, you name it, was all birthed in these clubs."

He says it's "madness" that the decision was "left in the hands of people who have no first-hand experience".

DJ Target posted a picture of the club with the message: "Thank you Fabric".

Charlotte also got in touch with Newsbeat. She used to go to Fabric every other month and has never been offered drugs or seen drugs being taken there.

"They even had bouncers in the toilet and sniffer dogs at the door," she said.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan says he's disappointed with the decision too.

He called Fabric "an iconic and essential part of London’s cultural landscape".

He says he had no power to intervene or overturn the decision by Islington's licensing committee and claims it's part of a bigger problem.

"The issues faced by Fabric point to a wider problem of how we protect London's night-life while ensuring it is safe and enjoyable for all," he says.

"Over the last eight years London has lost 50% of its nightclubs and 40% of its live music venues. This decline must stop."

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