The O2 Academy Brixton will reopen after its owners agreed to meet 77 “extensive and robust” safety measures in response to a fatal crush at the venue in December.
Academy Music Group (AMG) temporarily lost its licence to run the south London venue after two people died during a gig by the Afrobeats star Asake.
A police investigation is under way to determine how Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, who was attending the concert, and Gaby Hutchinson, 23, a security guard hired for the event, lost their lives.
A third woman, aged 21, who was hurt in the crush remains in hospital in a critical condition.
During a two-day hearing before Lambeth council’s licensing subcommittee this week, Philip Kolvin KC, representing AMG, expressed “deep sorrow” for the families of the victims.
He said his clients had conducted a “root and branch exercise” to determine how to improve safety at the venue.
The subcommittee voted to allow the venue to continue operating – so long as it meets “77 extensive and robust new conditions”. Responding to the decision, Brixton Academy said it was “immensely grateful” to the council and would reopen at first with test events.
AMG would no longer employ AP Security, which has faced criticism for its handling of gigs at Brixton, as well as allegations that guards accepted bribes to admit people without a valid ticket.
Showsec, which manages security at AMG’s 17 other venues across the country, will now manage Brixton, and the minimum number of guards on site at gigs will increase.
The main doors of the venue, which were breached on 15 December as the crowd surged towards the lobby, will also be strengthened.
During the hearing, Gerald Gouriet KC, representing the Metropolitan police, denied reports the force wanted to shut down the venue permanently, but said it did not have confidence in AMG’s ability to run it safely.
Police say they first raised concerns about the weakness of the existing doors with venue management in February 2020.
Kolvin, speaking on behalf of AMG, said the company had “trust in the police” and had “responded immediately with improvements”.
AMG’s case was supported by several local business owners, who say footfall in the area has dropped 19% in the time the venue has been closed.
More than 100,000 people have signed an online petition to “save” the venue.
Speaking on behalf of Lambeth council, Horatio Waller KC said AMG had made the necessary changes.
“We have not shied away from our duty to identify what went wrong and where responsibility lies. This is necessary to ensure lessons can be learned,” he said.
“This is much more comprehensive, prescriptive and controlled than the system that existed on 15 December. The tragedy likely would not have occurred if that system was in place.”
