Rainbow Venues has license revoked, potentially closing down before 2018

Rainbow Venues, located in Birmingham, could potentially shutter its doors ahead of 2018. The possible closure comes after the venue’s license was revoked due to the death of a 19-year-old during 2017’s Halloween event.

The venue has 21 days to appeal the decision handed down by the Birmingham City Council.

Michael Trueman died last month after being rushed to a hospital from the venue. A security guard reportedly saw Trueman emerging from the toilets in a disoriented state and contacted medical assistance. Trueman fell into a drug-induced seizure before arriving to the hospital.

It was the second death at the establishment in less than two years, each traced back to MDMA/ecstasy use within the club by local officials. In 2015, 18-year-old Dylan Booth died following Rainbow’s New Year’s Eve celebration. That resulted in enhanced undercover security and drug-sniffing dogs.

West Midlands Police representative Abdool Rohomon states that no other options are currently at the council’s disposal: “The most stringent measures are in place, yet drugs are still being consumed inside the venue. We have no option but to call for Rainbow’s license to be revoked. This is the second drug related death at the venue in two years and we have evidence that a 15-year-old boy has been admitted to the venue.” The police reported receiving evidence, via Snapchat, that the minor was in the venue “high as a kite”.

Councillor Alex Buchanan, chairman of the committee, echoed the sentiments: “We have a duty to protect public safety. There has been two deaths in less than two years. The most stringent measures in the city have been introduced at the club but only last month there was another death through drugs. The committee has no option but to revoke Rainbow club’s license.”

Rainbow’s legal representative Matthew Phipps emphatically denied (via Birmingham Mail) the police’s allegations, stating no 15-year-old has even been “high” inside the venue. Phipps proposed “installing CCTV inside the toilets” as a compromise to revoking the venue’s license indefinitely.

Cirque De Soul has already cancelled a planned 8th December event. Performances by Bicep, Omar-S, Eats Everything and Nicole Moudaber are anticipated to be cancelled in the near future as well.

Rainbow Venues is currently nominated for the Best Large Club in this year’s Best of British Poll.