London club E1 calls for support with licensing application as it’s future “is at risk”

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London club E1 has made an appeal for public support after its licence application for its new outdoor area, Site 5, was contested. 

In a statement shared on its website, E1 has asked punters to email the club at [email protected] and explain why they think approval for Site 5 is important not just for the survival of the club but for the local area in general. 

Site 5 is an outdoor space connected to E1, a new entry to DJ Mag’s Top 100 clubs chart this year,  that is intended to serve as an outdoor social space, aiming to provide a “socially distanced environment for those who [are] ready to interact with friends within the recommended government guidelines.” Site 5 opened in early July with socially distanced seating, bars and music. In its statement the club emphasised the importance of being able to keep Site 5 open for the coming months, “not only to support our team employed on a full-time basis, (as furlough comes to an end), but also to help bring employment support to those who work on a freelance basis for us – our bar staff family, suppliers and beyond.”

Because Site 5’s licence application has been contested by two people, the space is at risk of having to cease operations at the end of August. “Everything is at risk,” the club’s statement reads. “There may soon be no Site 5, no jobs for our staff and further down the line, we may no longer have E1. Nothing is certain.”

For more information on how to help E1 and Site 5 click here. 

Tomorrow, Thursday 6th August, at 7pm we will be streaming a set from Mella Dee, filmed in an empty E1 earlier this summer. Tune into that here.  

Earlier this week, London venues Village Underground and EartH launched a crowdfunding campaign to prevent closure in the wake of COVID-19. 

Photo credit: @haydonperrior