Heaven nightclub at risk after landlord 'tries to raise rent by £320,000'

Jeremy Joseph has said landlord The Arch Company, wanted to raise the nightclub’s rent by £320,000
Heaven nightclub is facing large rent increases
Charlotte Alex
Jacob Phillips28 February 2024

The owner of Heaven nightclub has warned the venue is at risk as it battles skyrocketing rents.

Jeremy Joseph has said landlord The Arch Company, wanted to raise the nightclub’s rent by £320,000.

The rent automatically increased by £80,000 in September and now The Arch Company want to increase the figure by another £240,000.

Mr Joseph warned that Heaven was not the only venue that was at risk in a post on Instagram.

He wrote: “We have been fighting [the landlord] for five months and they aren’t willing to back down so it’s going to go to arbitration and has cost us already nearly £10K in legal fees. 

“Watching how so many venues have closed or are struggling because of rent increases, I am going public with this and letting everyone know what we are going through.”

The nightclub owner said the issue has been “extremely stressful” but the fight had just began to put pressure on landlords.

He added: “This isn’t just about Heaven, this is about every hospitality venue because if our rent goes up, it will increase the rent of other venues, because at arbitration, they use other comparable rents to value yours.

“Please support, because we are not the only venue that is at risk because of landlords, it’s time to fight back and protect hospitality, too many venues have closed, including G-A-Y Late.”

Last year Mr Joseph announced much-loved Soho nightclub G-A-Y Late was shutting down, acknowledging the news was a “shock” to many.

In a letter shared on social media, he said reasons for the closure include a rise in attacks on customers and staff, as well as an increase in building and development works in the area.

The Arch Company told the BBC that Heaven was "a long-term and valued customer".

A statement from the landlord continued: "We have been working closely with them to reach an agreement on the market rent for their premises.

"Unfortunately, we have not been able to agree this between ourselves and so an independent third party has now been appointed to help resolve [it]."

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