A vast London nightclub in railway arches has closed to make way for the redevelopment of London Bridge station above the venue.
The 1,300-capacity Cable attracted some of the world’s biggest DJs and musicians, from Mark Ronson to Thom Yorke of Radiohead.
But the club says it was forced to close and make 70 staff redundant after a row with Network Rail, which included a huge emergency staircase from the station being installed down into the middle of a dancefloor.
A letter to the club from Network Rail appears to suggest that the company reneged on a promise that the works would not affect the venue. London Bridge will gain more platforms, shops and natural light as part of the £6 billion Thameslink upgrade programme.
Cable, where the music ranged from drum ’n’ bass to house, has been under the arches in Bermondsey Street since 2009. Cable director Euan Johnston said he had an agreement with Network Rail that the club could become a long-term tenant after it refurbished the “derelict, leaking and uninhabitable arches”. He claimed that after millions of pounds had been invested in the club, Network Rail told them “plans had changed” and refused to negotiate.
Mr Johnston said: “We were assured when we moved in that we would not be affected by the redevelopment and Network Rail have simply changed their minds — the worst thing is there is nothing we can do to prevent it. We have invested a huge amount of time and energy developing the space and growing Cable as a brand, not to mention employing 70 staff who now face redundancy.”
Bailiffs were filmed last week using an angle grinder to enter the premises to claim possession.
Directors of Cable have instigated a judicial review.
Network Rail is understood to be working with the owners to find an alternative site. A Network Rail spokesman said: “Cable nightclub occupies an arch under London Bridge station that will form part of the modernisation of this critical station that serves 180,000 passengers a day.
“The station forms the central hub of the £6 billion Thameslink upgrade programme and redevelopment plans have long been in the public domain.”
He said the tenants were formally told in April 2011 of the need to take back possession to start work on a project that will deliver “significant improvements for passengers from 2018”.
Only one nightclub is left under the London Bridge arches, a house and techno venue called 7-9 Crucifix Lane.
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Last month, it was reported that costumier Adrian Gwillym and four other firms faced eviction from workshops on lines serving London Bridge and Blackfriars. After their case was revealed in the Standard, Network Rail postponed the eviction until September.
