Celebrity nightclub in Millbank Tower shut down after mass brawl with knives and bottles

Celebrity haunt: Altitude 360 has hosted famous faces
John Dunne @jhdunne7 July 2016

A nightclub in Millbank Tower that has hosted the likes of Idris Elba and Princess Beatrice has been forced to close after a mass brawl in which groups fought with knives and bottles.

The event at Altitude 360 descended into violence described by a police officer as the most serious he had ever dealt with.

A thug brandishing a knife was knocked unconscious, bottled and “stamped on” by up to eight others during the sold-out club night promoted by Paravana Project.

The venue on the 28th floor of the Grade II listed skycraper boasts views across London and caters for corporate and private events. The Conservative Party has its HQ in the same complex.

Idris Elba is among those who have been hosted by the bar 
Dave Benett

The Metropolitan Police asked for the venue’s licence to be revoked in the interest of public safety after several people were seriously injured in the clashes on Easter Monday.

At a licensing hearing at Westminster council on Monday the police’s application was agreed by councillors and the nightclub will close. Corporate events and photo shoots hosted by the company at the skyscraper will continue.

Shut down: Altitude 360 bar at the top of Millbank Tower

Nickie Aiken, chairman of Westminster council licensing committee, said: “The management of Altitude 360 was utterly chaotic, putting members of the public and staff at serious risk of harm. Images from the venue show customers brandishing knives and others arming themselves with bottles as thugs fought a running battle. As a committee we have no confidence in the management of the venue moving forward and so we have revoked Altitude 360’s licence.”

Stunning views: Westminster's Millbank Tower
Shutterstock

A spokesman for Altitude London said: “The relatively small 600 capacity nightclub space was rented out to an external party organizer on the night in question when a group of gatecrashers broke past security into the club, causing fights and disorder.

“The owners of Altitude London deeply regret the disturbance caused but were not involved in the running of the event whatsoever and feel aggrieved that although blameless for the scenes that unfolded on the night that they now have to the pay the penalty for the gate crashers’ behaviour.”

Panoramic: the view from Altitude 360

Licensing officer Pc Toby Janes said: “A blood trail down stairs was found by police, suggesting an unknown victim has sustained serious injuries, possibly a stab wound.” Documents also claim three men hit a female security guard, someone urinated on a table and a man wandered around “dripping with blood”. Up to 670 people may have attended the party, with just eight security guards.

The Altitude 360 spokesman added: “There had never been any trouble at the nightclub venue but in light of the serious nature of what happened and to try to rebuild good relations with the police and our neighbours we have agreed to close the nightclub space for the foreseeable future and operate only the corporate event spaces. The hospitality venues at the complex will continue to operate as normal.”

Promoter Paravana Project was unavailable for comment.

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