Britain’s roughest nightclub is shut down in police raid after it became ‘gangsters’ haven like some sort of mafia movie’ where shootings, stabbings, assaults and drug deals were commonplace
- The Red Door has no planning permission, music licence or right to sell alcohol
- There have also been at least two stabbings and gunshots heard at the venue
- It is also known as a haven for gangsters and dubbed Britain’s roughest nightclub
‘Britain’s roughest nightclub’ has been shut down in a raid by police after it was linked to a string of violent crimes – including shootings, stabbings, assaults, and drug-dealing.
Those unfortunate enough to have stumbled upon gangster haven the Red Door in Birmingham were faced with scenes that were like something of a ‘mafia movie’.
During the more than a year that it was illegally operating down an alleyway, it saw one man stabbed 13 times during a fight on October 31 last year while another was knifed in the leg on June 18 as well as several brawls and drug-dealing.
Residents and young children in the inner-city area of Lozells were also often disturbed by hearing loud music pumped from the building and gunshot shots.
The hellhole venue with a sheltered beer garden complete with barbecue, TVs and a pool table had no planning permission, was not registered as a company, and did not have a music licence or permission to sell alcohol.
Footage shows officers using bolt cutters to break their way into the premises after they obtained a closure order from the court yesterday.
The Red Door had been operating illegally for more than a year hidden behind an alleyway in the Lozells area of Birmingham. Loud music (pictured the speakers and music equipment found) being pumped from the building had also been driving residents around the bend and leaving young children distressed
It became known locally as being a haven for gangsters and led to it being dubbed Britain’s roughest nightclub after a series of violent offences. Pictured: The left behind items in the club as well as what is thought to be shisha pipes
The hellhole venue had no planning permission, was not registered as a company and did not have a music licence or permission to sell alcohol. Pictured: The closure orders tapped to entrances and sealed off doors
West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council built a case against the management who had only permission to run the building as a warehouse and secured the order at Birmingham Magistrates Court.
Reports of violence at the club includes stabbings and gun shots heard
• A man was stabbed more than 10 times there during a fight on 31 October
• There was another stabbing inside the illegal club on 18 June that saw a man suffer knife wounds to his leg
• A large disorder on 1 August where glasses were thrown
• Intelligence suggesting the place was used to deal drugs and gang activity
• And police had reports of gunshots being heard in the venue
A clip also reveals a well-stocked bar and a dance floor with large speakers despite the building only having permission to be used as a warehouse or for storage.
Inspector Nick Hill said: ‘This will come as a huge relief to local residents whose lives have been blighted by the anti-social behaviour and crime this venue attracts.
‘Clubs are bound by tight regulations to ensure customers are kept safe, such as security, CCTV and staff training, and disturbance is kept to a minimum for people living nearby.
‘The main building was only approved for storage purposes only – but there was also a covered outdoor seating area, toilet block and kitchen.
‘None of it had planning permission.
‘We’ve been granted closure for three months initially but we’ll be seeking permanent closure and potential demolition.
‘Local police teams are working with our Gangs Unit to actively target anyone we suspect is linked to violence and organised crime.
‘We run regular suppression patrols to disrupt gang activity and operations to target people causing harm in our communities.’
Reacting on social media, one person commented: ‘Knew they’d rumble this place eventually. Know a lad who went and said it was moody as f***.
‘Just loads of gangsters there, it was like some sort of mafia movie man. Only a matter of time before it was shut down.’
Police use bolt cutters to break-in to the alleyway where the club is in the Lozells area of Birmingham
An officer shows how the area has little huts and is also seen in disarray with chairs all over the place
Police then enter the pub proper looking around for possible issues
There is a coffee machine in the bar (left). And on right a police officer explains in the video it only ever had planning permission as a warehouse
Video footage shows officers using bolt cutters to break their way into the premises and into a sheltered beer garden complete with barbecue, TVs and a pool table
Work is then done to the door to make sure it’s sealed and there can be no entry
It’s shut up and an enforcement notice is placed on the club telling people not to enter
The full details of the closure order including the area is shown in this photo
Another added: ‘Yep, Britain’s roughest nightclub right there. You’d struggle to find one harder than that. You wouldn’t catch me within a mile of it, lol.’
A third person commented: ‘How are these places allowed to exist for so long? Sounds dodgy as hell.’
Police said a utility company was also called in to make the site safe and judged the dodgy wiring at the venue was potentially a risk to life.
Councillor John Cotton, cabinet member for social justice, community safety and equalities at Birmingham City Council, said: ‘We support this police action because unlicensed premises are, by definition, unregulated and we know there have been some significant concerns over this premises, so hope it shows we can work in partnership to keep our communities safe
‘We will continue to work with West Midlands Police to tackle issues relating to illegal and unlicensed activity, anti-social behaviour and public safety and ensure Birmingham’s bars and clubs, as well the city’s streets, are safe for all their visitors.’
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