London Paper 11

London Paper 11, originally uploaded by chantelle.

On the scene by Chantelle Fiddy. Friday, February 09

When you think of Asbos, you tend to picture unruly youths joyriding, scaring old people or committing mindless acts of vandalism. What club 333 in Old Street has done to warrant its Asbo is still something of a mystery.

While the entertainment industry has been targeted for offences such as flyposting and organising illegal raves, one of the best Asbo stories I’d heard was regarding garage DJ Slimzee. Thanks to his illegal pirate-radio activity, he was banned from every rooftop in east London to prevent him putting up transmitter aerials. Quite how that was monitored is anyone’s guess. But last week an email arrived announcing that 333, which was shut down just before the Christmas rush, had indeed been slapped with an Asbo.

If whispers among local businesses are to be believed, this is down to a plague of violent incidents – including the fatal shooting at The Jam last year – that has struck the increasingly popular nightspots in Shoreditch. Apparently the local authorities (in this instance, Hackney Council) simply aren’t having it.

Unlike Monroe’s The All-Nighter Dance Club, in Lancashire, which was the first venue to receive a Closure of Premises Order under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act, 333 was able to reopen last weekend – albeit with a string of restrictions including no hoods, no hats and more strict searches.

Another kick in the gonads is that the promotions team Off-Centre has decided to throw in the towel in 333’s leaking bogs. Neil Boorman, who alongside Ross Clarke and Gerry Bull founded Revolver, Hoxton Apocalypse, Shoreditch Twat, 333 Saturdays and Neu-Noise, said: “After nearly ten years at the club, it wasn’t an easy decision to go, but there’s only so much that our crowd can be expected to put up with.”

Thankfully, Boorman and his team move to a new residency at 93 Feet East on 17 February. The first date, until 3am, features Belgian electro darlings The Glimmers, The Rakes, Dirty Pretty Things and the Infadels.

On a positive note, there haven’t been any reports of Asbos for stinky-pitted clubbers yet. If you head down to see Berlin duo the Sick Girls in Valentine Breeds Hate at 93 Feet East this Saturday, only wear red if you don’t mind serious sweat patches – because these ladies know how to work it. Roll on the weekend, and the deodorant.