A Peckham nightclub which repeatedly flouted coronavirus rules with illicit late-night parties has been shut down.
Met officers found punters ignoring social distancing rules by dancing and drinking together at Afrikiko, while bosses desperately tried to hide customers in the basement during one police raid.
The Old Kent Road venue, set up as a nightclub and restaurant, was reported to Southwark Council and this week stripped of its operating licence.
The governmentâs coronavirus rules include a 10pm closing time on all bars and restaurants, as well as strict guidelines on monitoring social distancing.
Afrikiko bosses were warned in July about flouting the rules, but were caught out again in a 1am raid on August 29 when the DJ was heard telling revellers: âSit down in your seatsâ¦.no dancing, just look at each other.â
On a return visit at 11pm on September 26, officers were initially blocked from entering the club and then faced efforts to keep them out of the basement area.
Eventually the door was opened and up to 60 people, in evening dresses and holding alcoholic drinks, filed out of the darkened basement, the councilâs licensing committee was told.
The Licensee repeatedly denied running an illicit nightclub, police said, and has been given 21 days to appeal the councilâs decision.
âWe donât want to take away peopleâs livelihoods â we would far rather they engaged with us and operated in a safe way for everyoneâ, said Sergeant Keith Dempster from Scotland Yardâs South Central Command Unit.
âHowever, by repeatedly operating as a nightclub, staff and patrons were exposed to a real risk of contracting and spreading Coronavirus, which would have affected Londonâs communities.â
