Groucho Club Closes Temporarily After ‘Serious Crime’ Committed on Premises

The Groucho Club, a famous members’ club in London that was acquired by Artfarm in 2022, has temporarily shut down while police look into a “serious crime” that took place there.

Artfarm, a hospitality business founded by Hauser & Wirth dealers Iwan and Manuela Wirth in 2014, has held a majority stake in the club for the past two years. It is said that they acquired their share in this popular venue, known for attracting high-profile celebrities, for $50 million. The Groucho Club operates independently from Artfarm's other ventures, and the company has not yet released a statement regarding the closure.

On Tuesday, Westminster City Council announced that the club's license has been suspended for 28 days at the request of the Metropolitan Police.

"A spokesperson for the council stated, 'This choice comes after reports suggested that a significant crime might have occurred at the location due to a violation of the premises' licensing rules. These claims are currently under investigation by the police, and we are unable to provide any additional information at this time.'"

Details about the crime have not been revealed to the public yet.

The council stated that the Groucho Club has "worked with the committee, recognized the gravity of the accusations, and agreed to the decision to suspend their license."

The licensing sub-committee of the council will conduct a complete hearing to investigate the crime by December 24.