The co-founder of Manchester-based club brand The Warehouse Project has branded the closure of Fabric a "farce".

Speaking exclusively to Music Week, Sacha Lord-Marchionne, who started The Warehouse Project in 2006 with Sam Kandel, said: "I completely and utterly disagree with Islington Council. I just think it’s a farce and there has to be something more behind it. How on earth can three suits, who don’t know anything about clubbing, make such a huge cultural decision? It’s just not right.”

Fabric had its licence permanently revoked at the beginning of September, with Islington Council citing major safety concerns as the key reasons for the closure following two drug-related deaths at the club. 

Although it remains open, The Warehouse Project faced negative press and calls for closure after a fatality in 2013. “The biggest challenge we will always face is the issue of drugs,” Lord-Marchionne said. “That is always at the forefront and is always my number one concern. We do everything we can to mitigate those issues." He went on to add, "The first people to point their fingers are the police but actually, if the police took drugs off the streets then we wouldn't have an issue."

Fabric is appealing Islington Council's ruling, with a hearing coming up on November 28. Meanwhile, The Warehouse Project is hosting a fundraiser, FABRICLIVE x WHP on November 11.

Click here to read the full interview.

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