Published
Wed, Mar 21, 2018, 16:40
- The venue will refund the £24,076 raised from its campaign fighting closure.
The Rainbow Events, the new company from the team behind closed Birmingham complex The Rainbow Venues, has withdrawn its appeal against losing its license last year.
The organisation issued its final statement as The Rainbow Venues earlier today via Facebook, saying that "all legal action against Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police will be dropped in order to avoid any further financial impact on the team." The statement adds that the company will be moving "away from venue operations and back towards live event promotion until major concerns around current regional licensing processes are addressed."
Formerly one of the UK's most vital hubs for electronic music, The Rainbow Venues lost its license following the death of 19-year-old clubber Michael Trueman. It was the second drug-related fatality at the complex in two years. Now, with its appeal withdrawn, The Rainbow Events will focus on a new programme of events, which will take place across the UK this autumn. Details are still TBA.
"Until the difficult and intimidating climate of licensing in Birmingham and across the UK changes, and the financial and emotional impact that it directly causes on venue owners and licensees is alleviated, we will no longer invest in the city we have previously called home," said founder Lee McDonald.
Following the appeal withdrawal, The Rainbow Events has decided to refund the £24,076 raised for the Educate Not Revocate campaign, which launched in January. The initial aim was to raise money to cover legal costs and a potential new festival.
A recent report on drug use among UK clubbers found that deaths linked to cocaine and ecstasy have risen to record levels. Drawn from 50 interviews, the report called for urgent harm-reduction measures.
Photo credit: Here & Now