Westminster City Council has listed Heaven nightclub as an Asset of Community Value, after a nomination from the Night Time Industries Association. The NTIA welcomed the decision and said it recognises the landmark LGBTQ+ venue’s longstanding place in Westminster’s cultural and social life.
Heaven, under Charing Cross, opened in 1979 and has become an internationally recognised part of London’s LGBTQ+ nightlife. The NTIA argued that its importance goes beyond music and entertainment, as a place where people connect, express their identities and find a sense of belonging.
This is the second time Heaven has been given the status. It was first listed in 2020, with that protection expiring in January this year. The new listing keeps the venue on the register for five years, until 2031.
An Asset of Community Value listing does not freeze redevelopment or force a sale. If the owner later decides to sell, the community is given time to organise a bid, including a moratorium of up to six months. The owner does not have to sell to that group.
Michael Kill, chief executive of the NTIA, said the association was proud to be the nominating body. “This decision acknowledges the profound importance of LGBTQ+ venues to the people and communities they serve,” he said. He added that Heaven’s history is woven into London’s cultural life, but that the recognition is equally about the community it continues to serve today.
Kill said LGBTQ+ venues carry a unique social and cultural value, and that when those spaces are lost, communities lose places of belonging, visibility and shared history. “Recognising that value must be central to how we plan and support the future of our towns and cities,” he said. He congratulated Jeremy Joseph and the Heaven team, and said the NTIA will keep championing Heaven alongside LGBTQ+ venues across the country.
Jeremy Joseph said he was incredibly proud of the listing. “Since opening its doors in 1979, Heaven has played an important part in London’s LGBTQ+ community and nightlife,” he said. “This recognition celebrates that history and the vital role the venue continues to play today.”
He thanked the NTIA, Michael Kill and Westminster City Council, and said he hopes the status will help protect Heaven for future generations as plans move forward to transform it into a charity-run venue. “Heaven means so much to so many people, and we want to ensure it continues to serve our community for years to come,” he said.
The NTIA is now calling on local authorities across the UK to recognise LGBTQ+ venues as spaces of belonging, cultural expression and connection, and to work with operators and communities to support their long term future.
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