A Birmingham City Council licensing sub-committee has revoked The Rainbow Venues‘ licence, following the death of 19-year-old student Michael Trueman in October.
Following the second drug-related tragedy at the troubled venue in only two years, The Rainbow Venues license has today been revoked by a licensing sub-committee, following a meeting between the West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council.
It was announced at a hearing this afternoon that The Rainbow Venues have had their licence revoked.
The ruling, which has shocked many across the region’s live music circuit, came after teenager Michael Trueman tragically died after allegedly taking drugs at a Halloween-themed party at the nightclub.
The 19-year-old had gone with friends to Rainbow Venues, off Lower Trinity Street, on Sunday 29 October, but was discovered in a disoriented state by a security officer inside the club at around 11.30pm and taken by ambulance to Heartlands Hospital, but died the following evening.
West Midlands Police applied for an expedited review of the Rainbow Live Music Venue that same week and suspended its licence following the incident.
At the time, the hearing was told the teenager was understood to have taken the drug MDMA.
PC Abdool Rohomon told licensing sub-committee members:
“The young man went to the event with friends who told officers he had never taken drugs before.
“They said he was in the toilet and, when he returned, his demeanour had changed. They described him as being unsteady. They said he was swaying and disoriented.
“He was taken to a medical tent by security and an ambulance was called. He said he had taken MDMA and he sadly passed away less than 24 hours later, at 8.20pm on Monday.
“The senior nurse said initial blood screens showed high levels of MDMA in his bloodstream.”
According to friends, Trueman had told paramedics there was “something blue in his drink” before he slipped in to a coma and subsequently died in hospital.
The Rainbow Venues’ license had been suspended since November 2, in light of the death being the second drug-related tragedy in two years at the venue.
In 2015, 18-year-old Dylan Booth had also died at the venue during a New Year’s event.
The Rainbow Venues company run several venues in the Digbeth area, including The Rainbow Warehouse, Crane, Blackbox and Spotlight. The status of forthcoming venue events, or if the venue will appeal within its 21-day window, is presently unclear.
The full report on the the BCC decision to revoke The Rainbow Venues’ license will be released later today.
How the public are responding…
As soon as news broke of The Rainbow Venues’ license being revoked by Birmingham City Council, many took to social media to vent, either supporting the decision or challenging it – using the hashtag #Rainbow License.
[13:52] POLICE argue that people who are found taken or have drugs are still allowed into the venue. Rohomon says there is no written evidence that contradicts the police's statement about the 15y/o#RainbowLicence #bcc
— Phoebe Greggor (@Phoebe_Greggor) November 28, 2017
[13:54] NO written evidence to contradict the police's argument, all evidence including Snapchat video has come from police#RainbowLicence #bcc
— Phoebe Greggor (@Phoebe_Greggor) November 28, 2017
[13:53] “WE have evidence, WE have given you evidence of a 15 y/o under the influence in the venue, there is no evidence written down to contradict this other than verbal accounts today ” – Abdool Rohomon @WMPolice #RainbowLicence #bcc
— Alexander Walters (@AWalters_) November 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/rhiannldavies/status/935512518818254849
https://twitter.com/rhiannldavies/status/935532049473179649
[15:32] Full written document on reasoning behind the decision to revoke the licence is set to be released end of day, there is the right to appeal within 21 day period#RainbowLicence #bcc
— Alexander Walters (@AWalters_) November 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/mcooperwrites/status/935533973425582086
https://twitter.com/alexjsmith97_/status/935535492610871296
Breaking news: A @BhamCityCouncil licencing sub-committee has revoked @rainbowvenues' licence at a hearing today #RainbowLicence #musicbiz #musicindustry cc @wearethentia @IVW_UK @UK_Music @MichaelDugher
— Lyle Bignon (@lylebignon) November 28, 2017
Absolutely tragic when anyone dies like this. With thousands through the doors each week and stringent measures in place is The Rainbow really at fault? Is this really the solution? #rainbowlicence
— The Ruin Bar and Kitchen (@TheRuinDigbeth) November 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/RachaelvsWorld/status/93555440172029952
BREAKING: A #Birmingham City Council licensing sub-committee has revoked The Rainbow Venues' licence, following the death of 19-year-old student Michael Trueman in October. #rainbowlicence pic.twitter.com/fxgNgBLe1A
— I Am Birmingham (@IAmBirmingham) November 28, 2017
Interesting to see DJs, media, industry heads, ravers etc all coming out as experts in licensing before the venue statement or BCC report has been released #rainbowlicence
— Lyle Bignon (@lylebignon) November 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/milbsxxx/status/935563990788427778
https://twitter.com/Sean_Moriarty99/status/935555954489413634
https://twitter.com/livdancex/status/935557045977276416
https://twitter.com/AimeeBarron_x/status/935559337128464384
https://twitter.com/tunnelvisioncru/status/935555619515445248
https://twitter.com/AreeCY/status/935544393976737795
https://twitter.com/IAmBirmingham/status/935570468035268609
More updates as we get them.