On the 15th May 2015, Glasgow City Council revoked the nightclub licence from The Arches - one of Scotland's biggest and most successful cultural venues.

This has followed months of harassment of the venue by Police Scotland, regarding apparent failures to act upon instances of drug misuse in the club, as well as some alcohol related offences. The Arches has attempted to address the concerns of the police on numerous occasions, but has been repeatedly threatened with the loss of its licence despite attempts to resolve the issues raised. The Arches makes more effort than any club in the city to keep people safe - with dedicated first aid rooms, well trained stewarding staff and robust policies to ensure the safety of clubbers.

The Arches is not only Glasgow's biggest club venue, it is also a world-leading arts venue, presenting and producing world-renowned contemporary performance and nurturing young artists in their early careers. The arts operations are largely funded by the income generated from club nights held at the venue, and this latest move by Police Scotland and the Glasgow City Council Licensing Board severely threatens a vital part of the Scottish arts ecology, and the livelihoods of the venue's many employees.

We urge Glasgow City Council to re-instate The Arches' club licence without delay, to allow the venue to continue to make such a vital contribution to Glasgow's cultural life.

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