Hi, by coincidence I was in Oxford St the other day looking at all the redevelopement along the street from tottenham ct rd towards the 100club. When I saw this news I wasnt unduly surprised, I work in a property related industry and when you see tiny bedsits in London still fetching 300 grand, even now in the middle of a recession its no wonder the owner of building along the most famous shopping st in the world wents the grubby smelly little basement club out, is it?
I have seen many gigs there and attended quite a few allniters too and I love it for the history and atmosphere but face up to it folks its doomed like everything thats worth something other than money in this country. Somebody mentioned briefly mentioned the 12 Bar Club, well this building is earmarked for demolition in a couple of years despite the fact it is a LISTED building because it is a 500 year old forge, easily one of the oldest buildings in central london still in use it is to be replaced by some modern rubbish.
You havent a hope in hell of getting any help from govt to save a building or club when they are encouraging developers to do these things.
Unless you have a club in premises it owns Lock stock & barrel, ie Freehold, then they always at the mercy of greedy Leasehold Landlords.
Best get down there while you can!