After Hackney Council in March refused a planning bid for six private apartments on Morning Lane, on Thursday officers blocked the same developer’s proposal to build 7 flats and a commercial unit directly adjacent to the music and comedy club.
asserted
officers → refuse → club
General Manager Edie Kench-Andrews said the club faced being “attacked on all sides” if the council approved flats nearby.
asserted
council → say → flats
A rise in noise complaints from future neighbours, she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), could result in noise abatement notices being issued and lead to more restrictions on the venue.
uncertain
she → tell → venue
A petition in support of Moth Club against the developments garnered over 36,000 signatures.
asserted
petition → garner → signatures
It stated: “Complaints lead to conditions on the licence, and conditions on the licence are how grassroots venues close.”
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venues → state → licence
Now, after the council refused the planning bid on Thursday (October 29), Moth Club welcomed “the news we had all been waiting for”.
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we → refuse → news
On behalf of the club, founder Keith Miller thanked their “amazing” supporters, the council and the planning department for its “due diligence”.
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Miller → thank → diligence
“Of course, a massive thank you to everyone who crusades to support nightlife every single day
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who → crusade → nightlife
We couldn’t have done it without Hackney Nights, Save Our Scene, the NTIA, and the Music Venue Trust for everything they’ve done for us,” Miller and Kench-Andrews said in their statement to the LDRS.
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Miller → do → LDRS
Town hall planners refused permission on four grounds: noise impact, affordable housing provision, the effect on parking and traffic, and environmental sustainability.
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planners → refuse → parking
The application, from Ganatra, had “failed to demonstrate that the proposed development would not give rise to undue noise and disturbance to future occupiers”.
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development → fail → occupiers
The bid also made no provision for affordable housing, leading town hall planners to conclude the development would “fail to adequately contribute towards the provision of mixed and balanced communities and housing needs in the local area”.
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development → make → area
‘Greatest party ever’ on the horizon
Moth Club first opened in 1972 as an ex-servicemen’s club, dubbed a “shell hole”, for war veterans under the Memorable Order of Tin Hats.
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Club → open → Hats
In 2015, it was taken over by local events agency LNZRT and revamped into a music and comedy space, distinguished by the stage’s gold ribbon curtains and shimmering ceiling.
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it → take → curtains
Though it has achieved international recognition as an independent music venue, welcoming acts such as Lady Gaga, Dave Grohl and Rick Astley, Moth Club has continued to see servicemen come through its doors, according to the general manager.
uncertain
servicemen → achieve → manager
Meanwhile, the club’s trades hall furnishings remain mostly intact.
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furnishings → remain → ?
The campaign to safeguard its future was also backed by various music artists including Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor and the band Amyl and the Sniffers.
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campaign → safeguard → Taylor
Miller also claimed Green Day, Lewis Capaldi and Tame Impala as supporters.
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Miller → claim → supporters
Following the council’s decision, the club’s organisers thanked the Mayor of Hackney, Zoë Garbett, and her cabinet colleagues for “backing grassroots music in Hackney”.
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organisers → follow → Hackney
Moth Club also praised Cllr Laura-Louise Fairley and the Hackney Green Party for “standing with us and pushing on forward at a pivotal stage”.
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Club → praise → stage
In December 2025, the council received over 27,000 emails from supporters pleading to protect the venue.
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council → receive → venue
Following the news, Miller and Kench-Andrews said the club would honour an earlier promise to throw “the greatest party Moth has ever witnessed”.
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Moth → follow → party
“We meant it.
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We → mean → it
Watch this space,” they said.
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they → watch → space
The Aporia
