Iconic London gay club Heaven has been a great night out since 1979. And it looks like the party won’t be stopping anytime soon, as Westminster City Council has officially granted the venue special protected status as an Asset of Community Value (ACV), drastically reducing the risk of future redevelopments.
This is the second time the club has been awarded ACV protection. Its first stint came after Heaven was nominated by Night Time Industries Association CEO in 2020, but the protection expired in January 2026.
ACV status is a designation by local city councils for buildings or land that boost the social or cultural wellbeing of the local community. It acts as a shield for places people fear might be sold off and knocked down by developers. It means that if Heaven’s owners ever decided to sell the building, there would be a mandatory six-month period where the community is legally allowed to get together, raise funds and put in a bid to buy the venue themselves. Because an ACV lasts for five years once granted, Heaven’s future is securely locked in until 2031.
The protection arrives as a much-needed breath of fresh air following a turbulent period for London’s queer nightlife. After the permanent closure of Heaven’s partner venue, G-A-Y Bar on Old Compton Street, owner Jeremy Joseph expressed worries that Soho had ‘lost its identity’. G-A-Y has since been replaced by Coven, which you can read more about here.
About Heaven being re-listed as an ACV, Joseph : ‘We would also like to thank Westminster City Council for recognising Heaven’s role as an LGBTQ+ community asset and cultural venue.’
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