With news of Fabric’s ambiguous future, another London venue has come upon an ashamedly familiar obstacle tripping up the capital’s most treasured venues, as Passing Clouds is embroiled in a lengthy battle to save itself from permanent closure.

On Tuesday (August 16), a team of up to 40 bailiffs visited the Richmond Road club to evict occupiers, who had broken into the building to keep a programme and series of events going. The community venue, which was established in 2006, had been sold to a property development company last November.

The Dalston venue had been acquired by Landhold, which means their marching orders were basically called since then. The development company asked the Passing Clouds team to sign an agreement that said they had voluntarily moved their business because of the building’s poor condition, but director Eleanor Wilson rejected the statement.

Eviction was threatened, and according to Time Out, the new owners took Wilson to court. A 15-year lease three times the venue’s current rent was then offered.

After finding that the building owner’s had changed the locks in June, protestors gained entry to occupy the building and continue their work. Bailiffs arrived at 4am on Tuesday to remove people and shut it down.

Wilson and the team of Passing Clouds plan to take further action in the High Court, and a protest has been organised for 10 September, but it’s still in “the early planning stages” spokesperson Mark Thomas told Dazed.

Speaking of this week’s eviction, Thomas said: “They had a right to take the building and they did, which is what they’ll say, whereas we say it was an abusive process.”

“Everyone feels gutted but they’re determined to carry on the fight and get the community music venue back. Heartbreakingly, the building could sit there empty for a couple of years when it could be used for the joy of the community. Only days before the court action was taken, terms had been drawn up for that 15-year lease, so everyone’s confused.”

“Basically, they’re saying this is unlawful occupation, but they’ve breached the verbal agreement for a lease of some sort,” Thomas added.

A petition of 14,000 signatures calling to save the venue has emerged, and local MPs have gotten involved to voice their support.

Keep up with what’s going on with Passing Clouds here.