A high-end private members’ club in Mayfair has temporarily closed its doors while police investigate reports of threatening behaviour and claims that a weapon was brandished on a street nearby.
Maison Estelle, which occupies a Georgian townhouse in the heart of Mayfair, said it would shut “for a few weeks” while inquiries continue. The move came as its alcohol licence was suspended with immediate effect following a private licensing hearing on Thursday, 24 September.
The suspension followed a request from the Metropolitan Police for Westminster City Council to review the club’s licence, on the basis that the premises were allegedly associated with serious crime, serious disorder, or both.
Key facts: the Mayfair club weapon claim
- Venue: Maison Estelle, a private members’ club in Mayfair
- Allegation: threatening behaviour and a reported weapon near the venue
- When: Saturday, 19 September
- Licence: alcohol licence suspended with immediate effect on 24 September
- Next step: a full licensing hearing within 28 days
- Injuries: none reported
It is understood that several incidents took place outside the club on the evening of Saturday, 19 September. The individual reported to have had a weapon is said not to be a member of the club, where annual membership costs £5,950.
Police have not confirmed what type of weapon may have been involved. Detectives are examining whether a firearm — or an imitation firearm — was present, and inquiries remain ongoing. No injuries were reported.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “A private hearing took place on Thursday, 24 September and the venue’s alcohol licence was suspended with immediate effect. A further hearing will be held in due course.”
Maison Estelle did not oppose the police application at Thursday’s hearing, the council confirmed.
“We have closed Maison Estelle for a few weeks while we carry out investigations after receiving information from the Metropolitan Police and following a serious public safety matter outside the premises,” a spokesperson for the club said.
“The safety of our staff, our members and their guests will always come first. We are continuing to work closely with Westminster City Council and the police as we review our licence conditions and procedures.”
A Westminster City Council spokesperson said the Met had asked during the hearing to “suspend the licence because of concerns around public safety and allegations of significant breaches of the premises licence”.
“The sub-committee, on consideration of the application and the relevant representations, has suspended the licence in the interest of public safety and will consider the application in full within the next 28 days,” the spokesperson added.
What happens next
The full licensing review must be heard within 28 days of the interim suspension. When it is, the sub-committee will have a range of options, from modifying the club’s licence conditions and adding new safeguards, to extending the suspension or revoking the licence altogether. Until a decision is reached, the venue cannot sell alcohol.
Licence reviews are among the strongest tools available to police and councils when serious incidents are linked to a venue, and they are used sparingly — typically only where officers believe the public could be at risk if the premises continue trading as normal.
A venue for the well-connected
Maison Estelle operates across seven floors, with four restaurants, 11 bars and two floors of “nightlife spaces”. It has built a reputation as a haunt for royalty and A-list celebrities, with past guests reported to include Kim Kardashian, Idris Elba, Princess Beatrice and her mother Sarah Ferguson.
The club describes itself as “born out of a desire to create one-of-a-kind spaces and a community that brings people together that have plenty to say and nothing to prove.”
Why it matters for Mayfair
Mayfair’s late-night venues trade under some of the closest scrutiny in the country, with Westminster’s licensing teams balancing a thriving night-time economy against public safety in one of the capital’s busiest entertainment districts.
A temporary closure at such a high-profile address sends a signal to other operators: when police raise concerns about serious crime or disorder linked to a venue, councils can — and will — act quickly, even before the full facts are established.
For residents and businesses nearby, the coming weeks will determine whether the club can satisfy the authorities that it can operate safely — or whether tougher conditions, or a longer suspension, will follow.
Police inquiries into the events of 19 September are continuing. London Streets has previously covered Met appeals across the capital, including a CCTV appeal after a serious assault at Liverpool Street station and an appeal after a man was punched in the face at Hackney Downs station.
