Club where footballer Cody Fisher murdered re-opens
FamilyA nightclub where footballer Cody Fisher was murdered nearly four years ago will re-open later under a new name.
Fisher, 23, was killed on the dance floor of the Crane club in Digbeth, Birmingham, on Boxing Day in 2022. Remy Gordon and Kami Carpenter were later jailed for his murder, after the club's licence was revoked in January 2023 over safety fears.
In March, a judge recommended the licence be restored after venue bosses met the city council, which also consulted police, to draw up the licence, which is subject to stringent risk assessment and safety conditions.
Re-named GASWRX, DJ Armand Van Helden headlines the launch event, with street food vendors and other performers in attendance.
Birmingham City Council said it had held three meetings with venue bosses and West Midlands Police to draw up what is essentially a new licence, designed to meet present and future risks, with the venue to get a new name as part of the process.
As part of the agreement, venue operator Digital Arts Media which operated Crane, has paid £30,000 towards the council's legal costs.
Club licence-holder Damian Eston, director of Digital Arts Media Ltd, has been involved in organising large events in the Birmingham nightlife industry for a number of years.
Social media posts advertising the launch event list extensive security protocols including:
- All guests and their belongings will be subject to searching as a condition of entry
- Large bags may be refused by security staff
- Anyone found in possession of drugs, weapons or dangerous items will be refused entry or removed from the club
Fisher, a former Birmingham City FC academy footballer who had also played for Bromsgrove Sporting and Stratford Town, was pronounced dead at the scene in 2022, having suffered stab wounds to the chest and leg.
'Thoughts with Cody's family'
Nicholas Leviseur, acting on behalf of the company, told the BBC in March the venue would have a different senior management team following the renaming of the club.
The West Midlands force previously stated it had provided advice on steps that would need to be taken to ensure any venue that opened on the site was as safe as possible.
It said its specialist Birmingham licensing team worked with venues around the city to ensure they were doing everything they could "to make Birmingham a safe and attractive destination".
Police added their thoughts remained with Fisher's family and everyone who has been affected by his death.
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