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# London's iconic LGBTQ+ venue Heaven granted Asset of Community Value status
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/londons-iconic-lgbtq-venue-heaven-granted-asset-of-community-value-status/
- Published: 2026-09-29T10:23:58.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-29T10:23:58.000Z
- Author: Graham Robson
- Tags: News

London's iconic LGBTQ+ venue **Heaven** has been recognised as an **Asset of Community Value** (ACV), in a move campaigners hope will help safeguard the future of one of the capital's most important queer nightlife institutions.

The announcement was made by **G-A-Y**, which thanked the **Night Time Industries Association** (NTIA) and its chief executive **Michael Kill** for nominating the venue for the designation.

In a statement, G-A-Y said it was "proud to announce" that Heaven had been listed as an Asset of Community Value, while also thanking the **City of Westminster** for recognising the nightclub's significance as both a cultural venue and a community space.

The organisation said the designation recognises Heaven's role as "an established and valued LGBTQ+ community asset & cultural venue".

Located beneath **Charing Cross** railway station, Heaven first opened its doors in 1979 and has become one of the UK's best-known LGBTQ+ venues, hosting generations of club-goers, performers, activists and community events.

G-A-Y noted that the club has played "an important part in London's LGBTQ+ community & nightlife for over 46 years".

Reflecting on the recognition, the organisation said: "To have Heaven recognised in this way is something I'm incredibly proud of. It recognises not only Heaven's history & cultural significance, but also the important role it continues to play in the LGBTQ+ community."

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/2026/09/825292585_1369806718245266_7018034743638329498_n.png.jpeg)

The group added that it hopes the new status will help secure the venue's future as plans progress to place the club under charity ownership. "Hopefully, this recognition will help protect Heaven for the future as G-A-Y moves forward with its plans to transform Heaven into a charity-run venue," the statement said.

Asset of Community Value status is intended to recognise buildings and spaces that are important to local communities, giving additional weight to their social and cultural value.

The announcement comes amid ongoing concerns about the loss of LGBTQ+ venues across the UK. Campaigners have warned that rising operating costs, changing nightlife habits and redevelopment pressures are making it increasingly difficult for dedicated queer spaces to survive.

Those concerns have been particularly acute in Brighton, often described as the UK's LGBTQ+ capital, where the community has seen a number of venue closures in recent years. Popular seafront venue **R-Bar** closed earlier this year, while long-running LGBTQ+ bar **Charles Street Tap** also shut its doors, prompting fears about the continuing loss of dedicated queer nightlife spaces.