Heaven nightclub has been listed as an Asset of Community Value by Westminster City Council following a nomination from the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA).
The decision gives the Villiers Street venue Asset of Community Value status for five years and marks the second time Heaven has received the designation.
Westminster City Council records show that Heaven was previously listed as an Asset of Community Value from January 2020 until January 2025.
Heaven opened in 1979 and has since become an established part of London’s LGBTQ+ nightlife and cultural landscape.
The NTIA nominated the venue in recognition of what it describes as Heaven’s longstanding contribution to the LGBTQ+ community and its continuing social and cultural role.
Under Westminster’s Asset of Community Value scheme, listed properties remain on the register for five years. If an owner decides to sell, an eligible community group can trigger a moratorium of up to six months to prepare a bid for the property.
The designation does not give the community a right of first refusal or prevent an owner from changing a property’s use, although Asset of Community Value status can be considered as part of the planning process.
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, said: “The NTIA is proud to be the nominating body behind Heaven’s recognition as an Asset of Community Value. This decision acknowledges the profound importance of LGBTQ+ venues to the people and communities they serve.
“For generations, Heaven has provided a place where LGBTQ+ people can come together, celebrate their identities and build lasting connections. Its history is woven into London’s cultural life, but this recognition is equally about the community it continues to serve today.
“LGBTQ+ venues carry a unique social and cultural value. When these spaces are lost, communities lose places of belonging, visibility and shared history. Recognising that value must be central to how we plan and support the future of our towns and cities.
“We welcome Westminster City Council’s decision and congratulate Jeremy Joseph and the Heaven team. This is an important step, and we will continue to champion Heaven’s future alongside the wider network of LGBTQ+ venues across the country.”
Jeremy Joseph of Heaven London said: “To have Heaven listed as an Asset of Community Value is something I’m incredibly proud of. Since opening its doors in 1979, Heaven has played an important part in London’s LGBTQ+ community and nightlife. This recognition celebrates that history and the vital role the venue continues to play today.
“I’d like to thank the Night Time Industries Association and Michael Kill for nominating Heaven, and Westminster City Council for recognising its value as an LGBTQ+ community asset and cultural venue.
“Hopefully, this recognition will help protect Heaven for future generations as we move forward with our plans to transform it into a charity-run venue. Heaven means so much to so many people, and we want to ensure it continues to serve our community for years to come.”
The NTIA said it is encouraging local authorities across the UK to consider the community and cultural role played by LGBTQ+ venues when planning for the future of their night-time economies.
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