CLUBBERS have slammed the organisation of a music event at The Assembly in Leamington at which a student suspected of having taken an MDMA pill fell ill and later died.
The 19-year-old Coventry University student, who has not been named, was rushed to Warwick Hospital in the early hours of Saturday morning but died soon afterwards. A 22-year-old woman, also a student at the university, remains in a serious condition in hospital after also being suspected of having taken MDMA, the active drug in ecstasy.
A number of others attending the drum and bass student event were also admitted to hospital after also being thought to have taken the drug.
Police, who were called to the venue around 5am, stressed the drugs may not have been bought or taken at the Spencer Street venue.
But many clubbers were far from happy with how the event, which ran from 11am to 4am, was organised and went online to vent their anger.
Some said it was so crowded there was sweat and condensation dripping from the ceiling and bouncers would not let them go outside without leaving the event.
Others claimed the venue had ran out of bottled water, which it sold for £5, and free tap water was not accessible, with some saying they were also denied cups so they could fill up glasses using bathroom taps.
One reviewer said: “Been to this venue many times before and it’s perfect. You couldn’t breathe in there and every time you tried to leave the main room for some fresh air or a sit down and breathe for five minutes then security told you to leave the event entirely or go straight back into the crowd.”
Others went as as far as to say they felt unsafe in the 1,000 capacity venue.
Warwick District Council confirmed to the Observer it was looking into the concerns raised.
A spokeswoman said: “The licensing team at Warwick District Council are aware of the issues over the weekend at The Assembly. We are currently working with the police to establish all of the facts.”
Police have issued a warning regarding the suspected Red Bull MDMA pill and investigations continue.
The Assembly had not responded to our request for a comment at the time of going to press.
The venue re-opened last September under new management, after previous operators MJR Group, shut the doors in the summer, citing financial difficulties.
- A DJ music event scheduled for The Assembly on Friday has been postponed out of respect for the student who died.
A statement on the venue’s Facebook page reads: “After the tragic incident last weekend Assembly Management and Andy C’s Team have decided to postpone this Fridays event until next month out of respect to the family and friends.”
