English Heritage authorities submitted an application that, if approved, would have seen the rock venue gain a grade II listing as "the oldest continuously running (and surviving) live music venue in the capital".

Government authorities have, however, rejected the request. A spokesperson for John Penrose, the minister who rejected the bid, told the Sunday Telegraph "There's no denying the club's place in British pop music history but in the end it's only the stage and the signage that mark it ...