Bosses of Oceana nightclub will not be attending tonight's Best Bar None awards in Kingston, it has been confirmed.
The rescheduled awards, celebrating the borough's safest pubs and bars of the past year, get underway at 7.30pm at McClusky's nightclub.
The ceremony, originally due to be held at Oceana, was postponed following the fatal stabbing of 20-year-old Jamie Sanderson inside the Clarence Street venue in October.
Earlier this month, award organisers wrote to Oceana manager Dan Corry, asking the club to "consider its position" with regards to attending the ceremony.
Today, club owners Luminar, which also owns the Hippodrome in St James's Road, confirmed Oceana staff would not be present.
A Luminar spokeswoman said: "The management team from the Hippodrome will be attending tonight's Best Bar None awards, but given the current circumstances the Oceana team have decided not to attend."
Before Mr Sanderson's death, Oceana had won a public vote organised by the Surrey Comet for the Best Atmosphere category.
Meanwhile, a second pre-hearing will take place next Friday, February 8, ahead of Oceana's appeal against its licence being revoked.
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