The O2 Brixton Academy reopened its doors, under a heavy security presence, more than a year after it was forced to close following a deadly crowd crush.

Without any fanfare, the doors reopened yesterday (Friday) to concert goers at the south London venue for the first time since the crush which killed two people in December 2022, behind a cordon of dozens of security guards in high-vis jackets.

There was a strong presence security presence outside and very few customers in queues to get in the building “it almost looks like overkill”.

As he joined the small but quick-moving queue of customers who were set to see a Nirvana tribute act, chef Ben Wade, 19, of Ramsgate, said: “It almost looks like overkill, so I think it is probably going to be quite safe.”

Security guard Gaby Hutchinson, 23, from Gravesend, and mother-of-two Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, were killed when fans without tickets tried to force their way into a show by Nigerian artist Asake at the venue on December 15, 2022.

A 22-year-old woman who was left in a serious condition remains in hospital.

Security guards also patrolled the block around the south London inner city venue.

“I am glad they are showing awareness of what happened because it was catastrophic and hopefully nothing like that can happen again…”

Customers were sent around the back of the building and tickets seemed to be checked more than once before they got to the front entrance where an x-ray scanner was being used.

An ambulance and a welfare van were parked outside.

Mr Wade said: “I am glad they are showing awareness of what happened because it was catastrophic and hopefully nothing like that can happen again.

“The last time I came here, it was a completely different set up.

“It looks monumentally different.

“We used to walk just straight in through the door and you did not see this many people in hi-vis – it looks completely different.

“I think there is a fear that they don’t want anything to happen like that again.

“I think if something did happen again – it would be completely catastrophic for the venue.

“It almost looks like overkill, so I think it is probably going to be quite safe.”

The south London venue faced permanent closure after the Metropolitan Police urged the council to remove its licence but following a two-day hearing in September last year, Lambeth Council’s licensing sub-committee voted to allow the venue to continue operating, so long as it meets “77 extensive and robust new conditions”.

“Gaby went to work and should have come home. She was a sibling, a parent, a child…”

About 1,000 people were outside the venue on the night the pair were killed and police found “large-scale disorder” with crowds eventually pushing the doors open.

When the doors were breached the crowd poured into the lobby towards the auditorium and surged over people who had fallen to the floor.

Academy Music Group (AMG) Limited, the venue owner, had said it had developed new safety measures at the venue in the wake of the tragedy, including stronger doors, a better queuing system and more secure ticketing.

In December last year, on the first anniversary of the incident, Gaby’s sisters Nina and Kelsey called on Afrobeats artist Asake to ask his fans to come forward.

Kelsey said: “Gaby went to work and should have come home. She was a sibling, a parent, a child. People all have these things, so surely they can understand and want to help.”

The comments came as police released 13 images of people they would like to speak to as part of their investigation.