The long-empty shell of the once-bustling Medina nightclub in Swindon’s Theatre Square has now fallen silent for good—at least for the next three months—after Wiltshire Police secured a closure order in court this week.
Following a steady stream of complaints from nearby residents and repeated police callouts, the neglected building has become a magnet for trespassers and anti-social behaviour. Locals have voiced growing frustration at the site’s decline, describing frequent disturbances and fears for safety.
Officers attended Swindon Magistrates Court yesterday (11 November), where they successfully applied for a three-month closure order. The ruling means that anyone entering the premises without proper authorisation—aside from police, emergency services, or those with written permission from Swindon Borough Council—now risks arrest.
Inspector David Tippetts, who has overseen the operation, said the order was both necessary and overdue.
“This location has been the subject of numerous calls over the past couple of weeks due to anti-social behaviour,” he said. “There are also concerns that people who enter the building may come to harm.”
The decision, he added, should come as a relief to residents who have endured months of unease.
“With this order in place, anyone who enters the building without authorisation commits an offence, for which they are liable to be arrested,” Inspector Tippetts continued. “Local residents should be reassured by this news. We will continue to regularly patrol the area to ensure the order is being adhered to.”
The Medina, once a lively part of Swindon’s late-night scene, has stood empty for several years, gradually slipping into decay. Its future remains uncertain, though local authorities and police hope the closure order will curb recent problems and allow for a safer, cleaner environment in the town centre.
