Hammersmith Palais

24 january 2007

HAMMERSMITH PALAIS CONSIGNED TO HISTORY

upfront, news, february 2007, COMMENTS

One of London’s oldest gig venues, the Hammersmith Palais, is set to close following local councillors’ approval of plans to demolish the legendary live music club.

After nearly 90 years in showbusiness the building’s owners - US based developers Parkway Properties - will be closing a chapter in the capital’s musical history when they put into action their plan to tear down the building later this year, using the space to build offices. Over the years the club has hosted many a legendary performance, from Motorhead and The Clash to Bowie - and was famously immortalised in the Clash track (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais. Supporters argued that its musical legacy, combined with its location in a conservation area, should see it granted listed status. But confirming the decision to consign the Palais to history, Councillor Lucy Ibimy of Hammersmith and Fulham Council said: “We recognise the contribution the Palais has made to the West London music scene, but the golden days of the club are long gone.”

Hammersmith Palais’ current tennants Barclub Ltd, who along with groups of music fans have contested Parkway’s application since it was initially raised in 2001, strongly disagree with the councillors’ conclusions.

Dave Gaydon, who until recently worked for the Palais’ current tennants Barclub Ltd (formerly Barvest) as Head of Music, is frustrated by the council’s decision to allow the destruction of a piece of local cultural heritage.

“I am very sad to say that despite our best efforts, all of our objections were overruled by the planning committee. “Although the Palais has functioned as a music venue for 87 years, entertaining millions of music lovers, Hammersmith and Fulham councillors ruled that the building is not of sufficient architectural or historic interest and that its musical legacy alone should not prevent the planning application from going ahead.

“I bunked off school to see my first ‘proper’ gig here - Siouxie & the Banshees in 1984 - and for me personally it has been something of a labour of love and an absolute pleasure to spend the last five years getting the venue back to somewhere pretty close to its glory days. Tragically this was promising to be our best year yet.”

From: February 2006 Issue

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