There have been rumors circulating recently that the popular London club venue Printworks may be closing down. Printworks opened in 2017 in the former printing factory premises in Surrey Quays and quickly became one of London’s most iconic clubbing destinations. With its industrial warehouse interiors and world-class sound system, Printworks has hosted some of the biggest names in electronic music and drawn large crowds of ravers looking for an unforgettable clubbing experience. However, the future of Printworks has been thrown into doubt amidst reports that the venue’s lease is coming to an end and that the site is planned for redevelopment into offices and apartments.
What evidence is there that Printworks may close?
The main evidence that Printworks could soon be shutting its doors comes from reports that the venue’s lease is set to expire in 2023. Printworks was opened on a temporary basis under a meanwhile lease, allowing the former printing press building to be used for events before its planned redevelopment. With the lease coming to an end, there are concerns that there are no plans to renew it, effectively bringing Printworks’ time as a club to an end after just six years.
In addition, there have been reports that the site owners, Surrey Quays Development, have plans to redevelop the site into office space and housing. According to planning documents, the proposed redevelopment involves demolishing the Printworks building and constructing a mixed-use site including office blocks and apartment complexes. The realization of these redevelopment plans would mean Printworks’ days as an events venue are numbered.
The owners of Printworks, Broadwick Live, have so far declined to comment specifically on the future of Printworks or verify whether the venue may be closing down. However, some industry insiders have suggested that Broadwick are on the lookout for a new London venue, indicating they may be prepared for Printworks to cease operations in the near future.
What do regular Printworks customers think?
The possibility of Printworks closing down has been met with an outpouring of disappointment from many of the venue’s regular customers. Printworks has built up a dedicated fanbase over the years from London’s clubbing community, hosting renowned events like Elrow, Junction 2 Festival, and Cirque Du Soul. For many ravers, it is their venue of choice and holds a special place in London’s nightlife landscape.
“I’m absolutely gutted, Printworks is such an iconic venue and has the best atmosphere,” said Sara, 25, from Hackney. “Some of my best nights out have been seeing the likes of Bicep and Richie Hawtin there. I really hope the rumors aren’t true, London would lose one of its best clubs.”
“I try to go to Printworks at least once a month, the line-ups are second-to-none and the warehouse vibe just can’t be matched,” commented 28-year-old electronic music fan Chris. “If it closes, it would leave a massive gap in the scene. I haven’t heard about other plans yet but it just wouldn’t be the same at another London venue.”
A petition titled ‘Save Printworks’ started by regular customers has already gained over 5,000 signatures. The petition urges the venue owners and Southwark council to reconsider their redevelopment plans in order to keep Printworks running as a cultural hub and nightlife institution.
What are the reasons for its possible closure?
If Printworks does end up closing down, it will likely be driven by two key factors – the expiring lease and redevelopment plans.
The temporary lease that Printworks operates under was always due to expire after a limited number of years. As the lease reaches its end, Broadwick Live would need to agree on an extension with landlords Surrey Quays Development. However, with redevelopment plans in the pipeline, it appears the landowners may prefer to take back the site.
As the UK economy recovers post-pandemic, demand for office space in London is picking up again. Surrey Quays Development are looking to capitalise on this demand through their proposed redevelopment of the Printworks site into new office blocks. Pre-let deals worth around £500 million have reportedly already been signed for office space, indicating strong commercial interest.
The residential aspect of the plans are also driven by Saville’s Row growing demand for housing in London amidst a shortage of supply. Turning former industrial buildings into luxury flats is seen as an increasingly lucrative business opportunity. Once the Printworks lease expires, the owners seemingly want to waste no time in demolishing it to make way for their new plans.
What does this mean for the future of Printworks?
With the lease expiring and redevelopment plans progressing, the chances of Printworks remaining open in its current form look slim. Barring an unexpected last-minute intervention or change of plans, Printworks likely only has months left to run as a clubbing venue.
Broadwick Live may look to negotiate a brief extension to the lease in order to host a final closing party or season for Printworks in Spring 2023. However, their focus is likely shifting to finding a suitable new London location that can replicate Printworks’ success.
Should the redevelopment go ahead, the Printworks building itself will be demolished in 2023 to make way for the new office and residential buildings. This will spell a definitive end for the venue, even if the Printworks brand lives on elsewhere.
For London’s clubbing scene, the loss of such a popular venue would be keenly felt. Other venues will likely ramp up their event offerings to fill the gap, but replicating the warehouse-style environment and atmosphere of Printworks presents a challenge.
Will there be a replacement venue?
Broadwick Live are expected to securing a deal for a new London venue to replace Printworks if and when it closes down.
However, finding a venue with the same calibre of sound system, industrial features, and capacity for 5,000 clubbers will be no easy task. It will likely take time for Broadwick to find the right premises and any new venue almost certainly won’t be ready by the time Printworks closes.
Some potential replacement venue locations rumored so far include:
- Beckton Gas Works in Newham
- Tooting Goods Yard in Wandsworth
- Battersea Power Station
- ExCel London Exhibition Centre
But any new events space would need proper licensing, transport links, and time for fitting out before it could host Printworks-style events. As such, there is likely to be a gap in Broadwick’s portfolio for a while even if a new venue is secured.
Smaller existing London venues may host more one-off large events to compensate. But the distinctive Printworks experience will be hard to recreate elsewhere.
Could a campaign save Printworks?
A glimmer of hope remains that an organized campaign by Printworks fans could potentially influence the venue’s owners to reconsider their plans.
The ‘Save Printworks’ petition demonstrates the public love for the venue and its cultural status in London’s clubbing landscape. If the petition gains enough momentum, it may encourage Broadwick and Surrey Quays Development to come back to the negotiating table.
There have been some instances of popular venues being saved from closure through fan campaigns. For example, London club Fabric was originally shutdown in 2016 but later allowed to reopen after supporters petitioned the council.
However, the financial incentives tied to the redevelopment plans may prove too tempting for Printworks’ owners. Surrey Quays is likely eager to push ahead with their proposals to capitalize on strong demand.
Likewise, pressure would need to put on Southwark Council to reject or amend the current redevelopment proposals through the planning process. But denying what are deemed ‘positive’ commercial plans can be difficult for local authorities.
As such, while campaigners are right to make their voices heard, actually reversing the decision to close Printworks remains an uphill battle at this stage.
Conclusion
The future of Printworks hanging in the balance, but the venue’s closure and redevelopment looks like the probable outcome at this point barring an unexpected change of plans. Its impending lease expiration combined with the owner’s redevelopment proposals point towards Printworks’ days as London’s most iconic clubbing destination being numbered.
Finding a like-for-like replacement venue poses a major challenge. Printworks has become a cultural institution thanks to its incredible atmosphere and A-list events. London’s clubbing scene will be dealt a major blow should the bulldozers move in.
Nonetheless, a glimmer of hope remains. If campaigners can rally support, they may yet be able to exert pressure to extend Printworks lifecycle a little longer. Venues like Fabric have set a precedent of being revived after closure through advocacy and action.
The next few months will be critical for deciding if Printworks’ light goes out for good. Its fans will await with bated breath to see if there might still be a few final parties left in the iconic venue’s future.
