New details on the return of London’s famous Printworks venue have emerged, with property developers submitting plans to establish the site as a “permanent cultural venue” and reopen the reclaimed industrial superclub as soon as 2026.
Real estate developers British Land and AustralianSuper, who own the site, submitted a proposal to the region’s Southwark Council today that would designate one-half of the space as a cultural venue, according to The Guardian. The other half will be reserved for office spaces, luxury apartments and shopping, as previously announced.
This designation would allow electronic music shows, club nights, art exhibitions and more to return to Printworks’ famous 6,000-capacity Press Halls, where promoter Broadwick Live hosted 300 electronic shows on a six-year temporary license before the club closed in May 2023.
A new rooftop terrace, a smaller performance space dubbed “The Inkwells” and new conference and corporate suites are also outlined in the newly submitted development plan.
The Guardian reports that British Land is in exclusive talks with Broadwick Live to handle the live events side of the development. Upon Printworks’ closing in May 2023, the two sides announced a provisional partnership to revive the venue by 2026. They hope to receive planning permission from the council in the coming months.
“We intend to create a permanent cultural venue and put it on the map globally,” British Land project lead Emma Cariaga told The Guardian. “Over the last six years, Printworks has become an iconic venue for electronic music and one of the top five clubs in the world. But our plans seek to push that to deliver a much broader program.”
British Land reportedly aims to recover as much of the building’s original printing equipment as possible, including a four-story tall press, rollers, paper storage racks, ink lines and valves.
Before opening its doors to dance music fans in 2017, the building was constructed by the Daily Mail Group in 1989 and housed the printing presses of The Daily Mail and the Evening Standard for 24 years.
Featured image from Printworks.
