London Night Czar Amy Lamé says Printworks "could still have a future" in Surrey Quays
Plans for a new office development at the Printworks site were green lit by Southwark Council last month
London's Night Czar Amy Lamé has said that Printworks may not be closing after all — alluding to continuing talks between herself, events company Broadwick Live and site owners British Land.
Speaking to Mixmag Amy Lamé has said that "all is not lost" and that "active discussions are taking place about the possibility of keeping a significant venue as part of Printworks."
Reports of Printworks' closure circulated last month after plans were approved for the site's renovation into a complex of offices. Broadwick Live, the events company behind Printworks, has yet to make a statement regarding the plans.
Broadwick Live had been given permission for a "temporary" venue on the site by British Land in 2017, after the site had laid empty since ceasing function as a printing press for the Daily Mail and the London Evening Standard in 2012.
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The 6000-capacity venue has since become a focal point within the London clubbing scene, seeing huge electronic acts such as Peggy Gou, Aphex Twin, Bicep, Helena Hauff, Charlotte de Witte, Ben UFO, Bonobo and many more.
On July 11, Southwark officially gave the green light to the proposed Canada Water Masterplan — a series of renovations that will see Surrey Quays leisure centre, shopping centre and Printworks transformed into a 21.27-hectare working space complete with retail areas and offices.
The news resulted in an outcry from the nightlife community, with over 11,000 people signing a petition to stop the planned rennovations.
However, speaking to Mixmag, Amy Lamé insists that talks are ongoing and there may still be a future for Printworks within the new development, insisting Printworks has "not announced its closure" and "there is hope that it still has a future."
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"The teams at Broadwick Live and British Land have done an incredible job turning the space into a major destination that attracts some of the biggest names in electronic music and visitors from all over the world."
The Night Czar continued: "Despite it always being clear that it was a temporary space, the threat of its potential loss is no less raw to the tens of thousands who regularly enjoy a night out at printworks."
Lamé says that she has been in regular contact with British Land and Broadwick live and that there are "active discussions about the possibility of keeping a venue at Printworks," with all parties agreeing "that retaining the scale and industrial grandeur of the Press Halls will be an important part of the venue’s future."
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Lamé also praised Broadwick Live's two new London ventures: Dockyards, which opens in September, and The Beams, which is set to open its doors in October.
"[These spaces] are a testing ground that is finding out what people want and also keeping our capital’s nightlife fresh and varied. And when they strike success, there’s a chance to build on that for the long-term."
Last week Printworks announced its full Autumn/Winter 2022 line-ups, check out the full list of parties here.
Broadwick Live, British Land and Southwark Council did not respond to request for comment.
Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter.