Printworks London will shut for a “number of years” due to planned development

Printworks London will shut for a “number of years” due to planned development at its Surrey Quays location, the venue’s team and Broadwick Live Group have confirmed

In a statement shared this afternoon (27th), the Printworks team stated that the venue will close at the beginning of 2023 “during a period of modernisation as planned”. The statement adds that, while nothing is certain, Broadwick are in the midst of detailed talks with British Land about the venue’s eventual relaunch, and are “positive about the future” and “committed to preserving the essence of the iconic Press Halls and retaining the spirit of Printworks for our return.”

Read the full statement from Printworks and Broadwick Live Group below. 

The 6000-capacity venue first opened in 2017, in a space that had previously housed the largest newspaper printing factory in Western Europe. With an industrial aesthetic and unique design, the 16-acre site in Canada Water quickly became an iconic destination for music fans from the UK and abroad, and has hosted some of the biggest names in dance and electronic music over the past five years. The venue was named the fourth best club in the world in  DJ Mag’s global Top 100 Clubs Poll in 2022.  

Printworks was always intended to be temporary, and in 2021 it was revealed that developers British Land had submitted plans to Southwark Council to create a “a sustainable office-led redevelopment of the Printworks building”. 

This application formed part of the controversial Canada Water Masterplan, a £4 billion, 53-acre regeneration initiative planned by British Land “in partnership with Southwark Council and the local community”. These proposed plans were approved by Southwark Council earlier this year; a change.org petition to save Printworks garnered over 11,000 signatures. 

In an additional statement shared today, Simeon Aldred, Director of Strategy at Broadwick Live said: “In this decisive moment for the future of one of London’s most loved venues, we are humbled and grateful for the support of our community and partners. We have been working hard on an elevated design which protects the raw and original nature of the Press Halls, which we are excited to reveal in due course. We will need your continued support as we enter the planning process with Southwark Council in the coming months.”

“The cultural resonance and debate around the future of Printworks only comes to demonstrate the importance of preserving authenticity and culture at the heart of our neighbourhoods and urban redevelopments.”

Roger Madelin, joint Head of Canada Water at British Land also issued a statement, which said: “Over the past 6 years we have built a terrific relationship with Broadwick Live, and we very much look forward to being able to secure a long term future for culture, business and music with them at the Printworks.”

In the meantime, Printworks is in the midst of its colossal Autumn/Winter season, which will feature 19 shows between September and December, including headline events from Charlotte de Witte, DJ Snake, Paul van Dyk, Hessle Audio, Erased Tapes and more. Learn more about the programme here.