One of East London’s best venues for the arts, The Spitz in Spitalfields Market, could be going the way of the Hammersmith Palais in under six months.
Following various rumours over the past few weeks – some of them on these very messageboards – The Spitz were given official notice on Friday of last week (March 30th) from their landlords, property developers Ballymore, that they’d be exercising a break clause in the lease.
Details have yet to be finalised, but as it stands The Spitz may shut its doors as early as the end of September to make way for a gastropub – you know, those pubs that also act as some kind of restaurant and often end up being neither – in an apparent attempt to bring the Old Spitalfields Market (of the 19th century) up to the standard of the new one (of 1991). You have to love progress, and as you might be aware, London has a distinct lack of gastropubs, and definitely needs another*.
Speaking to DiS earlier, the Spitz confirmed - and would like to stress - that they are going to fight the decision and, if necessary, set up shop somewhere else should they be evicted. Obviously they - and most who frequent the venue - would rather they didn't have to leave.
In the meantime, there’ll be more information on what you can do to help out later in the week, should you wish. And perhaps you should, given the recent closure of the Hammersmith Palais, also at the hands of property developers, and the Astoria seemingly going the same way.
The venue, bistro and gallery was founded in 1996, and has played host to hundreds of gigs both local and otherwise, as well as running its own folk and blues festivals. It would be a shame to see it go; I saw the Long Winters there once and it was great. As ever, DiS’ll keep you updated.
Click here for a full list of upcoming events at the Spitz.
(*sarcasm)
i dont
give a crap about the astoria but this makes me really sad. i guess it's just the principle. i'm sad this city is turning into a homogenous mass. everywhere is losing it's identity
how utterly ghey
is
anywhere sacred?, a gastro pub!!!! what will that be called the homogenous bar?
Never been to the Spitz
But the Astoria is a superb venue. Great location too. Its disgusting that these places are threatened with closure and are getting replaced with more wanky pubs and offices. Just what London needs really, more shite hole soul-less pubs
I wasn't that bothered
about Hammersmith Apollo, or even the Astoria. But the Spitz - that's a cause worth fighting for! Sign me up for whatever.
Probably won't make any difference, but I don't want to see it go without a fight...
Hammersmith Apollo?
Do you mean the Palais? Cos I'm not aware the apollo is in trouble
This certainly does suck.
What can we do to stop this???
what person would want
another pub in london.. rather than a gig venue, i mean is there a public demand for more pubs?
Maybe
but the public are fucking idiots.
This is really rubbish
It seems pretty ridiculous in a time when live music is in demand and thriving again that many venues are being closed down.
wise words
wise, wise words
Depends
If the owners are planning to remodel the space, then they might need to apply for planning permission, which you can object to through the council. Otherwise a petition can be organised to appeal to the developer directly. Sadly, I don't know how much impact that would have - land in central London is so valuable that it costs nothing, virtually, to knock down an existing building and put a new one up in its place that's more likely to accrue value, which is the developers' bottom line.
Found out the Hatcham Social Club is up for sale last week as a 'development opportunity'. Fuck.
still at least theres still brixton!
...
Fuck...
...Property developers. The Spitz would be a really sad loss for the area.
They are slowly turning my town into one giant cheap block of flats. Dickhead developers also forced closure of my mates bar which was the busiest and best live music venue in the area to turn it into some horrific shop, restaurant and flat mixture.
Why can't they keep their fucking dirty money grabbing paws off of our venues?!
So its
not good enough that they knocked down half the fucking market (upsetting an ancient burial ground in the process - don't know why i mentioned this maybe for dramatic purpose?) to make way for a fucking tapaulin and a pond oh and some fucking great big homoginised law offices! but they now want to slowly wipe out any individuality from the surrounding area?!
It makes me sick when i hear of venues closing down - yes even the Astoria - they are historical sites that should be maintained for future sounds and events!
well, there's always Islington Academy...
but seriously, the Spitz is my favourite venue in London - nothing tops the place in the summer. Along with Smallfish Records on Old Street, this will be another casualty of the Notting Hill-isation of Shoreditch - greedy landlords and property developers. Piss of to Notting Hill, where you'll be welcomed with open arms. This is dreadful, dreadful news...
Spitalfields Market is
turning into a giant All Bar One. Half of it is almost there... I walked through there the other day and noticed how only the little bit where the Spitz is still has some semblance to what it used to be like around there. Sad :-((