Palais Demolition Gets Green Light

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Council gives permission for office development on the site

Hammersmith Palais was given no reprieve by a Council Planning Committee which has decided to approve an application to demolish the music venue. Parkway Properties want to build offices on the site.

Although there were attempts to start a national campaign to save the Palais, there was a lukewarm response from people living in the local area who had experienced a range of problems with the venue. The police were regular visitors to respond to incidents at the Palais including some that were gun related. The Police made a request to revoke the venue's licence but the Council opted to limit the drinking hours instead.

English Heritage did inspect the building but decided it was of insufficient merit to warrant listing with many of the original features having been removed.

The Hammersmith Palais started life as the Palais de Danse in 1919 and was a popular spot with post-war jazz fans. Since then it has seen various incarnations including being converted into an ice-rink. More recently it has been a live music and disco venue which holds the 'School Disco' event on Saturday nights. It also hosted events such as beauty contests and the NME music awards. For many the Hammersmith Palais is most famous for being in the title of a song by the Clash.

The announcement of the demise of the Palais comes just as the Competition has ruled that due to Live Nation's takeover of the Academy Music Group, it must sell two of its venues which include the Hammersmith Apollo and the Shepherd's Bush Empire.

January 25, 2007