Hope for Roundhouse
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A PLAN by the music impresario Harvey Goldsmith to reopen the Roundhouse, the legendary Sixties rock venue in Camden Town, north London, has met opposition from English Heritage, writes Amanda Baillieu.
Mr Goldsmith's company, Allied Entertainments, wants to buy the former Victorian train shed and revive it as a multi-purpose venue seating 2,500 people.
A plan shown to English Heritage's London Advisory Committee this month involved an elaborate mechanical structure that would enable three of the 26 internal columns to be removed so that the circular venue could be used either for theatre in the round or with a traditional proscenium. It would also stage sporting contests, such as boxing, and circus events.
But English Heritage has said none of the columns can be removed in the building, which has not been used for the past 11 years.
However, the views of English Heritage officers and the London committee are known to be at odds with those of the chairman, Jocelyn Stevens, who is keen to see the Roundhouse in use again.
Last year, Camden council sold the venue to Keatway Leisure for pounds 895,000 on condition that pounds 400,000 was spent clearing asbestos waste on an adjacent site. The company now appears to be willing to sell it on.
Allied Entertainments director Edward Simons said: 'Anybody who loves this building wants to see it operative. We believe in the building. I took a decision to spend money in developing a scheme but we are not about to spend millions of pounds without the blessing of English Heritage.'
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments