A much loved south London venue is set to reopen this autumn, with the old Brixton Fridge being relaunched as the Electric Brixton.
With work underway to restore the fine Edwardian interior – and add some modern touches – the Electric will offer a capacity of 1,700 people for club events and 1,500 for live shows.
On Thursday 22nd September, there’ll be an invite-only industry launch followed by a series of public launch events.
Designed in the Edwardian neo-classical and Baroque style by Gilbert Booth, the building opened as the Palladium Picture Playhouse on 20th March 1913.
Surviving as a cinema for nearly 70 years before closure in March 1981, the building went through several names, changing from the Palladium, to the Regal in 1956 (-1963), the ABC 1963-1977, the ACE 1977-1984 and the Fridge 1985-2011.
A rather brutal remodelling in 1955 saw the classical frontage being replaced with the austere post-war modernist façade that remains today (but the skanky old fridges that were stuck on the front have now been removed).
Refurbishment work underway inside, with the old none-more-black of the Fridge being replaced by a jauntier gold and blue colour scheme. I think it looks rather splendid.
Looking towards the stage.
The old boxes overlooking the stage will be restored.
Old cinema equipment.
View from a box seat.
Stage view.
First floor view.
Ornate Baroque detail.
Old lighting equipment.
Read more about the history of the Electric/Fridge below:
Fridge history in photos
Palladium Cinema/Fridge (1915)
Palladium Cinema/Fridge (1945)
Brixton Ace flyer (1983)
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Has that weird atmosphere of a nightclub during the day – a bit hinky & slightly spooky.
Looks stunning, but I’m not too sure the mangled clubbers who’ll be there will appreciate all the fabulous restoration work that’s gone on!
Bloody marvellous pictures. I hope they’re not chucking out the old cinema stuff when they could donate it to the cinema museum.
Supercity: they intend to clean up the old bits of cinema stuff they find there and feature them in the club.
Old cinema equipment. – 🙁 hope it don’t end up in a skip
Will this just be live events or will they be running club nights too?
First time back after revamp. Off to see The Orb :]