If plans are approved, the building will become a late-night club and multi-use venue
After lying empty for 10 years, the building at the corner of Rye Lane and Peckham High Street (which was previously home to nightclub Peckham Palais) could be about to get a new lease of life. According to an application submitted to Southwark Council in October, there are plans to convert the disused building into a five-floor multi-use space, comprising a club, music venue, bar, restaurant, events space and office/studio.
The building was originally opened in 1867 as the Jones and Higgins department store which operated at the site until 1980. Later on, part of the building was demolished to make way for the Aylesham Centre while the rest became Peckham Palais, a club centred around house, techno, dubstep and bass. Despite the fact that this Peckham mainstay has been around for more than 150 years, it has not yet been listed and has become considered to be an ‘endangered building’ – at risk of demolition.
The new club (as yet unnamed), will be based out of the building’s basement, while the ground level will act as a reception, the first floor will be a bar with food, the second will be an event space, and at the top will be an office and studio. According to the application, the space will also play host to theatrical productions, movie screenings, dance performances and more. Most interesting, perhaps, are the proposed opening hours: the club will be open until 6am on Fridays and Saturdays, and until 5am on Sundays.
The proposed renovation is awaiting approval by the Southwark Council’s planning committee – we’ll keep you updated with further details if/when they come.
Stay in the loop…
Sign up to our drops & get us in your inbox.
We’ll be in your inbox every Wednesday at 11:30am.
Put the kettle on!
1a Rye Lane, Peckham, London SE15 5EW
Image credit: Southwark Planning