The Beams, opening October 1, will occupy a 55,000sq ft site between the Royal Docks and the river, using spaces near the Tate & Lyle factory
The Royal Docks is getting a new superclub and “Centre for New Culture” rising out of some unpromising land near the Tate & Lyle Factory south of the London City Airport.
It’s the brainchild of a collaborative team of Broadwick Live and LWE and will host club nights at the weekend and become a multi-purpose hub the rest of the week. Think film and art studios, corporate events, fashion shows and exhibitions.
Think also film shoots, calling on the distressed chic of some uninhabited warehouses with peeling paint and crunching underfoot. It will perhaps pick up some of the slack now that the Millennium Mills, the doyenne of urban decaying backdrops, is getting some lipstick at last. (Although we wait to see when that will happen.)
Both parties involved have a track record in regen transformations. Broadwick Live was behind the impressive switch-around of the now-defunct Printworks in Surrey Quays from, er, a print works into something of an iconic club. The team also does similar work with Wapping’s Tobacco Docks.
The Beams headliners unveiled
This new centre has a name and an opening date. The Beams opens October 1 with indoor and outdoor spaces across the sprawling 55,000 sq ft site jammed between the river and the docks (closest DLR Pontoon Dock). One of the creative brains calls the area (rather sweetly) “untouched” and “full of character”.
Headliners for the opening parties include headliners including Michael Bibi, Patrick Topping, Honey Dijon, Denis Sulta, Stephan Bodzin.
“These stellar artists will deliver specially curated events built from the ground up around their unique styles and tastes, alongside local club brands supporting in our newly announced second space, including PXSSY PALACE, Ritmo, Perplex and Faith,” say the organisers.
What they’re saying
We’re told they’ll be putting on 12 day-to-night shows over 12 consecutive Sundays, running until December 17, all on the isolated sites (so few neighbours to complain about the racket).
Paul Jack and Will Harold, Co-founders of LWE said: LWE originated from one-off warehouse events so we are well aware of how to use the raw warehouse aesthetic and build a programme of events that complement their surroundings. We are creating something distinct and can’t wait to show you what we have in store.”
Ajay Jayaram, director of music, Broadwick Live Group, said: “We’ll be featuring top tier names and emerging talent, across various sounds, styles and genres within the broad sphere of house, techno, disco and everything that lies in between. We look forward to introducing our audiences to this exceptional new industrial setting, full of character, situated in an untouched part of London.”
The Beams says it is working with Newham Council, the Royal Docks and other partners to deliver “social value, economic and cultural impact”.