Tudor Rose, Southall
The Tudor Rose is a nightclub, live music venue and former cinema in Southall, Ealing, London.[1]
The premises opened in 1910 as the Southall Electric Theatre, and renamed to the Gem Cinema the following year, with a 500 capacity. A balcony was added in 1929, increasing the capacity to 758. It was renamed Century Cinema in 1955 and closed two years later.[1][2] It subsequently became a warehouse before reopening as a specialist cinema for Bollywood films, catering for the local British Asian community. This closed in 1980.[1]
In 1983, the premises reopened as the Tudor Rose, and became an important venue for local British African-Caribbean people. It was reported to be the only black-owned venue in Southall, and catered for weddings, parties and funerals in addition to live music events.[3] In 2002, two men were shot dead inside the venue, while it was holding an anti-gun event. A man was charged with the murder but later acquitted.[4][5] In 2014, police revoked the venue's licence after it had gained a reputation for violence and disorder. The decision was reviewed the following year in court, but upheld.[6][7] Its licence was restored in 2019.[3]
In June 2020, Black Lives Matter staged a protest outside the venue after Ealing Borough Council announced it could be demolished as part of refurbishment plans in the area to build new housing.[3][8] In October, police broke up a wedding reception at the venue with 100 guests, violating local social isolating laws in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A spokesman for the local police said the venue had been reported and could face a £10,000 fine for the incident.[9]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Century Cinema in Southall". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ "The Estates Gazette". 29 March 1957: 513. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b c "Campaigners fight to save the Tudor Rose – Southall's haven for the black Caribbean community". The Connecting Newspaper. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ "Man not guilty of double murder". BBC News. 7 May 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ "Two shot dead at crowded nightclub". Ealing News. 19 December 2002. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ "Notorious nightclub Tudor Rose to stay closed, court decides". MyLondon. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ "Court upholds decision to revoke the Tudor Rose licence". London Borough of Ealing Council. 10 March 2015.
- ^ "Hands off Tudor Rose Campaign". Visit Southall. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ "Covid: Southall wedding venue hosts 100-guest reception". BBC News. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.