Clapton (Palace) Pavilion

Clapton

Is the neon sign usually on at the Clapton Pavilion?
I came home late last night and it was on, I wonder if something is happening there or I have just missed that the sign is always on…

55 Comments

  1. Hi @line1 are you talking about the old cinema? I don’t think I’ve noticed it on before.

  2. Next to the Clapton Hart, I just noticed the huge neon sign saying ‘Pavilion’ was switched on at about 3:30am this morning, maybe they have started work next door and that was the reason?!

  3. I wonder if @fiantic can shed any light?

  4. I passed there about 9pm yesterday and noticed the neon sign was on. The doors were open too, and lights on inside. Curious.

  5. As far as i know a church group were trying to buy it, maybe they have done

  6. I went past on the bus this afternoon and there were a couple of people having a discussion around the entrance. Perhaps they were the new owners/developers?

  7. Well I’ve just passed there and noticed what looks like a squatters’ \Legal Notice” on the door.”

  8. The word on the street is that the Church I mentioned above have now completed the sale, the former owners are moving out a little slowly – hence the notice.

  9. @ewebber Thanks for that. Any idea of the name of the church group who’ve bought it?

  10. I know it’s a local group, I’ll post it if I find out more

  11. hmmm. so I guess that’s it for the cinema. I know it was a really long shot, and it’s better to have a church in it than letting it go derelict, but I can’t help being a little disappointed. c’est la vie…

  12. Hackney Gazette’s take on things http://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/former_owner_s_return_to_notorious_lower_clapton_nightclub_sparks_fear_of_old_violence_1_953810
    Did anyone see the party going on?

  13. Bizarre! I’d be interested to know why Edwards thinks the sale was invalid.

  14. Is that one building or two? I wish the pub would hurry up and open… Probably won’t use the Ethiopian church so much… If it is going to be two buildings then I think its a very rad idea to open up a church next to a pub.

  15. Its definitely two buildings, so dont worry, the pub is safe. Anyway, the fact its going to the Ethiopian church, which is one of the oldest in the world with its own distinct culture, means that at least its bringing a different flavour to the area. And talking about flavour, an ethiopian restaurant wouldlnt go amiss either. rack up the injera breads!

  16. A church sounds like the perfect antidote to the chaos created by Chimes…

  17. The latest on this is that the former owner and friends have now been evicted

  18. Hi all,As GavinRedknap mentioned, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is one of the most historical Christian churches in the world. The Parish name for the church in Clapton is ‘St Mary of Zion’ church.We have a variety of members from all backgrounds and we welcome you all to attend. By the grace of God we will be open as a church in late 2012, planning permitted.Our website; http://www.stmaryofzion.co.uk will shortly be updated to provide notice as to future plans.If you have any detailed questions please feel free to use the ‘contact us page’ on the website and someone will respond promptly.As for the Restaurant @GavinRedknap that’s something in the future we could look into. In the meantime on every special occasion (Christmas Easter ect) we provide all dishes including Injera and much more.Take care all and God Bless.”

  19. I have learned something here.  I lived in Hackney from 1946 until 1971 and yet I never realised that the cinema was called the Clapton Pavilion.  I always thought it was named ‘The Kenninghall’.  I took my Grandad there to see ‘Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure’  starring Gordon Scott and a young Sean Connery, who played a villain.The only Pavilion I was aware of was the one opposite the Town Hall in Mare Street.  My mate’s dad was the Commissionnaire there in the late 50s.

  20. I just saw this regarding the church: http://stmaryofzion.co.uk/#/news-events-9/4546198999 “Our focus now is to convert our new premises into a Church building and Community centre.  This will require clever architecture as we aim to bring back some of the original features of the building whilst incorporating some of the features of St Mary of Zion church in Axum. With the history surrounding our premises we will need to engage with some of the local community groups for feedback in relation to our ideas.  This presents a good way for us to interact with our neighbours and hear their views and opinions.” Its fairly easy to see how that semi circular wall fronting the roof there could be incoporated into a byzantine-style dome.”

  21. Does that mean they are planning to demolish the ’30s facade to reveal the old Victorian one sitting behind it which can be seen at the bottom of this page?;http://www.saveourcinema.org/“

  22. Benjamin – that would be great, actually. In the meantime, here’s a quick sketch of how they could utilise what’s there already. Wouldnt be cheap, mind – plenty of work for a structural engineer! “

  23. I’m guessing they mean the small old church rather than the large domed one that was built in the ’50s;http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ethiopia/axum-church-of-mary-of-zion.htm“

  24. Im sure they do – not least given that putting a dome on that would be virtually impossible without ripping it all up and starting again! You can see where theyre going with that. I expect it will be a very good addition to the neighbourhood.

  25. The planning application for the church is over in the planning group: http://www.yeahhackney.com/229-lower-clapton-road-former-palace-pavilion-cinema/“

  26. That’s really quite impressive – and they have gone for a dome. Good news!

  27. Have just read the details of the planning application for the old cinema (aka Palace Pavilion) at 229 Lower Clapton Road. Just what the Clapton Pond Conservation Area needs. A pastiche of a 1950s building, complete with a  front facade of coloured polycarbonate arch and dome, aluminium and uPVC windows and tinted glazed units with a battery of rooflights on the top. Look out Harlow – here we come!!

  28. An ethiopian orthodox church in clapton. such a beautiful attribute to the area. i love hackney. so culturally diverse and to have such an ancient church which will only serve to enrich the area is like a breath of fresh air. btw… dont we already have a new cinema on mare street?? and also we have a cinema in dalston unless i’m mistaken. \;)" i look forward to the new Church”

  29. @tsehai I think the concern is not the new church, but rather whether the group are committed to preserving the original features of the cinema building. The cinema is one of the oldest in London and like any old building, once original features have been removed, they are gone. Hackney also used to be home to at least 19 cinemas! (see this thread over here: http://www.yeahhackney.com/hackney-history-cinemas/)”

  30. @tsehai I don’t think anyone (at least to my knowledge) is objecting to its new function as a church. Some local residents do however have architectural objections to the proposed design. For what it’s worth, my preference would be to remove the 30s low-grade deco facade (assuming the older Victorian facade is still largely intact behind it) and replace it with a Modernist glass extention which would maintain the volume and provide a contrast between the restored Victorian facade and the new.But then I recognise that it’s not my property.

  31. \But then I recognise that it’s not my property.” I think youve hit the nail on the head there Benjamin. We can do our best to influence things and get the best result for the area but in the final analysis if the building is not protected by listing or conservation area status we have to defer to the fact that whoever has bought it has a right to do with it as they like subject to planning of course. Whether you like it or not that’s the law of the land. I think we fail to remember that sometimes. And anyway I can think of far worse fates for the old cinema than to be a home of the Ethiopian church.”

  32. @GavinRedknap couldnt agree with you more to my knowledge this building has already been purchased and the new design does not drastically alter the original but totally uplifts it. also the building was used as a nightlclub for a very very long time. i personally feel this Church should be left to develop this building as it is now private property (legally purchased) and not a listed building either. the Church should have every right to design the building which they have purchased. it is not a public building in that sense, so i really cannot see why an external group would feel they have the right to dictate how the buliding be used/designed. if i were to buy a house (Victorian or not) it would be unacceptable for a member of the public to tell me how I can or cannot design that house, given the fact that it would now be my own property. the fact that it would serve to enrich the area is a great attribute. also, all across London i have noticed how so many Edwardian ‘churches’ have been redesigned into New Build Modern Flats; original features intact: yet it was the right of the people who purchased those buildings to do as they had pleased with them with regards to their design.personally, we do not need another cinema in the area. i think too much emphasis is being placed on the wrong things. I welcome the Churches design plans and feel it would benefit the local area. also.. it would be something greatly needed for the local youth.in all fairness, the building is now the property of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. from what i am seeing they are being treated very unfairly by this group who had nothing to do with the PURCHASE of the building. i’d  say: give the Church a chance! yes there could be so many worse things to happen. but given the fact that someone also died in that place when it was a nightclub (someone who had actually attended my own school when i was back in school many many years ago), i feel this Church is the beacon of light the area has NEEDED for so long.

  33. @ewebber@GavinRedknap i couldnt agree with you more 😉@benjamin like GavinRedknap i also think you hit the nail on the head when you say: \But then I recognise that it’s not my own property.”to my knowledge this building has already been purchased and the new design does not drastically alter the original but totally uplifts it. also the building was used as a nightlclub for a very very long time. i personally feel this Church should be left to develop this building as it is now private property (legally purchased) and not a listed building either. the Church should have every right to design the building which they have purchased. it is not a public building in that sense so i really cannot see why an external group would feel they have the right to dictate how the buliding be used/designed. if i were to buy a house (Victorian or not) it would be unacceptable for a member of the public to tell me how I can or cannot design that house given the fact that it would now be my own property. the fact that it would serve to enrich the area is a great attribute. also all across London i have noticed how so many Edwardian ‘churches’ have been redesigned into New Build Modern Flats: yet it was the right of the people who purchased those buildings to do as they had pleased with them with regards to their design.personally we do not need another cinema in the area. i think too much emphasis is being placed on the wrong things. I welcome the Churches design plans and feel it would benefit the local area. also.. it would be something greatly needed for the local youth.in all fairness the building is now the property of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.from what i am seeing they are being treated very unfairly by this group who had nothing to do with the PURCHASE of the building.i’d  say: give the Church a chance. I re-iterate my feeling that it is very evident that they are being treated unfairly. this is such a great oppertunity of growth culturally socially historically and yes: spiritually in our area. to have a church that dates back nearlly 2000 years established in hackney is… wow.. I am personally greatly inspired. it is uplifting to know that a beacon of light can come from a place which previously encountered sorrow: Given the fact that someone also died in that place when it was a nightclub (someone who had actually attended my own school back when i was younger many many years ago – I actually remember being in assembly at school and the teachers telling us we had lost a student) i feel this Church is a refreshing beacon of light the area has NEEDED for such a long time. I ALSO think it would be GREAT to have an Ethiopian restaurant in the Local area soonafter 😉 😉 i do love hackney for its diversity in culture and its continued GROWTH. but THIS i feel is also a beautiful and historical moment.”

  34. @ewebber@GavinRedknap i couldnt agree with you more ;)@benjamin like GavinRedknap i also think you hit the nail on the head when you say:“But then I recognise that it’s not my own property.”to my knowledge this building has already been purchased and the new design does not drastically alter the original but totally uplifts it. also the building was used as a nightlclub for a very very long time. i personally feel this Church should be left to develop this building as it is now private property (legally purchased) and not a listed building either. the Church should have every right to design the building which they have purchased. it is not a public building in that sense so i really cannot see why an external group would feel they have the right to dictate how the buliding be used/designed. if i were to buy a house (Victorian or not) it would be unacceptable for a member of the public to tell me how I can or cannot design that house given the fact that it would now be my own property. the fact that it would serve to enrich the area is a great attribute. also all across London i have noticed how so many Edwardian ‘churches’ have been redesigned into New Build Modern Flats: yet it was the right of the people who purchased those buildings to do as they had pleased with them with regards to their design.personally we do not need another cinema in the area. i think too much emphasis is being placed on the wrong things. I welcome the Churches design plans and feel it would benefit the local area. also.. it would be something greatly needed for the local youth. in all fairness the building is now the property of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.from what i am seeing they are being treated very unfairly by this group who had nothing to do with the PURCHASE of the building.i’d  say: give the Church a chance. I re-iterate my feeling that it is very evident that they are being treated unfairly. this is such a great oppertunity of growth culturally socially historically and yes: spiritually in our area. to have a church that dates back nearlly 2000 years established in hackney is… wow.. I am personally greatly inspired. it is uplifting to know that a beacon of light can come from a place which previously encountered sorrow: Given the fact that someone also died in that place when it was a nightclub (someone who had actually attended my own school back when i was younger many many years ago – I actually remember being in assembly at school and the teachers telling us we had lost a student) i feel this Church is a refreshing beacon of light the area has NEEDED for such a long time. I ALSO think it would be GREAT to have an Ethiopian restaurant in the Local area soonafter ;);) i feel The Church should be SUPPORTED. as should their plans. i do love hackney for its diversity in culture and its continued GROWTH. but THIS i feel is also a beautiful and historical moment for hackney also.”

  35. Welcome to the phenomenon of 21st century NIMBYism, tsehai.

  36. \Welcome to the phenomenon of 21st century NIMBYism”The fastest growing religion in the west. I heard they were going to have their first place of worship opening…but someone objected.”

  37. ‘word-slanging’ aside. @GavinRedknap and @benjamin i still think the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is a GREAT attribute to Hackney! Excellent (yaaaay!!!!) and @benjamin if your issue itself is based on your (counter)religious views (…..everyone entitled to their own beliefs…), i am sure you will be more than welcome to at least attend/visit the Church services once the building is opened. And ‘Remember’ as well as the Ethiopian Orthodox Church being ‘New’ to the West, it is actually one of the Oldest Most Original and Ancient Churches in the world. I approve of Cultural Diversity within our borough! and @GavinRedKnap rolling out the injera breads sounds good indeed!

  39. Looks like things are getting very heated indeed. This is really quite unfortunate and doesnt do people like CAT or FCCT any good whatsoever, looking as they do in this instance like a bunch of reactionary NIMBYs trying to prevent an honest attempt by a group to do something good for the area. Its all quite shameful in fact.

  40. I haven’t been following the debate in detail but isn’t FCCT trying to preserve the historical characteristics of the building?  As far as I can tell they have nothing against the use of the building as a church.

  41. I also see CPNAG are doing their best again to block what are entirely good plans for the Millfields site: http://claptonpond.org/millfields-road-toilets-block-latest-on-planning/2012/05/08/“

  42. I have no personal objection to the building being used for whatever purposes the buyer has planned, i only take issue with the view that \we do not need another cinema in hackney”.What?there are not loads of cinemas in hackney and from my window on Homerton High Street i lose count of the number of churches i can see.I am not denegrating the spiritual benefits that this multitude of places of worship in hackney provide to their congregations  I just fail to see how another church opening it’s doors is going to benefit the large number of people who care not for such places.For the denizens of hackney who will not be partaking in services it is just another building developed beyond recognition.As has been pointed out by previous posters these people  have bought it and can in all fairness change it to suit their desires but lets not pretend it is for the benefit of everyone.”

  43. Hi All, @ewebba@euan According to the picture in this article, the \original” features that they are trying to preserve aren’t actually original: http://www.hackneyhive.co.uk/index/2012/05/harassed-hounded-and-marginalised-in-hackney-ethiopian-orthodox-church-claims/ I think we should all admit that there is some serious dodgy business going on. the planning permission is supposed to be judged unbiased but how can this be? the council who is reviewing the churches plans is governed by the councilors and these Councillor are the chair persons for these groups who oppose the churches.”

  44. That’s a good point nathan. Also note that Hackney council has failed to give a decision on the planning application for the development on the corner of Millfields/ Mildenhall road that was submitted over a year ago now. Theyve had to appeal over the lack of decision about it. Clapton Pond Neighbourhood Action Group were against that then, and, suprise surprise, are inviting more objections. Can you please not delete my post this time as it is pertinent to the discussion?

  45. @GavinRedknap there is already a thread on the toilets, please can you keep comment on that over there rather than hijack an alternative thread.

  46. Its nothing to do with ‘hijacking’ a thread, its to do with the systematic opposition to private development going on in Clapton by groups such as CAT, CPNAG and FCCT and the fact that there is a clear conflict of interest when a Councillor (who has the ability to overrule planning) has direct or indirect links with those groups. And indeed when local forums have direct and indirect links with those groups.

  47. @nathan1983 I doubt very much there is any ‘dodgy business’  – only passionate people. But I guess that’s what  the planning department is for.  They’ll consider all arguments and decide what is in line with policy and best for Hackney.

  48. @euan if thats the case why is the councilors involved? why doesn’t the councilors let the council make their decision and thats it? why are these groups (led by the councilors) telling lies about the old club being a listed building? why are these groups (led by the councilors) telling lies about the old club being a purpose built cinema? when in fact it was part of the pub (originally) why are these groups (led by the councilors) still calling the building a cinema? even in the recent community meeting they still referred it as a cinema. why? why are these groups (led by the councilors) telling lies about the the church thinking they dont have to abide by the planning law? when they have, to my knowledge, gone through the council and done everything that has been asked of them.

  49. Councillors have no special powers when it comes to objecting to planning, the decision always lies with the planning committee and the councillors don’t always \win”. They act on behalf of those in their constituency who request their help – they are elected by us after all. During a planning hearing they have a chance to object in the same way that members of the public do although they have slightly longer to speak as they are objecting on behalf of others. There are 3 councillors that cover the Lea Valley ward and they are all reachable by various means and should listen to their constituants you can find details of them over here: http://www.hackney.gov.uk/l-mayor-cabinet-councillors.htm In the spirit of this website can everyone remember that we all have opinions and it’s good that not everyone agrees with each other (the world would be boring if we did) but let’s keep the debate constructive respectful and allow people their say. If anyone is in doubt of the rules please review them over here: http://www.yeahhackney.com/about/#rules“

  50. @gavinredknap @ewebberSince the discussion is perhaps moving away from the specifics of the new Ethiopian Church proposal, I’ve started a new thread pertaining to local groups involvement in the planning process;http://www.yeahhackney.com/communityneighbourhoodnimby-groups-the-planning-process/ “

  51. This might be an idiotic question that’s been answered somewhere else but is there actually an alternative proposal to the church which is missing out or are the options either Ethiopian Church or NOTHING?

  52. Well seeing as the Ethiopian church bought it, I guess its Ethiopian church, because its theirs now. It would be good if at least any of the original Victorian parts of the building were preserved, but as there isnt any protection for the building, they can do what they want, within the usual guidelines. That’s the long and short of it, really.

  53. I like living in an area with all this going on! I am happy to have something like that right next to the Clapton Hart – the more juxtaposed things going on the more exciting!

  54. I like living in an area with all this going on! I am happy to have something like that right next to the Clapton Hart – the more juxtaposed things going on the more exciting!

  55. I just came across this by Julia Lafferty, on my street’s website (yes, our street now has a website). \We already have the threat to the old cinema from the current planning application by its new owners. Since the group known as St Mary of Zion acquired the building no-one not even local councillors has been allowed near the building and in a letter written recently to a local councillor they say that they will not be “responding to any request to access our property”. So after over one hundred years as a cultural and social centre for the whole community there is a threat that its use will be restricted to use by a small exclusive group. I know that there have been numerous objections to the planning application but I think that local people need to make it very clear to Hackney Council that they wish to keep the building for cultural and leisure uses for the whole community. This meeting will be an ideal opportunity to put this over to Council representatives.Julia ” Sort of stretches the definition of a club/ cinema/ pub/ music venue to make out is been a centre of the whole community. Then again it may have its uses – next time I fancy a pint with some mates I may suggest to my other half that I’m just popping down the local community centre.”

  56. Loving Dalston is reporting that permission was granted yesterday evening;http://lovingdalston.co.uk/2012/06/posters-provide-touching-link-to-doomed-cinema/“

  57. As far as I am aware conditional permission was granted, I’m not sure if those conditions have been published yet.

  58. Nothing on the planning site. Hopefully there will be some conditions concerning the materials to be used given that its in a conservation area and protecting the original façade behind the new one. That would show that the FCCTs  efforts weren’t for naught, and hopefully they could re-direct their efforts elsewhere, under a new name. There’s still plenty to work for in the neighbourhood.

  59. @gavinredknapHow about Friends of Shoreditch Shakespeare’s Curtain Theatre?http://news.sky.com/home/showbiz-news/article/16242252Now there’s a challenge.”

  60. Maybe I can raise he possibility with Julia when we have the Ickburgh Road street party some time this summer!

  61. \It is hoped the site could be opened to the public with plays staged there in the future.”!!http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18351007And there was me trying to be sardonic.”

Comments are now closed for this post.