After a giant closing party, London lost one of the staples of its nightlife when Printworks shut its doors last year. For six years, it was the name on everyone’s lips when it came to clubbing at a huge, scaled-up venue in the city.
Its time came in May 2023, turning off the power to the 6,000-capacity nights in electronic music to make way for office space.
But is Printworks gone for good? Maybe not. Ever since its final night, the rumours began to circle that this closure was temporary, and that a return to the same space was on the cards for 2026. There was even an announcement from the venue before BICEP’s closing set that signalled the intention to return to Press Halls three years down the line.
Now, it looks like this could well be on the books, with developers submitting plans to Southwark Council today (February 12). British Land and AustralianSuper put the proposal forward, which outlines aims to remould the venue in Rotherhithe into a cultural space once again. As reported in The Guardian, this pair are in talks with Broadwick Live, the operators behind Printworks (and also other ventures including The Beams and Drumsheds).
Proposals detail a plan to occupy half of the Press Halls building, with the other half being turned into office space for 1,500 workers and shops. The parties hope to receive planning permission in the next few months.
Press Halls was once home to the printing presses of the Evening Standard and the Daily Mail, and the plan is to salvage much of the printing equipment and retain the final printing roll in the remaining press if and when it does become a space for music, art and events once more. British Land also intend to add a roof terrace if the club does return.
There is no confirmation as to whether we will get a Printworks comeback in 2026, but keep an eye on our page for further updates!