Electric Ballroom facts for kids
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| Location | Camden, London |
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| Coordinates | 51°32′23″N 0°08′35″W / 51.539722°N 0.143056°W |
| Public transit |  Camden Town |
| Capacity | 1,500 |
The Electric Ballroom is a famous music venue and indoor market in Camden Town, London, England. It's known for hosting many rock bands and other exciting events. This popular spot can hold up to 1,500 people.
Contents
A Look Back: The Electric Ballroom's Story
The Electric Ballroom has a long and interesting history. It first opened way back in the 1930s as an Irish dance hall. In the summer of 1978, it got its current name, the Electric Ballroom. Bill Fuller owned the venue for many years until he passed away in 2008 at 91 years old. Since then, it has continued to host a variety of events.
Inside the Electric Ballroom
The building has two floors. You'll find two dance floors and four bars inside. The ground floor has a big stage with all the equipment needed for live concerts. It can fit 1,500 people, making it a great place for bands to play.
What Happens Here?
The Electric Ballroom hosts many different kinds of events:
- Comedy Shows: A British stand-up comedy TV show called Stand Up Central (which used to be Russell Howard's Stand Up Central) is filmed here. People watch the comedians live at the venue.
- Music Showcases: From 2011 to 2018, MTV Brand New held special music showcases at the Electric Ballroom. This helped new artists get noticed.
- Roller Disco: For a short time in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Electric Ballroom was a fun roller disco!
- Indoor Market: By 1990, the building also became home to an indoor market on weekends. Around fifty stalls sold all sorts of cool things. These included fashion items, lifestyle goods, and music-related products. The market sadly closed suddenly in 2015.
- Club Nights: On Fridays, there's a club night called Sin City. They play rock and alternative music. On Saturdays, "Shake" plays mostly pop and dance music from the 1970s, 1980s, and beyond. They also play modern hip hop and R&B.
- Wrestling Events: The Electric Ballroom is the London home for PROGRESS Wrestling. They have held exciting wrestling events here regularly since March 2014.
- Community Events: On April 15, 2018, a big campaign called the People's Vote started at the Electric Ballroom. It was a place for people to gather and discuss important topics.
Saving the Electric Ballroom
For a while, there were plans to knock down the Electric Ballroom. Transport for London wanted to rebuild the Camden Town Underground station. In 2004, the local council, Camden London Borough Council, said no to the plan.
A new idea came up in 2005. This plan was to demolish the whole block, including the Ballroom, Buck Street Market, and the Dr Martens store. But government officials also rejected this proposal.
In 2007, the government said the Electric Ballroom was an old building. This new argument allowed discussions about extending the Camden Town tube station to start again. However, the Electric Ballroom is still standing today, continuing to be a vital part of Camden Town.
