New live music venue Amazing Grace to open in London
It's set to open in London Bridge's St Thomas' Church later this month
Amazing Grace, a new live music venue, will be opening soon in London Bridge to host “high quality emerging talent and established artists”.
The venue will be located in St Thomas’ Church, a Grade II Listed building, next to The Shard, and will be opening on October 15.
The church was first built in 1192, and the original stained glass windows, altar, and woodwork will be kept in its original condition while adding a bar, a dancefloor, and a mezzanine overlooking the downstairs club space.
The gorgeous bar features a white countertop and green tiling, with bright gold lights hanging from the ceiling. The stage is a stone’s throw away from the drinks, meaning that gig-goers won’t miss out on any entertainment while grabbing some much-needed refreshments.
“In a nod to its London roots, the venue will showcase a broad range of cultures and genres in celebration for all that the city represents,” the Amazing Grace venue states.
It’s set to open its doors on October 15 and is set to “play host to emerging talent from across the UK and internationally,” according to a press release.
Fans can also expect “an eclectic mix of musicians and DJ’s showcasing many different genres and styles” to ensure a “high quality late night venue” in the area.
The venue also boasts a 3D-mapped wall behind the stage for animated projections during performances, so fans can be “transported into the performer’s world”.
They will also be displaying Banksy’s original piece Christ With Shopping Bags.
The piece was created by the street artist in 2004, and is worth an estimated £50,000, according to online auction house Christies.
The venue will serve independent craft beers, cocktails, their own in-house lager, and hand-picked spirits, as well as offering Taiwanese steamed buns from the Peckham-based Chinese street food restaurant Mr. Bao.
Co-founder of Amazing Grace, Vineet Kalra, said: “We’re thrilled to be the new custodians of this iconic London space.”
“As a team of live music fans, we’re making it our mission to bring the best talent, both local and global, to our stage in the coming months,” Kalra added.
The venue is yet to announce any forthcoming artists that are set to play at Amazing Grace.
Its launch also provides a welcome boost for independent venues at a time when it is thought that venues are £90 million in debt due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the costs associated with lockdown.
At the beginning of lockdown in March 2020, more than 500 venues almost shut forever. However, many were saved thanks to the donations to the MVT’s #SaveOurVenues campaign. Pressure on the UK government and the Cultural Recovery Fund has also helped keep places afloat.
But Mark Davyd, Chief Executive of the MVT, warns that many are not out of the woods just yet.
He told NME last week: “Getting that [£90 million debt] paid off isn’t going to be done this year, it likely won’t be done next year and might not be until 2024 or 2025 if things keep going as they are.
“The average debt they’re emerging with is around £80,000-£120,000 per venue – some are in much more significant debt than that.”