A south Bermondsey music and arts venue that is “a jewel in Southwark’s cultural crown” got permission to open until 6.30am on weekends yesterday (Thursday, July 28).
Ormside Projects, in the Penarth Centre on Penarth Street, was founded in 2015 and puts on live music and events like film screenings. Staff set up a bar at the times when the centre puts on live events in the evenings.
Currently the centre, which is to the west of Ilderton Road and to the north of the Old Kent Road, has a licence to open until 11.30pm from Sunday-Thursday, and 12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays.
But it has also put on ninety events lasting until as late as 8.30am and 9.30am in some cases, using temporary events licences, with just two complaints.
Founder Michael Levitt wanted to get permanent permission from Southwark Council to open until 6.30 on the weekends, instead of relying on these temporary events licences.
But in reality, he told the committee, Ormside Projects is likely to put on one late night every weekend, rather than two – and the venue does not open as a bar when it is not hosting an event.
Sarah Clover, Ormside Projects’ barrister, said the venue was a “jewel in Southwark’s cultural crown” and a “test case for the post-Covid survival” of inner London independent cultural spaces and nightlife.
Ormside Projects is funded by events and bar sales when it does open, Mr Levitt said. The venue’s website says it also gets public funding from the Arts Council. The more popular events with more established musicians and artists help support work by more up-and-coming people. Supporter Ed Holloway, speaking at the event, said that the more commercial aspects “then give people space to flourish. You can’t start as a new artist and [go straight to] Brixton Academy.”
No objections came in from local people and there were 118 comments in support, including 74 from people in Southwark.
But police cautioned against extending the licence, worrying about possible criminal activity in future near the venue, even though there have been no reports of crime at previous events.
Ms Clover, who is described as “one of the leading barristers in the country in licensing”, said: “They’ve done nothing wrong literally over the past seven years, so [I don’t know] why they’re getting such a rough ride from the responsible authorities.”
Members of Southwark Council’s licensing, planning and environmental protection teams said they were worried about the effect of people living in the area. Ormside Projects shares a wall with some flats, but has been well soundproofed.
This concern illustrates the changing nature of the area. The area where Ormside Projects is currently largely light industrial and made up of warehouses.
But the council’s plan to redevelop the wider Old Kent Road area involves getting more flats built in the neighbourhood, meaning it will become more residential. This could pose a problem for late-night venues like Ormside Projects.
The extended hours license was eventually given after a meeting that stretched for more than four hours.