Croydon’s Fairfield Halls ‘to close for two years’

Fairfield Halls, south London’s largest arts and entertainment complex, will close for a two-year programme of refurbishment from 15 July 2016.

The Fairfield’s operator, charity Fairfield (Croydon) Ltd, had originally hoped for a phased closure – with building work completed in stages, allowing part of the venue to remain open throughout its redevelopment – but has accepted an offer from Croydon Council of around £500,000 to close for two years, reports the Croydon Advertiser.

Over 6,600 people have signed a petition calling for a phased closure. Petitioner Andy Hylton claims the council’s £30 million investment in Fairfield Halls, part of a plan to create a ‘cultural and education quarter’ in Croydon town centre, “places huge risk on Fairfield Halls NOT re-opening and carries significant financial cost to re-open and win back audiences, top quality shows and events”.

The venue currently receives an annual public subsidy of £740,000.

Upcoming shows at the Fairfield, which includes a 1,800-seat concert hall, 750-seat theatre and 500-capacity standing concert area, include The Proclaimers, Dub Pistols, Dreadzone and The X Factor winner Ben Haenow, as well as comedy by Frankie Boyle and Richard Herring and Blackeyed Theatre’s adaption of The Great Gatsby.