Tudor Rose, Southall

The Tudor Rose is a nightclub, live music venue and former cinema in Southall, Ealing, London.[1]

The premises opened in 1910 as the Southall Electric Theatre, and renamed to the Gem Cinema the following year, with a 500 capacity. A balcony was added in 1929, increasing the capacity to 758. It was renamed Century Cinema in 1955 and closed two years later.[1][2] It subsequently became a warehouse before reopening as a specialist cinema for Bollywood films, catering for the local British Asian community. This closed in 1980.[1]

In 1983, the premises reopened as the Tudor Rose, and became an important venue for local British African-Caribbean people. It was reported to be the only black-owned venue in Southall, and catered for weddings, parties and funerals in addition to live music events.[3] In 2002, two men were shot dead inside the venue, while it was holding an anti-gun event. A man was charged with the murder but later acquitted.[4][5] In 2014, police revoked the venue's licence after it had gained a reputation for violence and disorder. The decision was reviewed the following year in court, but upheld.[6][7] Its licence was restored in 2019.[3]

In June 2020, Black Lives Matter staged a protest outside the venue after Ealing Borough Council announced it could be demolished as part of refurbishment plans in the area to build new housing.[3][8] In October, police broke up a wedding reception at the venue with 100 guests, violating local social isolating laws in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A spokesman for the local police said the venue had been reported and could face a £10,000 fine for the incident.[9]