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At the invitation of The Prince's Regeneration Trust, HRH The Prince of Wales, the Trust’s president visited Brixton today accompanied by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall. Their Royal Highnesses visited Windrush Square, walked through the famous covered street market and visited the Victorian Railway Hotel. Here, His Royal Highness was invited to view plans to bring the former hotel, a historic Brixton landmark, back into full use as a new social, cultural and local business centre for the people of Brixton.

The Hotel, also known locally as Brady’s, is located on Atlantic Road, and partially built into and underneath the railway viaduct. Its distinctive six-sided clock tower has been a landmark on the Brixton skyline since 1880 when it first opened, and although not listed sits within the Brixton Conservation Area. It has been a pub, dance hall and music venue for many years until it was compulsorily purchased by Lambeth Council over 10 years ago. The film 'Rude Boy' by The Clash features scenes of the band in the hotel, Jimi Hendrix is said to have played here after gigs in the West End, and more recently, The Pogues and Alabama 3 have delighted fans with regular gigs at the hotel.

Unfortunately the hotel has remained empty and derelict since it was compulsorily purchased in 1999, and is continuing to deteriorate very rapidly.

In 2008, The Prince's Regeneration Trust, the UK's leading heritage regeneration specialist, helped to establish The Brixton Community Trust, a consortium of community groups and one business with the aim of acquiring the building from Lambeth Council and bringing it back into use for the Brixton community.

The Brixton Community Trust with the assistance of The Prince's Regeneration Trust is preparing detailed proposals for the purchase, funding and regeneration of the building as a new community and business facility. This would include a cafe, gallery, large performance space, business hub providing office space and support for local start ups and existing small businesses, and an office for the management of Brixton’s famous street market.

An initial Options Appraisal was completed in December 2009 financed by The Architectural Heritage Fund, English Heritage and The Adventure Capital Fund, which broadly supported the Trust's proposals.
This project is now benefitting from the support of the DCLG Communitybuilders Fund, managed by The Social Investment Business, who offered £60,000 to finance the technical and feasibility work that will take the project up to delivery stage. The Social Investment Business has indicated that up to £2million could be available to meet the capital cost of the project contingent on successful completion of all feasibility work.

HRH The Prince of Wales was visiting the hotel at the invitation of The Prince's Regeneration Trust reflecting His Royal Highness’s commitment to community-led regeneration.

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of The Prince's Regeneration Trust had the opportunity to show His Royal Highness the vision and future uses for The Railway Hotel. The regeneration will have significant social and economic benefits for Brixton:

"The restored hotel will provide a place where local businesses can thrive, local designers, artists and performers can display their creativity, and where people can simply just meet and chat over a coffee. We want the hotel to once again be a focal point for the people of Brixton. It will also provide much needed space for some of Brixton’s many community organisations to offer services and hold functions.

But perhaps, most importantly the project will help to create a number of new full time and part-time jobs in the hotel, and will encourage employment by supporting the creation of new businesses that will use these facilities," said Ros

Paul Hill, Chairman, The Brixton Community Trust said:

“This community-led project is a shining example of how Lambeth’s ‘Co-operative Council’ can work for local people. With this building, the Brixton Community Trust will bring together the brightest and best of Brixton’s talent to create a venue truly worthy of Brixton’s local, national, and international renown. A big thank you to Lambeth Council and The Prince's Regeneration Trust for making this possible.”

James Charlton, Senior Property Manager, London & Associated Properties plc said:

"London and Associated Properties, the owners of Brixton Village, are delighted to be part of this exciting Royal visit. Brixton Village is a diverse market arcade in the heart of the local community. We are sure that the Prince's hard work and dedication to regeneration will benefit the Brixton economy."

Stuart Horwood, Trustee & Chair of Brixton Market Traders' Federation said:

“Traders in the market are looking forward to the day when the heart of Brixton is beating once more”

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