London Pleasure Gardens, a major new East London arts venue that was set to host big parties for Mulletover, secretsundaze and Cocoon in the weeks and months ahead, has sensationally gone bust.
 
The 20-acre venue, launched last month with the backing of London Mayor Boris Johnson and a £3m loan from Newham Council, was expected to capitalise on crowds visiting London’s 2012 Olympics. Visitor numbers have been much smaller than expected, however, and reports continue to suggest chronic venue mismanagement and safety failings. Half of venue, close to the ExCel Centre, was unfinished and closed to members of the public.
 
London Pleasure Gardens suffered a huge setback upon opening, when the Bloc festival, with Snoop Dogg and Orbital due to headline, was forced to close because of safety fears. Bloc organiser, Baselogic Productions went into administration shortly afterwards. The majority of London Pleasure Gardens staff is owed wages, the venue’s architects haven’t been paid and, earlier this week, its Creative Director resigned.
 
Looking ahead, Newham Council still has plans for the venue. A spokesperson has confirmed: “We continue to believe that the site has a viable long term future as a visitor attraction and destination. We will now work with the administrator once appointed to help secure our investment and to discuss the future scope and nature of our involvement.”
 
Most Gardens club events scheduled for later this year will take place at alternative venues. Cocoon’s Heroes – Enter The Magic party is close to confirming a new London venue for December; Mulletover, meanwhile, is promising a new location for its Hallowe’en bash on November 3.