The unique Scala

A diverse historical building plays host to diverse modern music

Having been everything from a "Primatarium" to an airplane manufacture factory, stepping into the Scala offers the promise of a truly unique experience. It's been through delays in construction due to the first world war, it was damaged in the Blitz, its interior was turned into a forest in the 1970s… it’s a strangely multipurpose space that has existed for most of its life as a cinema, then a music venue.

Now it describes itself as a “cultural meeting place” and that seems entirely accurate. On my visit, I found the winding stairs open out to a modest yet impressive stage area, where you feel both intimately connected to the performers on stage and able to stand back in awe as music fills the tall space.

Never afraid to push the boat out, the Scala closed for a time because it illegally screened Kubrik’s A Clockwork Orange – that punk spirit is alive and well in its modern incarnation. During my visit to the Scala, I watched mellow rockers Cigarettes After Sex perform an incredible set. Supported by a mix of experimental and more accessible musicians, the quirky spirit of Scala was truly alive and well.

It’s a friendlier venue than most, without any airs about its importance on the cultural scene – just good music in a beautiful historical setting. With such a distinctive and diverse range of events on at this venue, I encourage anyone who is seeking out something uniquely London to pay the Scala a visit!

Christina Care Calgaro

TripTide User