RENOWNED for putting your relationship to the test, IKEA is now branching out by putting your ear drums to the test.
Well not quite, but the old IKEA site in Tottenham has now been transformed into a massive 15,000 capacity rave venue.
When IKEA first opened its doors in North London 2005 six people ended up in hospital in a rush to grab bargains, now nearly 20 years later, the Swedes have gone and its new owners Drumsheds say security and safety is much better.
Drumsheds is now one of the biggest nightclubs in the world, boasting an incredible sound system and line up of superstar DJs. It has been made possible by the same team that created Printworks, a 6,000 capacity venue in the The Evening Standard, The Daily Mail and Metro newspapers printing halls in Rotherhithe, South London.
Using industrial wasteland buildings and repurposing them using a lot of the original infrastructure into modern party venues is key.
Safety and security is the number one priority though and is nothing like the warehouse parties of the past.
“We’re about safety, safety, safety,” Simeon Aldred, co-founder of venue operator Broadwick Live told The Guardian.
“Yes, it might take 40 minutes to get through the search, but once you’re in you feel safer.”
The warehouse has been transformed from its IKEA days after the company sold its last billy bookcase and was permanently shuttered by the Swedish manufacturer in August 2022.
The flatpack furniture front-runners cited changing shopping habits as the reason for closing the 600,000 sq ft warehouse.
In its place is a truly incredible venue, with tall ceilings and various huge rooms.
But many remnants of the IKEA of old are still visible. The cafe area is now a bar and original escalators and floor markings haven’t been removed.
It’s all about reuse and recycling,” says Aldred, “and thinking about things in a parasitic way. How can we work with what we’ve got?”
Some of the massive bar had been reused from Printworks and some of the mesh fencing was even repurposed from a Batman movie shot there.
“It’s all pretty basic: an amazing DJ, amazing screen and a great sound system. That’s enough. We don’t need trickery,” added Aldred.
It’s seems all that is missing is a bag of meatballs and a 75p hotdog.
