Demolition looming for legendary Palais after 90 years

Over the past nine decades the Hammersmith Palais has carved a unique place in London's musical history, hosting everything from tea dances for pensioners to Sir Elton John's 50th birthday party.

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Artists who have performed there range from Glenn Miller to Justin Timberlake. But now the music could be over for the Palais. Its owner, Parkway Properties, wants to demolish the nightclub and replace it with offices and a restaurant.

Parkway already has planning permission for the scheme and by the end of next month will learn if it is to be granted conservation area consent.A decision is expected to be made by Hammersmith & Fulham council by 24 January.

If the Palais is demolished, generations of music history will go with it. The building opened just after the First World War as the Palais de Danse with the original Dixieland Big Band. In the Twenties it was converted briefly into an ice rink before reverting to duty as a dance hall.

During the Second World War the BBC broadcast Services Spotlight from the Palais. Big band stars including Stan Kenton, Joe Loss and Glenn Miller all played there. Later it became a rock venue, playing host to the Rolling Stones, the Pogues and the Clash, who released the single (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais in 1978.

Rock magazine NME, which has hosted its annual awards ceremony at The Palais for the last four years, said: "From The Sex Pistols to U2, Hammersmith Palais has been an institution to thousands of breaking and established bands."

In 1995, a 13-year-old Prince William attended an event called the Yuppy Ball " disguised" as a normal teenager with friends from Eton. However, during the late Nineties the nightclub sawviolent behaviour and drug-taking.

Police tried repeatedly to have the club closed after being called to violent incidents including a shooting on the dance floor, a man having his ear bitten off and a riot in the street outside when two gangs clashed.

More recently, the venue has managed to re-invent itself. Timberlake performed there last summer and it is the base for Saturday night crowdpuller School Disco. The weekly parties regularly attract about 2,000 revellers but have aroused the wrath of residents, who complain about being woken at 2am by drunks as the Palais empties.

School Disco's founder and head DJ Bobby Sanchez said: "There is a general trend to convert the old music halls in London to retail or residential property, so it doesn't come as a surprise."

No one at Parkway Properties could be contacted for comment.