New 2,300 capacity Stratford music venue to open in 2027

Historic Stratford venue The Rex is set to undergo a £15 million transformation following its acquisition by The Columbo Group. The East London space, which prior to its 2023 closure was primarily a theatre venue, will be turned into a music venue set to open its doors in late 2027. 

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The Rex opened as a theatre and opera house in 1896, and spent various scattered stints as a cinema and bingo hall before a 1975 fire rendered the building semi-derelict. It was resurrected in 1996 by local promoters and became known as one of Stratford's most important entertainment spaces. 

Columbo Group’s portfolio includes several beloved spaces dotted around the capital, including Camden venue Jazz Cafe and Brixton nightclub Phonox. The group’s CEO, Steve Ball, said of the upcoming plans, “The Rex has been part of London’s musical heritage, and we’re delighted to have the opportunity both to breathe life back into it and to grow our portfolio of spaces.” The redevelopment promises to become a new flagship venue in East London. 

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