| The Ambulance Station | |
| Address: | 306 Old Kent Road, Southwark, SE1 |
| Location Town: | London |
| Location Country: | United Kingdom |
| Years Built: | 1903-04 |
| Opened: | 1984 |
| Closing Date: | 1986 |
The Ambulance Station was a music venue in a squatted building on the Old Kent Road in the London Borough of Southwark in the mid-1980s. It was set up by the experimental music group Bourbonese Qualk.
The building, designed by W. E. Riley, was built as a fire station by London County Council between 1903 and 1904.[1] [2] It replaced an older engine-house from 1869. The council acquired the neighbouring buildings to this older station and demolished them all to make space for the new one.[1] Once constructed, it was in use by the Fire Brigade until 1969, when it was closed after a new station was built on Cooper's Road. It is Grade II listed.[3]
Anarchist music group Bourbonese Qualk set up The Ambulance Station in the then abandoned five-story building at 306 Old Kent Road. The top two floors of the squat were converted into artist studios. There were living quarters on the middle floor. The first floor included a cafe and meeting places for local anarchist groups. The ground floor was a large performance space, a recording studio, and print workshops.[4]
Canadian hardcore punk band D.O.A played a benefit for anarchist prisoners there on 29 February 1984.[5]
The 1984 Stop the City demonstration was planned in a meeting at the building. The squat also organised a benefit gig which raised £300 and featured Flux of Pink Indians, Kukl and Flowers in the Dustbin.[6]
Scottish post-punk band The Jesus & Mary Chain played there on 25 November 1984, often given as an example of their early gigs ending with "riots", with support from The June Brides. It was the first time seeing the Mary Chain for Geoff Travis after which he signed them to Blanco y Negro.[7] Members of The Go-Betweens were present.[8]
C86 band Stump played their first gig there on 24 August 1985.[9] [10]
Other bands to play included The Television Personalities, Pulp, Felt, Conflict, Crass, Primal Scream, The Boo Radleys, The Butthole Surfers, Swans, Antisect, The Mekons, The Wedding Present, Biff Bang Pow!, Jasmine Minks, The Revolving Paint Dream, and King Kurt.[11] [12]