The Drumsheds

The London Borough of Enfield is currently delivering one of the largest regeneration schemes in the UK – Meridian Water – in the Upper Edmonton area of North East London. When complete, the scheme will provide approximately 10,000 homes, 6000 jobs, enhanced green space and public realm and significant transport improvements. Using meanwhile projects to activate and bring people to the site is an important part of the council’s early placemaking strategy.

Enfield has traditionally lacked a night-time economy, and the council saw an opportunity to use four large, vacant industrial sheds to create an exciting new venue. Working in partnership with Broadwick Live, the council converted the sheds into one of Europe’s largest clubbing and events venues, “The Drumsheds.” The venue has become a landmark for Meridian Water and helps with wayfinding. The large, blue sheds with their logo and refurbished roofing are visible from the river, to passing drivers on the North Circular, as well as those using the new Meridian Water train station.

Describe the context and brief for this place?

The London Borough of Enfield is currently delivering one of the largest regeneration schemes in the UK - Meridian
Water – in the Upper Edmonton area of North East London. When complete, the scheme will provide approximately 10,000 homes, 6000 jobs, enhanced green space and public realm and significant transport improvements.

With the scheme set to be built out over a 25- year time period, using meanwhile projects to activate and bring
people to the site is an important part of the council’s early placemaking strategy. Enfield has traditionally lacked a night time economy, and the council saw an opportunity to use meanwhile use to develop one on the site. Four large, vacant industrial sheds located on the Meridian Water site provided the ideal location. Set alongside the River Lea Navigation in a setting with both natural beauty and an industrial flavour, they provided a unique opportunity to create an exciting new venue for cultural events.

Working in partnership with Broadwick Live, a global events business, the council converted the sheds into one of Europe’s largest clubbing and events venues, “The Drumsheds.” The completion of the new Meridian Water train station in time for the Drumsheds to host Field Day Festival in June 2019 enabled it to thrive as a venue. The Drumsheds is now regularly hosting gigs and festivals as well as operating as dance and film studios.
thedrumshedslondon.co.uk/

How has this project or intervent ion contributed to the urban life or user experience of this place?

Like most major development sites, much of Meridian Water is inaccessible to the public. In addition, poor
connectivity in the area more broadly means that local residents do not make great use of the Lea Valley Regional Park that is on their doorstep. A major long-term goal of the project is to improve access to the park for the wider the community, but in the meantime The Drumsheds is allowing visitors in to experience the site and its links to the river and parkland. The venue has become an icon and landmark for Meridian Water and help with wayfinding. The large, blue sheds with their logo and refurbished roofing are visible to passing drivers on the North Circular, as well as people using the new train station and walking along the river.

The Drumsheds has quickly become a destination for world- class performers including Elrow, Chase & Status and Kano, providing local residents and visitors with a new cultural and nightlife offer. The success of the Drumsheds has also helped the council develop further conversations and partnerships with other creative organisations looking to establish new innovative ventures in Meridian Water. They have acted as a catalyst for the council’s long-term regeneration plans to change the experience and perception of an underutilised area.

What do you see as the greatest success of this project?

The partnership between Enfield Council and Broadwick Live was founded on a commitment to placemaking and benefit for the local community, and both parties have worked hard to achieve this. The Drumsheds has created a new night-time economy where none existed before and put Enfield on the map as an event destination. More importantly, in doing so it has raised the profile and understanding of Meridian Water, helping pave the way for Enfield Council to achieve its wider placemaking objectives for the site. When the council began talking to Broadwick about creating this regionally significant venue, Meridian Water was relatively unknown. Broadwick’s signature event, Field Day, is a well-established annual London festival and their decision to bring the event to the site was a major vote of confidence in the venue’s potential.

The Drumsheds has helped put Meridian Water on the map and sparked interest in young people looking to find a new place to spend their leisure time. Following a number of sold out events, renowned DJs, performers and festival goers have been plugging The Drumsheds as one of the most exciting, biggest and best venues they’ve ever been to. With a license for 7,000 people, it is one of the largest nightlife venues in Europe, and with an upgrade planned that would increase the venue to a 10,000 capacity, the Drumsheds may soon be one of the largest in the World.

Please share any figures that support your entry – for example, increased dwell time, happiness surveys, foot fall, event at tendance, or observed changes in behaviour. Art icle references or quotes from supporters or reviews in the media may also be included.

Since opening in June 2019, The Drumsheds has quickly established itself as a premier venue. It has hosted four sell out events over five days, including the Field Day Festival (two days – 50,000 guests), Kano (7,000 guests),
Chase & Status ‘Rtrn 2 Jungle’ (7,000 guests) & Elrow (7,000 guests). The Field Day festival alone secured
attendance of nearly 300 media outlets and influencers across both days at the event, 3 million reach through Time Out partnership at a value of £56K (385 pieces of coverage in total) and coverage for the whole campaign had an audience reach of approximately 60,000,000.

When the Drumsheds is not hosting public events, it is used for filming, costume productions, dance studios and Secret Cinema. As a busy venue it has had a positive impact on the local economy. Events have required
significant numbers of staff, including security, catering, traffic management, bar staff and event management
freelancers where Broadwick Live sourced some locally from Enfield. Over 75 security and stewards employed
locally at Field Day and a total of 1050 employees from London.