Historic music site where the Rolling Stones formed could be torn down by developers

Campaigners are desperate to save The Ealing Club which they see as being the birth place of British rhythm and blues and a missed opportunity for music tourism. 

The club where the Rolling Stones "cut their teeth" will be torn down to make way for a pedestrian route, if the plans submitted by a developer are approved. 

Campaigners are desperate to save The Ealing Club, which they see as being the birth place of British rhythm and blues and a missed opportunity for music tourism. 

It was at the Ealing Club that Keith Richards and Mick Jagger met Brian Jones, giving birth to the Rolling Stones. 

However, developers Benson Elliot and their development managers Londonewcastle have released plans - currently out for consultation - which show that The Ealing Club will be demolished and turned into a walkway. 

A spokeswoman for Ealing Council said: “I can confirm that the Red Room doesn’t have any listed or protected status. As you know, a blue plaque does not confer any protected status.” 

Alistair Young, Secretary For The Ealing Club Community Interest Company, said: “This is the only venue in the UK which can claim to match Liverpool’s Cavern Club in terms of its importance to the history of British music. Today the site of this historic venue is threatened by property developers. 

“Throughout 1962 the Rolling Stones ‘cut their teeth’ at the Ealing Blues Club, eventually forming the legendary line-up of Mick, Keith, Brian, Bill, Ian and Charlie and playing here together for the first time in January 1963. 

“It was the home of Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated and Eric Burdon (The Animals), Manfred Mann, Rod Stewart, and The Who all played at The Ealing Club.” 

Cultural significance 

Keith Richards is quoted as saying: “Cyril Davies and Alexis Korner got a club going, the weekly spot at the Ealing Jazz Club, where Rhythm and Blues freaks could conglomerate. Without them there might have been nothing.” 

James Ketchell, Chief Executive and Founder of Music Heritage UK, said: “The fact that the building is not listed, nor has been given any protected status, is exactly the point! If the local council and its elected representatives are not promoting the area’s heritage and preserving locations of cultural significance, then who will? 

"There is a huge opportunity to be grabbed in terms of developing music heritage tourism if the council can see beyond the promise of a quick return from a property developer.” 

A spokesman from Londonewcastle said: “We recognise that the borough has a significant musical heritage and the original Ealing Club venue on Haven Place was an important part of that. We have met the Ealing Club community group to discuss their proposals for the site and there is an ongoing dialogue, out of which we hope to arrive at a way to recognise what the current blue plaque, placed there by fans, represents. 

“The new accessible and welcoming town centre pedestrian route we are proposing between the station and The Broadway means it is not possible to keep the current building that houses the Red Room club in its basement.” 

Property investors Benson and Elliot bought a large swathe of Ealing town centre in 2012 and have since completed the transformation of the former Arcadia Shopping Centre into 1-8 The Broadway. 

Information about the consultation can be requested via info@9-42TheBroadway.com or freephone 0800 881 5430. All consultation materials will be published on www.9-42TheBroadway.com from January 29. A planning application will be submitted in the Spring.