Beloved east London venue Moth Club could be threatened by a new housing development

Part veterans’ society, part music and comedy venue, Hackney’s Moth Club is an east London nightlife staple. It’s glittery gold ceiling, shiny streamers, military memorabilia, intimate performance space and hole-in-the-wall vibe makes Moth beloved by regulars and newcomers alike.

This week, Moth Club called on Hackney locals to contact the local council and object to a planning application for new flats opposite the venue on Morning Lane. In an Instagram post on September 19, the club said: 

‘As well as hosting live shows, comedy, film and club nights MOTH has been in existence since 1972 as an ex-serviceperson club and is still used by MOTH members regularly [...] Any new builds will pose a serious threat to the future of our venue and the gold ceiling!’

Opened in 1972, Moth Club takes its name from the Memorable Order of Tin Hats, a group of ex-military personnel who still meet and socialise in the Hackney hideaway. In 2015, events agency LNZRT gave it a makeover and started running club nights at Moth. It’s since become a mainstay of the indie scene and one of London’s best music venues.

‘It’s such a fundamental venue for the members, the community and the staff,’ said Edie Andrews, Moth Club’s general manager. ‘It’s a real figure in the community that I think we all take for granted.’

Andrews explained that the new flats’ balconies would look onto the back of the club.

‘We feel the block will create a real shadow over the venue. We put real effort into communicating with residents and try to keep our noise proofing as up to date as we can, but without disrupting the integrity of the space, we wouldn’t be able to completely noise-proof that section.’

‘People come from all over England and Europe to see gigs here. We welcome people like they’re coming into our living room. We really feel [the development] would ruin something we’ve all worked tirelessly for years to create,’ Andrews told us. ‘Flats are going up all over Hackney, and it’s like every little area of Hackney history is slowly being built over.’

A spokesperson for Stephen Davy Peter Smith Architects, which is involved in possible designs for the new flats, told us:

‘As far as we are aware, the planning application is with the local planning authority and is currently going through their consultation process where local residents and businesses will be given the opportunity to comment on the application.’

The development is still waiting on approval from Hackney Council, so nothing is set in stone. For now, we’ll have to wait and see what’s on the cards for Moth Club and its neighbours. 

Find out more on Moth’s Instagram here.

Check out our list of where to go clubbing in the capital and the best gigs in London this month.

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