The Camden Assembly – previously The Barfly and The Monarch – has been snapped up by Propaganda Independent Venues, which runs the biggest UK-wide indie night of the same name.
The pub has hosted live music gigs since the 1980s, becoming a venue where Britpop bands including Oasis and Coldplay got an early career break.
It also featured in an episode of cult sit-com Spaced when Simon Pegg’s character is on a night out, and over the years has seen performances by a rosta of huge names including Adele, Amy Winehouse, Ed Sheeran, The 1975, The Strokes and Kasabian.
In 2000 it became part of the Barfly chain of live music bars, before changing hands again in 2016 when Jazz Cafe and Blues Kitchen owners The Columbo Group renamed it The Camden Assembly.
Now the former Victorian pub has a new lease of life with its new owners pledging to continue it as a grassroots music venue for artists and fans.
Not only is there an opttional donation to the Music Venue’s Trust with each ticket sale but they are offering local bands and artists the chance to apply for a slot to play support for bigger-names at the 200-capacity venue.
Propaganda’s founder Dan Ickowitz-Seidler, along with Richard Buc,k have also bought Shoreditch live music venue XOXO.
Dan Ickowitz-Seidler said: ‘I am really excited to have acquired XOYO and Camden Assembly, venues with reputations as two of London’s best venues. It is a challenging time for grassroots venues, and we want to support the touring ecosystem as much as possible.
“We also want to engage with the local community to bring the events they want to see to XOYO and Camden Assembly. We are committed to bringing more artists to Shoreditch and Camden as well as larger acts whenever we can.”
The Camden Assembly has a full slate of gigs and club nights planned but also operates as a pub serving up wings, burgers and sharing plates, draught cocktails, wine and craft beer.
The Camden Assembly is at 49, Chalk Farm Road, Camden Town. wwwcamdenassembly.com
