‘Another piece of London music history lost’ with Corsica studios set to close

A legendary music venue where the likes of Bjork and LCD Soundsystem have played intimate sets will close after rocketing costs in the capital, the Metro can reveal.

The Corsica in Elephant and Castle has become well known for its hectic late-night club nights and bringing fans up close and personal to their favourite DJs.

Operating under railway arches next to the station and surviving a multi-million pound redevelopment of the area, it still attracts acts from across the globe.

But the 500-capacity venue will close in 2026, its management confirmed on Tuesday.

They said it was an ‘impossible task’ to keep going amid financial pressures in a building that needed renovation.

In a statement Corsica revealed the shutters will finally fall on March 26 after a series of parties to mark the end of an era.

It announced: ‘We truly appreciate all of the interest in our current situation and the numerous heartfelt messages of support. As Southwark Council will attest, we are a well-run, considerate venue operator and we are not on the receiving end of any noise complaints from local residents. We are also not being forced out by the developers or the council – we are in fact engaged in constructive dialogue with both parties about any potential future.

‘This part is true though, Corsica Studios – as we currently know it – will close its doors at the end of March 2026.’

However, management says they will work to renovate the premises with the help of the council and charities.

The statement added: ‘The challenge has been to see whether Corsica Studios could continue to operate in the same way and in the same spirit.

‘We now believe that we have arrived at the best outcome possible for the space. This will in time, be a refurbished, soundproofed venue with a solid, long-term lease and a range of legal measures that will give the venue protection from any potential noise complaints from surrounding neighbours.

‘However, in order to achieve this, certain things about the building and its current format will have to change.’

The Corsica was launched by Amanda Moss and Adrian Jones in Corsica Street, Highbury, then moved to King’s Cross. But gentrification fuelled by a massive redevelopment and the opening of the Eurostar St Pancras forced them to make the move south of the River Thames.

They landed in Elephant and Castle where the venue is nestled between South American businesses in an area known as London’s Latin quarter.

The area has been transformed in the last decade with new housing and upmarket bars and restaurants.

Bjork made an appearance in 2017, and Hot Chip have played there as well as hugely popular live acts including Four Tet.

It is also a hub for new DJs to get on the circuit and party nights are legendary, according to locals.

Tash Simmonds, 27, who lives nearby, told Metro: ‘It’s so sad I went to see a DJ set there and it was absolutely brilliant. The place is legendary. I’m surprised it survived the redevelopment but it’s part of the vibe around here.

‘Me and my friends will miss knowing it’s there.’

Estefan Sousa, who works at a nearby restaurant, said: ‘The Corsica brings people into the area from all over the world, it’s great. The guys who work there are very cool and I’m very disappointed it’s going to close, although I had heard rumours.’

The club is next to a South American bakery and opposite a park built to provide some green amid the packed urban area.

Liam Christie, a student, said: ‘The area is still interesting despite the new flats and clean up.

‘The Corsica is a bit of music history we are losing a lot of these places and it’s harder to find cutting edge stuff.’

The ethos of the club, which was founded in 2002, has always been to retain an intimate atmosphere, its founders have said.

James Murphy, Hot Chip, Andrew Weatherall, Roedelius, Omar-S, and more helped celebrate Corsica’s first decade with a series of events.

But confounder Jones previously told music site Pitchfork: ‘Once things get beyond a certain size then it changes, and it’s rarely for the better.

‘That’s not the point for us.’

Between March 2020 and December 2023, a total of 3,011 night economy businesses closed in London – the steepest fall for any English region.

From December 31 to March 29 Corsica will be holding a series of ‘goodbye’ events with special guest appearances.

The statement on the closure added: ‘When the doors finally close and we say goodbye we will do so with the utmost gratitude to everyone who has been a part of our journey so far.

‘We leave with our heads held high, a huge amount of pride in what we have all created together and countless amazing memories (at least the bits that we can actually remember).’