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So, farewell then Matthews Yard.

The Croydon Advertiser is today reporting that the fight to save Matthews Yard is over and the space is to be demolished later this year.

Matthews Yard has been a workspace, theatre, performance area, art gallery, burger joint and much more for almost a decade.

In my day's running Croydon Radio, we were the first people to collaborate with owner Saif Bonar and set up a studio in a backroom space from which to broadcast our shows.

MY was always quirky, shabby, a bit disorganised but ultimately a great space for a fledgling studio and our community of presenters, guests and visitors. In fact, our cozy, informal set up became a model for other community stations around the country.

It's sad but not entirely unexpected that the end has finally come. MY has been boldly trying to retain its space for quite a few years now. Petitions and achieving ACV (Asset of Community Value) status couldn't prevent the inevitable. We're told an 8 storey block of flats will be built on the site along with a new community space run by Hoodoos, former tenants of Matthews Yard and well known in Croydon for their music and event activities.

All is not lost though. Matthews Yard will continue to run their additional space in Exchange Square, right next door. Whether that will prove a suitable replacement for their original venture we shall have to see.

Matthews Yard is dead. Long live Matthews Yard.

Posted by Tim on Monday 18 February 2019