Planning is underway for a new Art Hotel on the site of The Foundry bar on the corner of Old Street and Great Eastern Street. The plan is to develope a 18-storey ultra modern 'rainskin' screen covered bull-nosed structure. Developers showed images of the hotel in late July 2009 at Shoreditch Town Hall. According to the Hackney council website, the consultation period has now expired meaning an inevitable go ahead of the proposed hotel.
The Foundry has long served local artists, performers and drinkers. It is one of the few bars/artspaces left in the Shoreditch Triangle with any sense of individuality, character or interest to local artists and musicians. Another example of east end gentrification that will no doubt force out the last of the creatives that made the area so unique. You can't stop progress but join the save The Foundry campaign group on facebook to help re-house/re-locate the bar. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=103733314617
Disco_r.dance in the dj booth at The Foundry.