User:BushHall2001/sandbox

In 2001 Charlie Raworth and Emma Hutchinson, the present owners and directors of the company, reclaimed Bush Hall as a music and entertainment venue. Extensive renovation work was carried out in order to restore Bush Hall to its former glory as the Carlton Dance Hall, with the ornate Edwardian plasterwork and décor. An added masterstroke came with the installation of six two-tier Austrian lead crystal chandeliers. These have become the most discernible of features within what is a truly elegant space. In its formative years Bush Hall was filled with music and dance of all kinds, especially during the roaring twenties and into the 1930’s. Bush Hall was built between 1904/5 by a rogue publisher called W.C. Hurndall, one of three venues built in London, each as a gift to his 3 daughters. Bush Hall was undoubtedly his favourite as he retained a flat at the top, mainly occupied by his mistress. The early structural use of steel girders helped the building survive the blitz and it became a ‘British Restaurant’ (grand soup kitchen), during World War II and subsequent rationing. Thereafter in the late fifties and sixties it was a bingo hall, with a musical edge as it was used as rehearsal space by local west London talent, Adam Faith, Cliff Richard and The Who. It almost went to ruin in the seventies, before it was racked up to be a snooker and social club for 20 years in the 80’s and 90’s. The emphasis being on late night social with the demise in the popularity of snooker in the latter years. And then it turned full circle to the music and entertainment venue that is Bush Hall.