Palace of Varieties

From Charlie Chaplin to Charli XCX, The Clapham Grand’s 125th anniversary is a bold, brilliant and gloriously camp celebration - not just of one venue’s history, but of the evolution of entertainment itself.

Born as a Palace of Variety after outgrowing its music hall roots in 1900 - and founded by the legendary Dan Leno - The Grand has morphed through every imaginable incarnation: from banjo-juggling variety acts and performing ponies, to cinema, theatre, bingo hall, nightclub and now, a full-throttle hybrid of all of the above. If these walls could talk, they’d sing, scream and drag you onto the dancefloor.

As Wandsworth takes centre stage as London’s Borough of Culture this year - and The Grand celebrates its monumental 125th birthday - the timing couldn’t be more electric. For one night only, the curtain rises on a spectacular tribute to a century of cultural change: from scandalous music hall stars and cinema premieres to Britpop mosh pits, drag queens and the confetti-drenched chaos of Bongo’s Bingo.

Told through the lens of a raucous 'docucomedy' created by The Grand’s in-house dream team - with special surprise guests - this riotous romp features live performances of iconic moments and songs from every decade. It’s a love letter to London, live entertainment and the joy of community. With a guest list made up of the venue’s extended family - ex-staff, local legends, charities and lifelong fans - this free, one-night-only spectacular isn’t just a show; it’s a homecoming.

Wild, witty and warm-hearted, this is a tribute to the power of shared joy, resilience and the magic that happens when people gather in a room to be entertained.