Braithwaite Hall

Braithwaite Hall is part of the Croydon Clocktower. It is one of the few places in Croydon where you can find slightly off the wall, fringe theatre and it’s a perfect venue for this sort of thing.

It’s quite a small space - which means it’s intimate - and the seating can be arranged in a variety of ways to suit the performances. I’ve been to see several shows here in the last few months, ranging from circus acts to jazz/blues fusion via a one man physical performance and puppetry - all very different and slightly strange. Sometimes, when the houselights are up, you can still see the booklined walls of the gallery and the dark wood panels where they haven’t quite curtained everything off properly.

The Croydon Clocktower is very well placed in Croydon, being close to East Croydon station and even closer to bus and tram stops. If you’ve got a bit of time to spare before or after a performance there is always some kind of exhibition that you can peruse and, just outside the Braithwaite Hall (and David Lean cinema) is a cosy cafe where you can happily kill some time. All this inside the Clocktower - as well as the library which is quite large.

This is a true pearl in Croydon amidst the naff nichtclubs and bland high street shops that are around the corner.