Key Points
- Greenwich Council Approval: Greenwich Council’s licensing committee granted a premise licence at the end of August for a new 5,000-capacity open-air outdoor venue in Charlton Riverside.
- Prime Riverside Location: The venue will be situated on a concrete parcel of land adjacent to existing warehouses at the historic former Stone Foundries site, off Woolwich Road near the Thames Barrier.
- Diverse Event Portfolio: Operator CW Bases Ltd plans to host a wide range of events, including live music concerts, theatrical performances, fashion shows, food festivals, corporate functions, and live boxing matches.
- Non-Music Programming Focus: Venue manager Hugo Kibasi highlighted to the licensing committee that the site’s schedule will primarily feature community, cultural, and corporate events rather than being predominantly music-led.
Charlton Riverside (South London News) October 20, 2026 — Greenwich Council has officially granted a premises licence for a major new 5,000-capacity open-air venue situated along the River Thames in south-east London. Located on a concrete plot off Woolwich Road near the iconic Thames Barrier, the redevelopment forms a key part of the area’s ongoing urban regeneration.
What Are the Details Behind Greenwich Council’s Approval for the New Charlton Riverside Venue?
At the end of August, Greenwich Council’s licensing committee finalized the approval of the operational licence for the plot of land at Charlton Riverside. The site, positioned beside former industrial warehouses at the historic Stone Foundries location, will be repurposed into a large outdoor event arena managed by venue operator CW Bases Ltd.
The approved site layout utilizes an existing paved concrete foundation, offering space for temporary staging, pop-up infrastructure, and crowd management facilities designed to accommodate up to 5,000 visitors per session.
What Types of Events Will Be Hosted at the New 5,000-Capacity Site?
According to statements submitted by CW Bases Ltd, the multi-purpose space is designed to host a broad spectrum of entertainment and cultural programming. The intended event mix includes:
- Live outdoor concerts and musical showcases
- Outdoor theatrical productions and drama performances
- Runway fashion shows and arts exhibitions
- Large-scale food and drink festivals
- Corporate hospitality events and trade gatherings
- Professional outdoor boxing matches and sporting spectacles
Addressing the council’s licensing panel, venue manager Hugo Kibasi clarified the core operational strategy for the location, indicating that the facility is not intended to function strictly as a standard music festival site. Hugo Kibasi emphasized that the primary focus of the site’s annual calendar will be balanced across corporate, athletic, cultural, and community gatherings, rather than being strictly music-dominated.
Background of the Charlton Riverside Development
The approval of the open-air venue comes as part of a wider, multi-year master plan for the Charlton Riverside opportunity area. Historically dominated by heavy industry, manufacturing plants, and logistics yards—such as the former Stone Foundries, which operated in the area for decades—the riverside strip between Greenwich and Woolwich is undergoing incremental urban renewal.
Local planning guidelines set out by Greenwich Council aim to transition the industrial waterfront into a mixed-use district incorporating thousands of new homes, commercial spaces, and leisure infrastructure, while preserving the industrial heritage of the River Thames corridor.
Prediction: How Will This Development Affect Local Residents and Businesses?
The opening of a 5,000-capacity open-air venue at Charlton Riverside is expected to bring direct economic and practical impacts to the immediate south-east London community:
- For Local Businesses and Hospitality: Nearby retailers, pub operators, and transport links along Woolwich Road are likely to experience an increase in footfall and consumer spending during scheduled event days.
- For Local Residents: Residents in Charlton, Woolwich, and surrounding Greenwich neighbourhoods may face increased traffic flow, altered public transport usage on peak event dates, and potential noise considerations associated with outdoor crowds and sound systems.
- For Event Operators and Performers: The addition of a 5,000-capacity outdoor venue provides a mid-sized open-air venue option within inner London, filling a gap between smaller cultural hubs and major stadium venues like the nearby O2 Arena.
