Words by Samantha Harman
www.theoldmarket.com
Built as part of Charles Busby’s prestigious Brunswick Town development, The Old Market has been a stables, riding school, smokery and studio over its long history.
The building dates back to 1826-8, when Charles Busby erected a market at the heart of his grand Brunswick Town construction. Although the building has been enlarged over the years, the main house retains many of Busby’s original features; from its iconic arches to elegant wooden roof beams.
As a market, the building’s success was limited. Immediately overshadowed by a competing market in central Brighton, it was soon repurposed as a riding academy. An imposing North wall – the main entrance – was installed to add interior space and provide a striking arrival. Believe it or not ghostly sounds of clomping hooves have been said to haunt modern day inhabitants. It is known that equestrians found their way into every corner of the building, with polo games conducted where gigs are now hosted, and large ramps leading to stables – one of which is now the office – on all four floors.
As demand for riding declined, The Old Market sought new usage. For a time, the building acted as a warehouse for food storage, even featuring its very own bacon smokery. Yet with tastes for period architecture heightening, locals desired a more fitting use for The Old Market. In 1970, discussions arose about artistic uses for the building; specifically, as a theatre.
Beginning in the 1980s, this artistic vision began to be realised. Much of the building’s infrastructure, which today enables them to stage their shows, was installed and upgraded during this time. Of particular note, an entirely new roof was built, well above the original wooden beams, affording the main house a breathtaking acoustic. Operating under various managements and names, The Old Market acted as recording studio, performance space and venue for a wide range of artists.
Since 2010, The Old Market has been owned and managed by Steve McNicholas and Luke Cresswell. Local residents, the pair are the creators and directors of the global hit show STOMP. The venue played a key role in STOMP’s conception, as it was the very first place Steve and Luke worked together. To improve the venue for audiences and artists alike, the pair invested in various upgrades to the building. Refreshed and ready to go, the venue re-opened in May 2011 with a new nickname – TOM.
The venue has hosted hundreds of different artists over the years, from industry giants like Fatboy Slim, Katherine Ryan and Spymonkey, to future stars like Sylvia Mwenze and Scarlett Fae (pictured above). And in April 2024, the venue became a registered charity, marking an exciting new chapter in the story.
TOM is a vibrant part of the cultural offer in our city, with an exciting festival programme including ‘Reigning Women’, which champions women both on stage and behind the scenes, and the newly announced ‘In The Box’ 360º arts festival. Be sure to visit and support this iconic venue!
