The Rivoli Ballroom is one of the few remaining ballrooms in London, England. It is at 350 Brockley Road London SE4 2BY, opposite Crofton Park overground rail station. It started life as the Crofton Park Picture Palace in July 1913 and was converted into a ballroom in 1957, reopening in 1959 with a large sprung maple dance floor. It is currently in private hands. Famous for its original decor and interior fittings (red velvet, flock wallpaper, chandeliers, glitter balls and over-sized Chinese lanterns), it is often used as a film location and plays host to many dance and musical events. It has found favour with pop video producers and style shoots - Tina Turner's "Private Dancer" video was shot there and rock band Oasis, pop group S Club 7, singer Charlotte Church, fashion model Kate Moss are some glitterati to make use of the venue for shoots. It is probably most famously remembered for its use in the 1983 Elton John video for the song "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues". Live music plays a part at the Rivoli regularly. Indie rock band The White Stripes played a gig there on 12 June 2007. Florence + The Machine played a live show there also, which appears on the DVD packaged with the special edition box set of Lungs, although it is more usual to find jive, rock and roll and swing bands making use of the ballroom. Television host Justin Lee Collins also filmed his chat-show series Good Times there in March 2010. On 27 October 2010, The Kings Of Leon performed a set for BBC Radio 1, with guest warm-up DJ Zane Lowe.
The building has been granted grade two Listed building by English Heritage in response to items in the press concerning its possible sale, which might have led to its closure and demolition. [1]
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