The Hackney Empire has been the venue for every kind of entertainment through Music-Hall, Theatre, Television productions and of course Stand-up comedy in it's 102 year history.  But in recent years the future of the venue has been somewhat troubled.

The venue had closed its doors in September 2001 for essential renovation work, in a £15million attempt to rejuvinate the aging building. But work was put on hold when the main contractor Sunley Turriff collapsed, leaving fears that The Empire may be left to eventually do the same.

But the Arts Council, who have invested £5million in the re-development programme, have today announced that the work has recommenced with a new contractor,  and the venue is now set to re-open in January.

Comic actor Griff Rhys Jones, who led the campaign to save the Empire, told the Evening Standard "I feel cautiously optimistic that we will get there. I just hope that everything goes according to plan. We still have to dot a few 'I's and cross a few 'T's but we will get there."