Inside EastEnders’ abandoned former set with iconic Queen Vic pub before it was bulldozed for housing scheme
Pictures of the old EastEnders set have been revealed, showing an eerie abandoned Albert Square.
The former set was where the BBC soap was filmed for 37 years, housed at BBC Elstree Studios in Borehamwood.
However, in January 2022 the show was moved to a new location, leaving its old home abandoned.
The original set was left to fall into disrepair before it was finally demolitioned in June of this year.
The set was built in 1984 ahead of the show’s very first episode, and was only intended to be used for two years originally.
Haunting: Pictures of the old EastEnders set have been revealed, showing an eerie abandoned Albert Square
Old home: The former set was where the BBC soap was filmed for 37 years, housed at BBC Elstree Studios in Borehamwood
Gone: However, in January 2022 the show was moved to a new location, leaving its old home abandoned
The studio was bulldozed to make way for a new housing scheme that’s due to be built on the land soon, according to The Sun.
Pictures before the demolition show the iconic Queen Victoria pub, where drama is always going down, lying abandoned.
Another snap shows the famous Minute Mart newsagents empty, while its shelves are still full of prop stock.
The front of the Walford police station can be seen in another, which usually contained a Mitchell sibling.
One photo shows the Slater household with the pictures still on the fall and Stacey’s son Arthur’s toys lying on the floor.
The chip shop that was previously owned by Ian Beale, Beale’s Plaice, is seen in another shot.
The pharmacy and Turf Accountants are also abandoned, with other pictures showing sets of several family living rooms.
Kathy Beale’s cafe can be seen empty too, but there are still pastries and drinks set out.
Bulldozed: The original set was left to fall into disrepair before it was finally demolitioned in June of this year
Outlived its use: The set was built in 1984 ahead of the show’s very first episode, and was only intended to be used for two years originally
Replaced: The set was built in 1984 ahead of the show’s very first episode, and was only intended to be used for two years originally
Abandoned: A snap shows the famous Minute Mart newsagents empty, while its shelves are still full of prop stock
Dramatic: The front of the Walford police station can be seen in another, which usually contained a Mitchell sibling
Forgotten: The chip shop that was previously owned by Ian Beale, Beale’s Plaice, is seen in another shot
Frozen in time: One photo shows the Slater household with the pictures still on the fall and Stacey’s son Arthur’s toys lying on the floor
Props: Kathy Beale’s cafe can be seen empty too, but there are still pastries and drinks set out
Goodbye: The pharmacy and Turf Accountants are also abandoned, with other pictures showing sets of several family living rooms
Expensive move: The new set is located just a stone’s throw from the old location and cost £87million to create
Long time coming: It was completed in 2022 after five years of work hampered by the coronavirus pandemic and backlash over soaring costs – with the project originally intended for completion in August 2018
Plans: The soap is planning to add three brand new sets, according to planning documents obtained by The Sun
The new set is located just a stone’s throw from the old location and cost £87million to create.
It was completed in 2022 after five years of work hampered by the coronavirus pandemic and backlash over soaring costs – with the project originally intended for completion in August 2018.
The soap is planning to add three brand new sets, according to planning documents obtained by The Sun.
EastEnders production are now able to explore new areas on screen and writers, producers and directors have greater freedom to drive further creativity.
Back in 2018, the BBC was accused of ‘outrageously overspending’ licence fee cash after it emerged that EastEnders’ new set would cost £86.7million.
That was £27million over the original budget – and the project was expected to be nearly five years late.
The BBC was accused of ‘complacency’ over the astonishing £87million bill for its new EastEnders set in March 2020.
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