The Alfred Arcade

The Alfred Arcade is a unique gallery space with six exhibition/studio spaces, an office, two toilets and a terrace at the back which overlooks the railway. The venue sees ‘a space’ reestablish a presence on Old Northam Road for the first time since 2006 after moving out of a property at the opposite end of the street, most recently used as HaHa Gallery).

In the past, the street was a busy and bustling place in the heart of the city. It became known as the ‘antiques-quarter’ in the 60s and 70s and attracted visitors from all over the world. In 1988, however, the new dual carriageway and Six Dials interchange was built, leaving Old Northam Road cut off from the rest of the city. Since then, many vendors have gone elsewhere, leaving behind long rows of beautiful Victorian shop fronts with nothing on display.

The upcoming exhibitions at the Alfred Arcade are part of a developing programme to test the potential of the Old Northam Road shops as exhibition spaces.