Inside EastEnders’ abandoned former set with iconic Queen Vic pub before it was bulldozed for housing scheme

Pictures have been revealed from the old EastEnders set, 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 the old house abandoned.

The original set fell into disrepair before finally being scrapped in June this year.

The set was built in 1984 prior to the show’s very first episode and was originally intended to be used for only two years.

Empty: Photos have been revealed of the old EastEnders set, showing an eerie abandoned Albert Square

Old House: The former set was where the BBC soap was filmed for 37 years, housed at BBC Elstree Studios in Borehamwood

All gone: the site of the iconic Queen Victoria pub has been completely demolished

Gone: However, in January 2022, the show was moved to a new location, leaving the old home

The studio was bulldozed to make way for a new housing project that will soon be built on the land, it said The sun.

Pre-demolition photos show the iconic Queen Victoria pub, always full of drama, lying abandoned.

Another photo shows the famous Minute Mart newsagents empty, while the shelves are still full of prop stock.

The front of Walford police station can be seen in another station, which usually housed a sibling of Mitchell’s.

One photo shows the Slater household with the photos still in the fall and Stacey’s son Arthur’s toys on the floor.

The chip shop formerly owned by Ian Beale, Beale’s Plaice, can be seen in another shot.

The pharmacy and Turf Accountants are also abandoned, while other photos show sets of different family living rooms.

Kathy Beale’s cafe can also be seen empty, but pastries and drinks are still waiting.

Bulldozed: The original set fell into disrepair before finally being scrapped in June this year

Survived use: The set was built in 1984 prior to the very first episode of the show and was originally intended to be used for only two years

Replaced: The set was built in 1984 prior to the show’s very first episode and was originally intended to be used for only two years

Abandoned: In an instant, we see the famous Minute Mart newsagents empty, while the shelves are still full of gag stock

Dramatic: The front of Walford police station can be seen in another station, which usually housed a sibling of Mitchell’s

Forgotten: The chip shop formerly owned by Ian Beale, Beale’s Plaice, can be seen in another shot

Frozen in time: One photo shows the Slater household with the photos still in the fall and Stacey’s son Arthur’s toys on the floor

Props: Kathy Beale’s cafe is also empty, but there are still pastries and drinks waiting

Goodbye: The pharmacy and Turf Accountants are also deserted, while other photos show sets of different family living rooms

Expensive move: The new set is just a stone’s throw from the old venue and cost £87 million to create

Long time coming: it was completed in 2022 after five years of work hampered by the coronavirus pandemic and the setback over rising costs – with the project originally set for completion in August 2018

Plans: The soap plans 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 £87 million to create.

It was then completed in 2022 five years of work, hampered by the coronavirus pandemic and backlash over rising costs – with the project originally slated for completion in August 2018.

The soap plans to add three brand new sets, according to planning documents obtained by The sun.

EastEnders production can now explore new areas on screen and writers, producers and directors have more freedom to stimulate further creativity.

In 2018, the BBC was accused of ‘outrageously spending’ licensing fees after it emerged that EastEnders’ new set would cost £86.7 million.

That was £27 million more than the original budget – and the project was expected to be nearly five years late.

The BBC was accused of ‘complacency’ over the astonishing £87 million bill for the new EastEnders drawn up in March 2020.

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