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El Molino on Paral·lel closes again over noise: neighbours force its closure
The emblematic El Molino theatre in Barcelona is suspending activity because of noise issues. Shows will have to end before 23:00. The future of the cultural venue is once again up in the air. The decision affects Paral·lel’s cultural programme.
The iconic El Molino theatre in Barcelona suspends its activity because of noise problems. Shows must end before 23:00. The future of the cultural venue is once again up in the air. The decision affects Paral·lel's cultural programme.
The temporary closure of El Molino shakes Paral·lel's nightlife and leaves those who enjoy culture in Barcelona in suspense. The historic theatre, which only reopened its doors in October 2024 after a long refurbishment, is forced to suspend its programme because of neighbours' complaints about excessive noise.
The venue's management, in the hands of Barcelona Events Musicals, now faces the urgent need to undertake soundproofing works. Until the work is completed, El Molino's programme will be adapted so that all shows end before 23:00, a measure that limits the offering and affects both artists and regular audiences.
The City Council, which owns the building, has confirmed that the decision responds to pressure from residents and the impossibility of guaranteeing rest in the area. Uncertainty about when the theatre will be able to reopen fully adds tension to a neighbourhood that has already seen other cultural spaces have to reinvent themselves or close in recent years.
El Molino's immediate future will depend on the speed at which the soundproofing works are carried out. In the meantime, Paral·lel's cultural life loses one of its most emblematic landmarks just when it seemed to be regaining its pulse after years of silence.
El Molino is much more than a theatre: its façade with red blades is an icon of Paral·lel and a symbol of the history of entertainment in Barcelona. Since its origins, it has been a venue for cabaret, music and variety shows, attracting generations of Barcelona residents and visitors. Its reopening in 2024 was celebrated as a cultural rebirth for the city, restoring part of the neighbourhood's festive and creative identity. Now, the challenge is to keep that flame alive amid the demands of urban coexistence.