Roller skating in London has existed since at least the 1850s, when a
public roller rink opened in Covent Garden. More recently, a hybrid form
of dance-skating has evolved here that puts its own spin on American
‘jam’ and ‘shuffle’ styles.
As the 2018 documentary United Skates explains, these developed in US
rinks where unofficial segregation was still enforced by white owners
long after the civil rights era – excuses given for turning away Black
skaters included the bagginess of their trousers or size of their
wheels. Despite this, the nights set aside for these skaters – at
unpopular times like late on a Sunday – became vibrant cultural and
community hubs, with artists including Queen Latifah playing early shows
to a roller-skating audience.
The film also shows how rinks across the US have been closing in recent years, replaced by more lucrative businesses like big-box stores. There has been a similar trend in the UK. Roller Nation in Bruce Grove, Tottenham, was London’s last dedicated venue for roller discos, while Wembley’s Fix8 Rollerdisco and Harrow’s Sk8City London ran regular skate nights in halls. When these spaces had to close during lockdown, skaters took their boots to the streets of London.