What is the future for Abbey Road studios?
Sanchez Manning THE much-loved Abbey Road studios in St John’s Wood could soon be sold off. The historic recording studios, the name of which was immortalised on the last Beatles album in 1969, has been put on the market by its owner EMI, it was reported this week. A sale of the property could raise millions of pounds, which could help EMI pay off the huge debts it inherited when it was taken over by private equity company Terra Firma. But it is still to be confirmed whether it will be sold with the Abbey Road brand. EMI bought the studios for £100,000 in 1929, and they have gone from being used to record British propaganda during the Second World War to being patronised by legendary bands such as Pink Floyd and The Beatles. Both EMI and staff at Abbey Road studios refused to comment on reports of the sale which were made in a national newspaper and claimed bidders were already being courted for the property. Richard Porter, who runs a guided Beatles tour which includes the studios, in
