Viv Broughton, CEO of The Premises Studios, a vitally important and popular London recording and rehearsal venue has reported the tragic news that Julia Craik, Managing Director of the studios, passed away in hospital on the morning of 19 April.

He wrote that “the immediate cause was heart failure following complications from what seems to have been a severe bout of Covid-19. Her partner Richard was able to be with her when she died and is of course very distraught. I last spoke to her a week ago and although she was obviously in a lot of pain, she and Richard were hopeful that the worst was over. We are all in shock. Julia was our super-organised big sister for the past 24 years and we will miss her dearly.”

Julia Craik. Photo courtesy of The Premises Studios

Peter Conway has written this tribute, which expresses the sense of loss which many people in London’s jazz community are currently feeling. He writes:

As a long-time user of Premises Studios, I am distraught to hear of Julia’s untimely death.

Together with Viv, Julia was Premises Studios.

In a business that often thrives on bullshit, individuals who are honest and straight-talking can be few and far between.

Julia was one of those individuals.

Whenever I was in the studios I took every opportunity to share a few words with her.

It was always a pleasure to have a conversation with her – she was passionate, savvy, knowledgeable, level headed and vivacious!

Her impact on the development of the project was immense. The award in 2011 for the’Music Week Best Green Business’ demonstrated her and Viv’s commitment to environmental issues many years before the music business strived to achieve similar standards!

And she was, as the Anniversary and Big Summer Parties in 2017 and 2018 demonstrated, the ideal host welcoming, making introductions between guests and making sure everyone had a good time!

She will be much missed by many but most of all by her partner Richard and everybody at the Premises.

A little light went out in the world tonight!

RIP Julia!