It was located within a squatted building on the Old Kent Road in the London Borough of Southwark during the mid-1980s, and was set up by the experimental music group Bourbonese Qualk.

[3] Anarchist music group Bourbonese Qualk set up The Ambulance Station in the then abandoned five-story building at 306 Old Kent Road.

The squat also organised a benefit gig which raised £300 and saw performances by Flux of Pink Indians, Kukl (featuring a teenaged Björk) and Flowers in the Dustbin.

[6][7] Scottish post-punk band The Jesus & Mary Chain played there on 25 November 1984, often given as an example of their early gigs ending with "riots", with support from The June Brides.

[10][11] Other bands to play included The Television Personalities, Chumbawamba, Pulp, The Mekons, The Wedding Present, Felt, Conflict, Crass, The Butthole Surfers,[7] Primal Scream, The Boo Radleys, Swans, Antisect, Biff Bang Pow!, Jasmine Minks, The Revolving Paint Dream, and King Kurt.