Introducing The House of KOKO

17 March 2022 - Press release

A NEW MEMBERS OFFERING BACKSTAGE AT LONDON’S ICONIC KOKO
LAUNCHING 28TH APRIL 2022

EXECUTIVE CHEF - ANDREAS ENGBERG (La Petite Maison)

CREATIVE DIRECTOR / CEO - OLLY BENGOUGH 

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE- PIRAJEAN LEES (Mimi Kakushi, Ninive)

EXTERIOR ARCHITECTURE - ARCHER HUMPHRYES ARCHITECTS (Chiltern Firehouse, Greenwich Peninsula Hotel, The Standard)

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION 
Featuring Sahara Longe, Bob Dylan, Frank Auerbach, Yoko Ono, Matt Collishaw, Frances Lee Morgan, Tomo Campbell, Joachim Lambrechts, Ronnie Wood, Rune Christensen, Sara Berman, Norman Gilbert, Jamie Morgan, Derek Ridgers and more

 

“A totally unique experience”  Vogue, March 2022

 

122 years after it originally opened, London’s iconic KOKO is getting ready to open its doors once again following a three year, £70m restoration and redevelopment, which sees a remarkable transformation from the historic 19th century theatre into a 50,000 square foot state-of-the-art live music venue, featuring the beautifully restored Victorian theatre, immersive new ‘Fly Tower’ experience,  and the new day-to-night Cafe KOKO, all open to the public.  In addition, the stunningly designed ‘House of KOKO’ arrives to delight its new membership community who will enjoy access to four new floors for members, access to secret shows within the main theatre and a newly established programme of cultural events.

The House of KOKO will offer its members access to a beautiful new roof terrace and  restaurant, dome cocktail bar, penthouse and recording studio, piano room, library, a hidden speakeasy, stage kitchen, cocktail bar and secret vinyl rooms, designed by interior design studio Pirajean Lees in collaboration with KOKO’s Founder and Creative Director, Olly Bengough.  

The beautifully crafted, classic and timeless experience dreamt up by Bengough and realised by Pirajean Lees, is a key theme that runs throughout this unique new members offering, positioned backstage behind the original 19th century theatre.  The sense of adventure is remarkable in the new KOKO - members are now able to ascend and descend the new KOKO in a variety of ways that are completely unique and have never been seen before, giving a sense of discovery and surprise and a feeling that anything can happen around every twist and turn within the building.  Members will be able to step out from a candle-lit dinner backstage in The Stage Kitchen, directly into the magic of the performance via the Fly Tower balcony.. or they might as easily be enjoying a cocktail in the stunning, cathedral-like, dome bar, and 30 seconds later find themselves in the gods of the main theatre via a secret staircase.  

The spectacular new roof terrace, adorned in plants and situated atop the 19th century theatre roof (an architectural first for the UK) houses one of the three restaurants overseen by Executive Chef Andreas Engberg (La Petite Maison), serving Mediterranean plates from breakfast until late.  Late night acoustic performances will also take place on the roof terrace under the twinkling lights and stars above.  The Stage Kitchen, so called as it’s where the stagehands would have eaten together backstage in Victorian times, is the soul of the house, a relaxed, warm feel with an open kitchen, roaring fire and two daily specials to choose from.  

Elsewhere, members will be able to listen to vinyl from KOKO’s own collection housed in The Goon Bar (named after much loved comedy special “The Goon Show”  which was broadcast from the theatre from 1951-1972), in their own private vinyl booths, featuring luxury audio and the ability to order food and drinks directly to the hidden booths which are open until they close…Those who are lucky might stumble across the original 1964 recording of The Rolling Stones ‘Live at The Camden Theatre’ which lives in the collection, along with a vast array of much loved albums, contributed by the members and artists themselves. 

Ellen’s - KOKO’s Jazz and blues club, hidden behind a door in the library of House of KOKO and named after British actress Ellen Terry who opened the theatre in 1901 - will be curated by Nick Lewis formerly Head of Music of Ronnie Scotts and will host some of the world’s best performers, big and small, in late-night impromptu shows over the years to come.  Already booked to perform are the critically acclaimed Gabriels and other special guests soon to be announced. 

Interiors studio Pirajean Lees have designed numerous bespoke elements within the new KOKO.  One such example is the private dining room on the second floor with wrap-around upholstered wall-panels, which flip to reveal a mirrored interior and hidden shelves on which to rest drinks.  Also in the room is a beautiful 70’s Italian walnut dining table and a murano crystal chandelier.  This may be the only private dining room in live music and entertainment which has its own private balcony looking out onto the side of the stage.

KOKO’s art collection curated by Katie Heller (Soho House/Sotheby’s) contains links to the venue's history, including a beautiful collection of photographs by Derek Rigers from the iconic new romantic era featuring photographs including Duran Duran, Boy George, Spandau Ballet , Adam Ant and many more who played at the theatre throughout the early 80’s.  Frank Aurbach Mornington Crecent’s abstract genius has gifted a works of the theatre as well as Ronnie Wood who donated one his drawings of Keith Richards from his personal collection.  A feature in the collection is ‘Mamiwata’ by Rising British-Sierra Leoneon painter Sahara Longe.  The painting depicts Mamiwata, a West African water deity, who in Sierra Leone is the goddess of fertility. 

The new KOKO will delight visitors with exceptional sound quality throughout the building with luxury audio. 

People can enquire about memberships via www.thehouseofkoko.com.  

Instagram www.instagram.com/thehouseofkoko  

www.koko.co.uk 

For the public

KOKO theatre will return to the public after a three-year restoration process with English Heritage and the Victorian Society, plus hundreds of skilled craftspeople and in consultation with Camden Council Conservation Department.  At the centre of the restoration will be the unveiling of the spectacular and immersive new ”Fly Tower venue” and gallery (the large volume of space above the stage) which was a surprise discovery during the three-year development process.  Having worked closely with English Heritage to unlock this new space, artists will have the opportunity to perform in the round on a 360 stage or in a more intimate setting, giving music fans a truly unique experience of what the theatre would have been like in the early 1900s.  

In addition to the newly launched Fly Tower venue and the beautifully restored 19th century theatre, KOKO will return with two new venues on the ground floor for the public; a new shop/DJ space which will feature exclusive merch drops and artist collaborations, and a morning to late-night pizzeria and tap bar, with Cafe KOKO hosting intimate live performances for artists.   

High-spec broadcasting, recording and live streaming capabilities have been built into the very fabric of the Grade II listed theatre and its new four-story extension which spans 50,000 square feet, meaning musicians now have access to a truly one-of-a-kind physical space and media facility.  In the new KOKO, artists can not only perform live in one of the many new spaces, but can co-produce, stream and distribute their music to a global audience with the newly formed KOKO Studio, whilst a new KOKO radio station will help break new and emerging artists.