Inside the new KOKO in Camden following its £70m restoration

Camden’s iconic KOKO concert venue will reopen next month after a £70 million, three-year restoration and redevelopment project.

The 19th century theatre has been transformed into a 50,000 sq ft live music venue – with much of the original Victorian design retained – alongside a new “day-to-night” cafe. 

Across four new floors above will be House of KOKO, a new members’ space that brings access to secret shows, a roof terrace restaurant, cocktail bar, penthouse and recording studio, piano room, library, hidden speakeasy, stage kitchen, cocktail bar, and vinyl rooms. 

The members’ area was created by the interior design studio Pirajean Lees in collaboration with KOKO founder Olly Bengough.  

“Members will be able to step out from a candle-lit dinner backstage in The Stage Kitchen (where stage hands would have eaten 100 years ago) directly into the magic of the performance via the Fly Tower balcony… or they might as easily be enjoying a cocktail in the cathedral-like dome bar, and 30 seconds later find themselves in the gods of the main theatre via a secret staircase”, said an announcement. 

On the roof terrace, covered in plants – ever in vogue – will be three restaurants, each one overseen by executive chef Andreas Engberg, formerly of La Petite Maison. Food will be Mediterranean and acoustic performances frequent. 

Elsewhere, members will be able to listen to vinyl from KOKO’s own collection housed in The Goon Bar (named after the comedy special “The Goon Show”  which was broadcast from the theatre from 1951-1972).

Ellen’s, KOKO’s jazz and blues club named after the British actress Ellen Terry, who opened the theatre in 1901, will be curated by Nick Lewis, formerly head of music of Ronnie Scott’s.

KOKO’s art collection has been curated by Katie Heller of Soho House and Sotheby’s fame, and contains links to the venue’s history, including a collection of photographs by Derek Rigers. Frank Aurbach has gifted works and Ronnie Wood has donated one of his drawings of Keith Richards from his own collection.

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