London music venue Koko reopens its doors following extensive redesign, also welcoming its newest addition, the House of Koko members’ clubKoko has reopened with a bang. The legendary London music venue, which in the past has hosted performances from artists including Madonna, Ed Sheeran, Thom Yorke and Kanye West, is opening its doors this month, following a seven-year planning, restoration and redesign process.
‘In 2015, I was looking at the surrounding buildings, including the Hope & Anchor pub, and I realised there was this opportunity to create something architecturally unique, and we could dream up an entirely new experience for music and entertainment,’ he recalls. ‘At the same time, I was travelling a lot to LA, where it was all about streaming and connectivity.
The construction works were significant and offered a range of challenges and opportunities – a fire broke out on site in 2020, causing damage to the dome, which had to be reconstructed. Consequent water damage to the theatre threw up various obstacles, but gutting the building completely in places led to fortunate discoveries too, such as the fly tower above the main stage, which is now refurbished and made into an extra space for intimate performances.