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DHP Family’s new-look Borderline opens

Owner George Akins tells IQ the response to the refurbished Soho venue, which it bought from Live Nation last year, has been "phenomenal"

By Jon Chapple on 17 Mar 2017

L–R: DHP's Ed Lilo, George Akins and Bart Easter at the Borderline launch


One of London’s best-loved small venues, Soho’s Borderline, has officially reopened after a complete refurbishment.

The 300-capacity Borderline – acquired by DHP Family, along with the 600-cap. Garage in Highbury, last May from Live Nation/MAMA – marked the latest chapter in its story with a launch party last Wednesday attended by more than 150 guests.

The overhaul of the Borderline includes a significant reconfiguration of its layout, and DHP says it expects the new-look venue to “breathe new life back into what has been described as one of the last surviving landmark live music venues in the heart of London’s Soho district”. DHP Family operations director Anton Lockwood commented last year that the venue, which opened in the late ’80s, “definitely needs a big refresh: It’s been around for ages and it’s got a bit tired, and we want to improve the environment massively”.

“We are very happy with the results of the refurbishment. The feedback from artists, agents and press has been phenomenal”

Artists who have played at the venue include REM, Rage Against the Machine, Oasis, PJ Harvey and Eric Clapton.

“We are very happy with the results of the refurbishment,” DHP Family’s owner, George Akins, tells IQ. “The feedback from artists, agents and press has been phenomenal.

“The atmosphere at the press launch on Wednesday showed how well a club night will work, and the gig last night proved that we made the right choices with room layout to get the best viewing and production values.”

Some photos from the launch are below:

Borderline

Borderline

Borderline

Borderline

Borderline

 


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