Mumford and Sons member Ben Lovett to open new London music venue

The first live bookings for Omeara in Borough will be announced in September

Mumford and Sons band member Ben Lovett is opening a new music venue in London this autumn.

The musician and co-founder of independent record label Communion has taken on the lease for Omeara in Borough’s Flat Iron Square despite the growing number of closures across the UK.

“I’ve been playing and putting on shows in London for my entire adult life,” Lovett said. “Without the grassroots music venues in this city, the band and I simply wouldn’t have achieved what we have, so I have a lot to be grateful for.”

Lovett went on to bemoan the loss of many “brilliant” music establishments across London over the last few years. “I want to do what I can to try and reverse that decline,” he said. “It’s early days right now and we’ve got plenty of hard work to do before we even open the doors to Omeara but I’m extremely excited for its future and what it can do for London.”

Omeara will enjoy a central location within a five-minute walk from London Bridge, Southwark and Borough tube stations. It is part of a new South Bank development called The Low Line, connecting Waterloo with London Bridge via a pedestrian walkway.

Lovett is keen to bring Omeara to the attention of all Londoners, including those unfamiliar with the city’s live music community, as the venue will also play host to indie club nights, talk events, comedy, burlesque, magic and more. Extensive renovation works are planned, along with the installation of a state-of-the-art sound system, while Lovett will be drawing on his experience successfully running a bar in Brooklyn, New York.

Ben Lovett of Mumford and Sons

“It has always shocked me how such an important global capital shuts down so many of its doors so early at night,” he said. “There are thousands of people who don’t work to standard office hours, or have to work long, late hours. That shouldn’t mean they miss out on having some fun with their mates on the dance-floor a bit later on in the evening. I hope Omeara can be a club that provides that, and celebrate the 24 hour nature of London that is impossible to ignore.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan is supportive of Lovett’s exciting plans. Following Britain’s vote to leave the European Union, Khan is championing London’s openness to creative industries and international talent through the #LondonIsOpen campaign.

“Growing London’s cultural sector is one of my core priorities and this includes supporting grassroots music venues,” he said. “These venues, which are the lifeblood of our music scene, are often under threat, so I’m delighted to see Ben Lovett opening an exciting new destination for live music fans. I know Omeara will be a massive success, helping fresh new talent to make their mark in the capital and have their music heard.”

The first of Omeara’s live bookings will be announced in September.