Empty office blocks in London’s financial districts could be transformed into late-night party venues under radical new proposals to reimagine post-Covid city life.
A new report from creative studio Bompas and Parr suggests that underused spaces in Canary Wharf and the City of London could be repurposed into “world-class late-night party zones” – making use of office lobbies, rooftops and empty floors as DJ booths, light show stages and dancefloors.
The idea may sound far-fetched, but with the shift to hybrid working reducing footfall and office occupancy, it is gaining traction in some quarters.
“With few residents to file noise complaints,” the report claims, “organisers could capitalise on the echoing canyons of glass and steel, transforming capitalism’s core into a countercultural playground.”
NIGHTLIFE TEST
Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, told The Guardian that the limited residential population in the City – around 8,500 people compared to 500,000 workers – makes it an ideal test bed for nightlife. “With so few residents, it actually makes sense and works,” he said.
He added that some landlords are already exploring ways to repurpose space as Fridays become an extension of the weekend and traditional five-day office attendance wanes.
EXTINCTION EVENT
Zoning changes, including relaxed planning and licensing rules for hospitality operators, are also being discussed.
Kill warned that the UK’s nightlife sector faces “extinction by 2029” if venue closures continue. The number of nightclubs has halved since 2013.
The NTIA believes the over-50s market – keen to relive their clubbing heyday – could help revive the sector, with new “hybrid” spaces blending work, play and events.
