Would you party in a club perched as high as the Gherkin, the Shard, or the Walkie Talkie? That futuristic concept could soon be a reality for London’s nightlife.
A new report by creative studio Bompas & Parr proposes turning the capital’s vacant office towers into weekend nightclubs. Their latest annual study, The Future of P-Leisure, unveiled at the Barbican, suggests that London’s struggling nightlife scene might find its savior in the city’s skyline.
According to the report, the solution to revitalizing nightlife could be found in unused high-rise spaces. This is especially in the City of London, where office blocks largely sit empty after business hours. These towers, the report argues, could serve as dual-purpose spaces: “finance by day, rave by night.”
“With over half a million people commuting into the Square Mile daily, but only 8,000 living there, the area becomes a ghost town by evening,” the report states. “That leaves an abundance of empty real estate ideal for nocturnal reinvention.”
Bompas & Parr envision transforming corporate lobbies into DJ booths, rooftops into immersive light shows, and vacant offices into sprawling dancefloors — all without the usual concern of disturbing nearby residents. The idea merges “capitalism and counterculture,” turning silent skyscrapers into vibrant late-night playgrounds.
Though bold, the concept isn’t entirely out of reach. Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), told The Guardian that the idea has merit. Particularly given the drop in foot traffic in financial districts post-pandemic and the reduced risk of noise complaints in such areas.
“There are active conversations about the City of London because of its limited residential presence. In terms of planning, noise, and licensing, these spaces could work exceptionally well for nightlife.”
Kill added that discussions are ongoing about revising zoning laws to support nightlife and hospitality ventures in these commercial zones. It will potentially give clubs and cultural events a second wind in London’s vertical spaces. In a city grappling with rising rents and dwindling club venues, the skies may be the limit.
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