Spiritland is opening a new listening bar at London’s Barbican Centre on 20 October, marking a new partnership between the music-led hospitality concept and the arts venue.
Spiritland at the Barbican will occupy the Lakeside Room on Level 2 of the Barbican, overlooking the fountains, with capacity for 100 guests.
The opening comes as Spiritland, founded by Paul Noble and Sophie Uddin, marks ten years since the launch of its original London concept.
Food and drink will be overseen by a hospitality team with experience across Lardo, Smoking Goat, Milroys and St. John.
Executive Chef Matt Cranston joins with 35 years of kitchen experience, having started his career as Commis Chef at Bibendum under Simon Hopkinson before spending two years as Sous Chef at St. John alongside Fergus Henderson.
His subsequent roles have included Head Chef at The Brackenbury and The Anglesea Arms, running his own catering company Fishsoup, Head Chef at The Cow in Notting Hill and Executive Chef at Lardo Group.
At Spiritland at the Barbican, Cranston will oversee a European and Japanese-influenced bar menu alongside a weekend brunch offer.
Grace Lee joins as General Manager, bringing more than 25 years of hospitality experience across pubs, hostels, hotels, restaurants and clubs in the UK and internationally.
Her career has included roles in Leeds, London, Sydney, Indonesia and Ibiza, including a season at Space in Ibiza working for Carl Cox.
The drinks programme will be led by James Hicklin, who brings more than 15 years of experience across London’s hospitality sector.
Hicklin has previously led bar teams at a number of venues before moving into the premium spirits sector and subsequently founding Hicklin Spirits.
The drinks list will include seasonal signature cocktails developed by the Spiritland bar team alongside wines, beers and alcohol-free options.
Sophie Uddin of Spiritland said: “Bringing Spiritland to the Barbican Centre is a dream. Their unique mix of adventurous programming across all artforms, the audience, the Lakeside room, and of course the building itself are all unbeatable. I’ve been coming to the Barbican for many years and am thrilled about this partnership. We can’t wait to join the Barbican’s cultural world.”
Paul Noble of Spiritland says: “The Lakeside Room at the Barbican is a stunning space for us to go even deeper into the music we love – jazz, soul, contemporary classical, ambient, electronica and more on an outrageously high end soundsystem. We could not be more excited.”
The venue will operate from Tuesday to Sunday, with a daily programme of artists and record collectors playing music spanning jazz, soul, classical, ambient and electronica.
Talks, tastings and supper clubs will also form part of the programme.
Each day at 5pm, Spiritland will play an album in its entirety, with programming ranging from established records to lesser-known releases.
The venue will also dedicate complete weeks to individual artists and composers, with planned subjects ranging from Bach and Beck to Steve Reich and Suzanne Ciani.
Central to the venue will be a bespoke Living Voice sound system built around a pair of Living Voice R252 loudspeakers and additional high-end audio equipment.
Kevin Scott of Living Voice said: “The objective of this system is to present the artistry and eloquence of the musical performance – emotional communication is the key element in music and it is this that needs to be preserved and is the enduring ambition of the kit.”
Beau Vigushin, Chief Experience Officer at the Barbican, said: “The best Barbican visits don’t stick to the plan. There is so much to experience, that you come for one thing and leave having discovered three more. Our partnership with Spiritland is all about connecting two brave icons of London and creating a unique space to relax with great music, eat and drink with friends, escape the everyday and uncover something unexpected. No ticket needed – just walk right in. It’s yet another exciting reason to visit the Barbican.”
Spiritland at the Barbican opens on 20 October 2026.
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