Neon194 launches to revive Piccadilly's nightlife

Spearheading a cultural revival of London’s Piccadilly, Neon194, Londons latest music venue opens up with support from The Crown Estate.

NEON194 is also the first partnership venture with Cymon Eckel from hospitality leader Aaron Mellor, the architect-turned entrepreneur behind Tokyo Industries. Aaron’s extensive folio includes celebrated venues in Ibiza, Palm Springs, LA and the north of England.

“We’re aiming to cultivate an exciting, dynamic location, where Londons creative freelance community and the ‘Bright Young Things’ of today and tomorrow, can come together, a place where they share moments, experiences and knowledge, a community can be built in a location normally exclusive by pricing alone,” says Cymon, himself voted one of ‘The 1000 Most Influential Londoners’ by The Evening Standard newspaper.

NEON194 is fine-tuned to provide for contemporary Londoners. By day, working on a laptop is encouraged. Drinks and food are priced affordably; music comes curated by the city’s leading DJs. After dusk, NEON194’s bar offers on-trend drinking, dining, and a special events program showcasing the most exciting art, music and cabaret emerging from London’s thriving subculture.

Commenting on the vision, NEON194’s Cymon Eckel says: “NEON194 is situated a short walk from Piccadilly Circus, the heart of London’s entertainment district since the 19th century. Groups gathered under the neon lights. it’s always been a glowing symbol of London’s futurism: the capital’s creative and cultural heart – where ideas are formed and fun is had.”

NEON194 represents an electrifying pushback against extractive economics hindering organic culture, says Cymon: “This is not a ‘repurposing’ – it’s a return to the site’s original purpose.

“The building originally housed the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours. They were a broad mix of Londoners with a passion for the popular arts, supporting their culture after the nearby Royal Academy refused to acknowledge watercolours as a medium.”

It’s a notably fresh addition to a part of the capital that was yet to reflect the city’s updated identity until now. At NEON194, the new wave of international visitors who flock to experience cutting-edge London can finally discover a slice of it here, in the heart of town.

The spacious lower-ground floor can be used for events, exhibitions, or as a studio, for temporary retail, pop-ups and more. By night, it can flex as a cinema, theatre, live music venue, comedy club, launch and event space.

The venue boasts a state of the art sound system and lighting, plus an extensive, purpose-built professional kitchen. NEON194 is designed to pivot according to the needs of the clientele.

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily