The Barbican Centre has entered into a partnership with Spiritland to open a new listening bar in London.
The venture, titled ‘Spiritland At The Barbican’, launches alongside the tenth anniversary of Spiritland’s original Coal Drops Yard venue. It will host a daily roster of performers and vinyl collectors spinning music across a diverse range of styles.
Set on Level 2 with views of the lake and fountains, the programme spans jazz, classical, ambient and electronica, curated to align with the centre’s existing cultural schedule.
The offering includes nightly listening sessions, talks, tastings and supper clubs. A recurring highlight is the 5pm full-album playback, rotating between a Bach classic, a Beck favourite and undiscovered work from a rising artist.
Kevin Scott of Living Voice, the audio systems provider behind the room, explained: “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.”
Paul Noble of Spiritland called the Lakeside Room “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”. Barbican Chief Experience Officer Beau Vigushin added it is “yet another exciting reason to visit the Barbican”.
“The best Barbican visits don’t stick to the plan,” Vigushin added. “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.”
Dining options are provided by Lardo, Smoking Goat, Milroys and St. John, with seasonal signature cocktails developed exclusively for the project by the Spiritland bar team.
The Listening Bar opens on October 20 and runs Tuesday to Sunday until July 2027. It seats 100 guests; more information can be found on the venue’s website.
