Could the Future of London Nightlife Be in the Sky? Bombas & Parr Say “Look Up”

A bold new report by creative studio Bombas & Parr, presented at the Barbican, is reimagining the capital’s struggling nightlife scene—not underground, but high above the skyline. Entitled “The Future of P-Leisure”, the study proposes a visionary solution to the London nightlife crisis: repurposing unused skyscraper space into clubs and cultural hubs. In short, they’re asking Londoners to look up, not out.

The report zeroes in on the City of London, the historic financial district that sees over half a million workers every weekday—but just 8,000 residents. After office hours, the Square Mile empties out, leaving behind a vast sprawl of dormant buildings. Bombas & Parr suggest these towers could transform into after-dark venues, offering a unique blend of business and pleasure: “finance by day, rave by night.”

Their reasoning is practical as much as poetic. With few residents around, the likelihood of noise complaints dramatically drops—an issue that has plagued inner-city venues for years. The report imagines a vibrant urban rebirth: “Empty office lobbies become sought-after DJ booths, rooftops host industry-defining light shows, and any space that isn’t locked morphs into a dance floor… as capitalism and counterculture merge.”

While the idea may sound lofty, it’s one industry leaders are taking seriously. Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), told The Guardian that this might be more realistic than it first appears. Post-pandemic shifts to remote working have left financial districts in need of reinvention. According to Kill, this offers an ideal opportunity for nightlife to step in.

“There are conversations going on about places like the City of London,” he said. “Given some of the noise complaints and restrictions [elsewhere], it actually makes sense and works for nightlife.”

Kill also mentioned that changes to planning and zoning laws are already under discussion. The NTIA is advocating for adjustments that would give nightlife and hospitality ventures preferential treatment in securing licences within financial zones.

From a cultural and economic perspective, the proposal has clear benefits. Reviving underutilised space not only helps tackle the ongoing nightlife venue shortage in London—it also invites a new generation to reconnect with the city in a modern, immersive way. And with the financial district’s glass towers offering panoramic views of the Thames, the Gherkin, and beyond, the setting is hard to beat.

Imagine it: raving on the 30th floor, sun rising over London’s skyline, music echoing through steel and glass. It may seem utopian, but in a city constantly reinventing itself, the future of nightlife might just lie in the clouds.

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