KOKO is a Camden nightclub and music venue at the bottom of Camden High Street, London, in a grade II listed theater building. (Grade II means significant buildings of more local interest).
This 1,500-seat venue, which opened in 2004, has already featured standout performances by Coldplay, Madonna, My Chemical Romance and Prince. There are regular weekly club nights and this was the location for the Channel 4 television show, The Album Chart Show.
Story
The building opened in 1900 as The Camden Theater with a capacity of 1,600 seats. In 1909 it was renamed The Hippodrome of Camden and was a music hall and famous names, such as Charlie Chaplin. In 1911 the film seasons began and it was converted into a cinema in 1913.
The cinema closed in 1940 and for 20 years from 1945 the building was converted into a BBC theater and shows included The Goon Show.
In 1970 it became a live performance venue called The Music Machine where The Sex Pistols and The Clash played. There were two bands live every night, six nights a week, and many became big names like Motorhead, Iron Maiden, Dire Straits, Bad Manners, and Fun Boy Three. The Music Machine was owned by the Bron Agency run by Lillian Bron.
At the same time that The Music Machine was open, there was the Electric Ballroom, near Camden Town tube station, where Madness was often seen, and further down Camden Lock was Dingwalls, who had jazz sessions on Saturdays on time. Lunch where anyone who wanted could get up and try it: a regular was Charlie Watt’s from The Rolling Stones.
After it closed, the venue reopened like Nero’s, and following a fire, the venue became The Camden Palace in 1983. It was soon center stage for the new romantic club when Steve Strange and Rusty Egan de Visage led the club. It was at this club that Madonna made her first performance in the UK.
This was the place that I knew and loved throughout the ’80s and’ 90s, but it was selling out and by 2004 it closed for a six-month, multi-million pound restoration project. Its latest incarnation as KOKO has been a huge success as it is still a former theater building but has all the modern technology you want from a cutting edge club and music venue.
Venue contact information
Address: 1A Camden High Street, London NW1 7JE
Nearest Tube Station: Mornington Crescent
Use Journey Planner or the Citymapper app to plan your route on public transportation.
Official Website: www.koko.uk.com
KOKO is an 18-and-over venue, unless otherwise specified for a particular event.
KOKO is considered one of the 10 best nightclubs in London.
