Tokyo Industries opens West End theatre

Hospitality group Tokyo Industries has announced the launch of the Emerald, a brand-new theatre in the West End. 

On top of this, the Aaron Mellor-led business has also acquired The Social, located just off Oxford Circus.

The Emerald Theatre, which has undergone a £4m refurbishment, opened in June for its two week preview of Dita Von Teese’s ‘Diamond X Dust’. Von Teese is set to grace the stage as Lady Luck for select performances with a special red carpet launch scheduled for the 3 July.

Located in the heart of London’s West End, Tokyo Industries has rebuilt the old Proud Embankment venue from top to bottom, transforming the space into the Emerald with a brand-new stage, seating, bar and merchandise areas.

Social creatures

The Social, which has been a cornerstone of London’s music scene since the 1990s hosting stars such as Adele, The Chemical Brothers and Lily Allen, has been acquired by Tokyo Industries as part of its expanding live music arm, Tokyo Live, which now boasts 11 music venues from Newcastle down to the capital. 

The business currently operates over 49 venues in the UK and 19 internationally, including Impossible & Gorilla in Manchester, Digital in Newcastle and One Ninety Four in Piccadilly, London. 

"London has always been part of our key strategic vision," says Mellor. "The Emerald Theatre gives us a unique canvas to blend heritage with creativity, a space where we can showcase emerging talent, incredible production and world-class performances with Dita’s amazing team.

"We are looking forward to watching the production launch and seeing this iconic venue brought to life once again. Acquiring historic live music venue The Social alongside this also supports the growth of our London portfolio and showcases our commitment to breathing new life into grassroots venues."

Image: Mark Crayden

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