The London Music Hall celebrates 20 years with a new look, inside and out

A London music venue that's been bringing artists to the city for two decades is celebrating with a major renovation aimed at boosting downtown vibrancy and supporting neighbouring businesses.

The London Music Hall is moving its main entrance from a parking lot off Queens Avenue to Dundas Place, a shift owner Demetri Manuel hopes will bring new energy to the street. With crowds of up to 2,000 people lining up for concerts and comedy acts, Manuel says the change will be felt beyond the venue's walls.

He spoke with London Morning host Andrew Brown about the milestone, the renovations and the future of live music in London.

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Andrew Brown: Twenty years! How are you feeling about that?

Demetri Manuel: It's very exciting. This building has been in our family since the early '90s. My parents ran multiple businesses here, and in 2004 they decided to open a music venue. They felt there weren't enough in the city and thought we could contribute to the scene.

AB: Do you think they were right?

DM: Absolutely. The whole family got behind the idea and we went full throttle.

AB: You're still here 20 years later. Why have you been able to survive?

DM: The key has been investing—both in downtown and in the venue itself. We've done four major renovations and introduced new concepts to keep things fresh. That's been the secret to our success.

AB: Tell us about the renovation happening now.

DM: We've been under construction for about four months. We integrated the former Nash Jewellers space and the Forest City Music Hall of Fame into the Music Hall. The old A&W is gone—we tore down walls and created more space.

AB: How will it feel different for people who know the venue?

DM: Regulars will notice the impact right away. We've got a new lobby, a new entrance on Dundas Street, and updated procedures for getting people in. There's also a new accessible entrance, accessible seating and washrooms, and we're working on an expanded accessible viewing area.

LISTEN | London Music Hall gets updated as they celebrate 20 years of shows:

AB: Why move the entrance from Queens to Dundas?

DM: We've wanted to do it for a while. It does bring challenges, like managing lines on a busier street, but it adds life to the flex street and helps neighbouring businesses. When 1,500 to 2,000 people are lining up on Dundas, it creates a much more vibrant scene than in a back parking lot.

AB: Do you have a favourite show from the past 20 years?

DM: Too many to count. But one standout is Brett Kissel, who's back September 7. He always puts on an incredible show and is wonderful with staff and fans alike.

AB: And how will you be marking the anniversary once renovations wrap up?

DM: We're going full throttle again. We've got a packed schedule through the fall, September, October, November and December. We're excited for everyone to see the new space.