Luminaire in London - Featured Venue

Sometimes you come across a mission statement that takes you by surprise and that was certainly the case when we had a look at the Luminaire. Not only is this venue already an award winner - and having only been opened by the present owners in 2005 we think this is quite some achievement - it has the most positive and compelling attitude toward customers, staff and performers that we've come across to date. How's this for recognising the importance of the people who make your business either a failure or a success?

The Luminaire opened its doors on 1 March 2005. We were sick of the way bands and gig-goers were treated by promoters and venues. We never understood why things had to be so confrontational, why sound engineers snapped at bands who requested the most basic things. We never understood why people who were supposed to love music treated those who made it and those who came to listen with disrespect. We still don't understand it.

We hoped that if we met our bands with a smile and a handshake, helped them load in, showed them round, offered them clean towels, tea and coffee, fresh milk, beer and water, and somewhere comfortable to sit backstage, and gave them a calm, friendly sound engineer to work with, they'd really appreciate it.

We thought that, instead of acting aloof and moody when people arrived for a gig, we welcomed them and asked how they were and maybe had a bit of a conversation and a laugh, they'd remember that and tell their friends.

And we figured that if we employed people behind the bar who genuinely loved live music and who knew that, when an acoustic act was playing, they had to do their best to serve drinks quietly, it would be greatly appreciated by our customers.

In December 2006, just nine months after opening, Time Out magazine nominated The Luminaire in its Venue Of The Year category.

We reckon we're doing something right but that's not for us to say.

Well, we don't know about that folks, we think you should be shouting it from the rooftops! - a venue where people are treated with respect? whatever next!

Not only have they got a great statement but if you have a look around their website you'll notice something a little different - loads no - shed loads of useful information, all done with a great sense of humour - but crucially it's the sort of thing you need to know if you're going to a gig, this is the sort of info that actually makes a difference. There are recommendations about where to eat, even though they have their own eaterie downstairs at the venue they still provide information on other local resources. They seem to go one step further again when recommending local taxi firms, one refused to take an ill customer to hospital so they don't recommend them and tell you why - this is real nitty gritty information that customers need to know - good on you guys.
Local provisions, ATM's and places to stay also feature on the website making it a doddle to find the sort of information most folk want and need when they go to a venue, especially if it's your first time there.

Lumi (as they call it!) also has a staff profile page so you'll know who's who and what they do, you'll also find e-mail addresses if you want or need to speak to these guys.

The information provided on the venues website is spectacularly impressive because nothings been left out, there are full contact details, and full information about how to get to the venue by whatever means! honestly - we think they'd chauffeur you there in a limo if only they could! There's no excuse for not being aware of what's what at this venue because all you need to know is spelt out - including (incredibly and impressively!) age restrictions (it's an over 18 venue), what the capacity is, how many fire extinguishers they have and how often they are checked, how many emergency exists there are, the policy on pyrotechnics , opening times, stage times, photography policy (YES you can take photo's - how refreshing is that! - and they tell you to use common sense and not get in the way of other paying customers), there's info on disabled access and this venue won't allow promoters etc to bring their own security - Lumi provides it's own security headed by a guy who goes by the name of Big! so the standard you get will be the standard set by the Lumi and as far as we can see that's one helluva high standard!

Lumi have even thought about who sells tickets to their events, they use WeGotTickets because they have found them the best, they don't rip you off and have least charges, they don't have full control over this though, but that's their recommendation. At Lumi they don't actually sell advance tickets themselves, you can pay on the door but you can't buy in advance.

The Lumi seems to have everything covered on their website, it's well impressive and so thorough you feel like you're actually having a conversation. On top of all that this venue actually sells champagne! a HUGE plus point! If you're in any doubt about the Lumi - or the folk that run it - take a look here - it made us laugh - how many venues do that when giving out information eh?

Seems to us that this venue has something a bit special to offer, and that's been recognised with an award from Time Out - that's some achievement for a venue that's only been open since 2005! Well done guys - it seems to us that you're not doing 'something' right - you're doing everything better than right - you're doing things to a standard rarely found these days - and that makes you rather special!