@sohoplace

@sohoplace is a purpose-built West End theatre in the heart of Soho, owned by Nica Burns and operated by Nimax Theatres. The venue describes itself as the first new-build West End theatre in 50 years, giving it an unusual position in London’s modern theatre landscape. (About @sohoplace)

At 602 seats, it is intimate by West End standards but was conceived with a sense of scale. Its design team was asked to create a room with strong acoustics, close audience–performer relationships and good sightlines, while retaining the ability to adapt to different creative requirements. The theatre-makers’ brief and the completed design give the building a deliberately contemporary, artist-led character rather than a conventional proscenium-house identity. (Haworth Tompkins project description)

The venue says its programming aims to “push theatre boundaries”, and its facilities were planned to support more than performances alone, including event use and creative activity. (About @sohoplace; Nimax venue profile)

Locally, @sohoplace sits just off Tottenham Court Road, beside the junction with Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road. It forms part of Derwent London’s mixed-use Soho Place development, with offices, retail and a new piazza, and stands adjacent to the former Astoria site. (Nimax venue profile)

The foyer is step-free from street level, and lift access serves every level of the theatre. Step-free seating is available on all levels. The venue also publishes stair counts from street level: 28 stairs to the Stalls, 46 to the First Balcony and 64 to the Second Balcony. Wheelchair park spaces and companion seats are available for every production; end-of-aisle seating is in the Stalls. The published information does not specify transfer seats, so contact the access team if you need to transfer from a wheelchair.

A unisex adaptable toilet is provided on each level. Ladies’ and gentlemen’s toilets are on all levels except the Stalls. For hearing assistance, there is a Sennheiser FM system with 20 headsets and 10 body packs and neck loops. These are available from front of house on a first-come, first-served basis; people with a cochlear implant or BAHA can connect their own audio cable to a body pack’s 3.5mm jack.

Access performances may include audio-described, captioned, relaxed/autism-friendly and BSL-signed performances, depending on the show. The access scheme allows up to two seats per performance at 50% off per person, subject to eligibility and availability; proof may be requested. Guide dogs and hearing dogs are welcome, and a dog-sitting service is available for two dogs at a time. Book access seats or discuss requirements via access@sohoplace.org or 0330 333 5962. Please confirm your specific access requirements with the venue before visiting.

@sohoplace is directly above Tottenham Court Road station, served by the Central, Northern and Elizabeth lines, according to the venue and TfL’s station information. TfL says the station has step-free access to both the Central and Northern lines; the station page lists lifts. The venue does not state a walking time. Its directions place it close to the junction of Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road, opposite Centre Point. Soho Place is pedestrianised, so the venue’s specified vehicle drop-off is Sutton Row (off Soho Square), only metres from the front door (venue directions).

TfL identifies bus routes 14 and 176 at the Tottenham Court Road Station bus stop (TfL stop map). The theatre has no customer car park. Blue Badge parking in Westminster is subject to local bay restrictions and time limits. Check Westminster’s disabled-parking guidance before travelling.

The venue does not publish cycle-parking information or a venue-specific late-evening travel policy on the pages checked. Check TfL for live services before travelling, especially after a performance.

@sohoplace is a new venue rather than a historic theatre repeatedly renamed. A 2023 account by developer Derwent London says the vision began more than 20 years earlier and that the project was over a decade in the making; the theatre’s own history describes it as a 12-year project. The theatre opened in October 2022. Nica Burns took a 125-year lease, and Nimax Theatres operates the venue. Derwent London’s project account records those milestones, while the venue’s history confirms the ownership and operating arrangement.

The overall building was designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris; Haworth Tompkins designed the auditorium with Charcoalblue, Arup and Tait. It was conceived as the first new-build West End theatre in 50 years.

Its opening production was Marvellous, running from 15 October to 26 November 2022 (official production record). As You Like It followed from 6 December 2022 to 28 January 2023 (official record). In 2023, Brokeback Mountain was the theatre’s first world premiere, running 10 May–12 August, and The Little Big Things was another world-premiere production, running 2 September 2023–2 March 2024 (official record; official record).

Doors open approximately 45 minutes before the performance, and the performance starts promptly at the time shown on your ticket. The theatre advises being seated in the auditorium around 10 minutes before the start, and allowing extra time for security checks.

Security checks are in operation. Dangerous items—including knives, batons, heavy or sharp items, glass, laser pointers, chemicals, aerosols, sports bats or clubs—are not allowed and may be confiscated. Smart glasses are not permitted. Food and drinks bought outside the theatre cannot be brought in; sealed, non-glass bottles of water are allowed. Outside alcohol and hot food are not permitted. Contact the theatre in advance about dietary requirements.

The ground-floor bar opens 90 minutes before the performance and stays open until late; theatre bars open 45 minutes before each performance. Bars serve drinks, snacks and confectionery, and interval drinks can be pre-ordered. The free ground-floor cloakroom opens 45 minutes before the show. Coats and bags are accepted, and bags larger than A4 (21cm × 30cm) are requested to be checked; suitcases are accepted but searched.

Children aged 14 and under must sit next to and be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over. Show-specific age restrictions or recommendations may apply. Latecomers may be admitted at a suitable break, but entry is not guaranteed and an alternative seat may be offered.