The Sound Lounge in Sutton (Image: Amy Clarke)
Hannah added: “We’ve got volunteers here from ages 16 to 80 who come regularly and help out in the kitchen, behind the bar, on the door.
“There are musicians, creative people, artists, producers, photographers – people who want to do whatever it takes to help us survive.”
The story of The Sound Lounge began long before Sutton, as Keiron, then 22, had opened a small recording studio in Merton Abbey Mills in Colliers Wood.
When it struggled to stay afloat, he and Hannah teamed up and transformed it into something new.
She explained: “We got this shoe storage from IKEA. We created a counter, had some pallets and just painted them black for a stage. We found a broken old coffee machine on eBay and made it work. That’s how it started.
“Monthly festivals would bring in a thousand people at a time.”
When that space proved unsustainable, they moved briefly to Tooting before a developer closed them down, and then moved to Sutton.
She explained: “Everyone asked ‘what are you doing? This is a ridiculous idea. No one in Sutton is going to be into that.’
“But we just thought, there are people everywhere who love music.”
Now, The Sound Lounge is a home for grassroots talent, creativity and connection.
She said: “We have an open mic night once a month, which is gorgeous. All ages – from 14-year-olds to well into their 70s.
“There’s one young girl, she wanted to sing to a backing track and we said unfortunately you’ve got to play an instrument. She went away, learned guitar, came back three months later and played. I kind of cried.”
There are plans to introduce a new unplugged session on Sundays too, inspired by Irish folk traditions.
Hannah said: “We’re just going to sit around some tables with guitars, mandolins, fiddles. Not to perform – just to play together.”
It’s not just music that drives their work. The Sound Lounge runs food workshops for local youth, barista training, sound engineer courses, youth jams and a new community kitchen offering pay-what-you-can lunches.
The venue is fully vegan and carbon neutral, a conscious decision rooted in personal values.
She said: “It’s not just about the food, it’s everything. We try and be local, ethical, organic, because it harms the planet less. I’m an eco bore. It costs more and it’s harder, but it matters.”
Behind the scenes, both founders carry deeply personal motivations.
Kerion explained: “I moved out when I was 17-years-old. Our place would just get raided by the police every month. My mum was a drug addict.
“My dad spent 15 years of his life in prison. If I wasn’t given an opportunity, I’d be on heroin or in prison or something like that. So I think it’s about making a space where you can give others that opportunity.”
Hannah said: “We don’t turn people away if they’ve got no money. If you want to come in and listen to music, just come in. Be part of it.”
For those who’ve never been, Hannah has a simple message: “Just come. Even if it’s a ticketed night, someone will let you in. Just stay for 20 minutes. People need to experience it to feel it. Every time someone comes through the door, they come back.”
