Despite its growing following and role as a creative hub, soaring costs mean it is, in the words of co-founder Hannah White, “very on the edge.”
Last year, The Sound Lounge came dangerously close to closure. Facing soaring energy bills, supply costs and outstanding invoices, Hannah and her partner Keiron Marshall were told they needed £35,000 within weeks to keep the venue running.
Reluctantly, Hannah and Keiron launched a Crowdfunder – and were overwhelmed when the full amount was raised in less than 24 hours.
Hannah said: “We’re very on the edge. All hospitality is. You’re going to just see a lot of places close.
“Every single cost is going up – energy, food supplies, national insurance.
“We’ve been told we should be putting our prices up by at least 15 per cent but we won’t – that’s a massive amount when people are already a little put off due to cost of living.”
Even now, the cost of living crisis continues to weigh heavily. The venue depends on a growing community of supporters through Patreon, and the hard work of volunteers who do whatever they can to help keep it open.
Hannah said: “We’ve got volunteers here from like 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.”
Through it all, it is the people who come through the doors that keep Hannah and Keiron going.
Hannah said: “There are people who’ve said they were going to move out of the borough, but they’re staying because of this place. Someone told me, ‘If I died here, I’d be happy’. That kind of thing keeps you going when you’re on your knees.”
The Sound Lounge first opened in its current home on Sutton High Street in 2020, offering gigs, open mic nights, workshops and community events in a fully vegan, carbon-neutral space built with help from local young people.
Hannah said: “There’s nothing else like it. Music always brings people together. It always creates the moment. It doesn’t matter who you are, how much money you do or don’t have, or what language you speak – in that moment, you’re all there.”
The journey to Sutton was not easy. Keiron, then 22, had first opened a small recording studio in Merton Abbey Mills in Colliers Wood. When it struggled to stay afloat, he and Hannah decided to transform it into something new.
Hannah said: “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 being forced to leave by a developer. Choosing Sutton was seen by many as a risk.
Hannah said: “Everyone was like, what are you doing? This is a ridiculous idea. No one in Sutton is gonna be into that. But we just thought, there are people everywhere who love music.”
Today, The Sound Lounge is a home for grassroots talent, creativity and connection. The venue’s open mic night, held once a month, brings together performers of all ages.
Hannah 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.”
Beyond music, The Sound Lounge runs food workshops for young people, barista training, sound engineer courses, youth jams and a new community kitchen offering pay-what-you-can vegan lunches.
Hannah 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.”
Both founders carry deeply personal motivations for what they have built.
Keiron said: “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 have never visited, Hannah has a simple message.
Hannah said: “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.”
