London’s Union Chapel, fresh from being named London’s Best Music Venue by Time Out Magazine, has appointed Leon Cole as its new head of commercial and programming, succeeding Brett Pracownik in steering music and arts at the Islington venue into its 150th anniversary year.

Leon joins the role from within Union Chapel, having spent two decades in London’s live music scene in corporate events and licensing consultancy. He began at grassroots venue The Cellar in Oxford in 2000, before becoming Programmer at the University of Bristol’s Anson Rooms, and has since worked in event management and curation from grassroots venues to major events including Glastonbury. He is Founding Director of music festival Field Maneuvers, which he has run for fifteen years.

Leon Cole says, “I’m really thrilled to be taking on this new role at Union Chapel. It brings together my commercial and programming expertise in one place. The venue is in a great position commercially, and the programming under Brett Pracownik was amazing. My job now is to future-proof the venue commercially and broaden the programme, appealing to an audience as diverse as the city we operate in.”

Kathryn Dixon, Interim MD at Union Chapel, says, “I am delighted to welcome Leon to such a key role. Leon is the right person to lead Union Chapel into a new era of live event curation, with a renewed focus on artistic variety, client service and financial sustainability. Our programme funds our vital work in heritage restoration and community engagement, and with our recent investment in sound and lighting and our 150th anniversary approaching, it’s an exciting time for Union Chapel.”

Union Chapel’s recognition as London’s Best Music Venue by Time Out tops a hard-won recovery since the pandemic. “Every artist who sees the space falls in love with it immediately,” says Cole. “Union Chapel is one of the few buildings of its era built specifically for music performance, designed for acoustics. Credit also goes to our stewards and security team for making every visitor’s experience amazing.”

Cole takes up the role ahead of Union Chapel’s 150th anniversary in 2027, with plans underway for a year of celebration including concerts from artists who have supported the venue over the years. Further details, including artists and dates, will follow in due course.

The appointment coincides with a significant programme of technical investment at Union Chapel. Working with audio partners HD Pro Audio, the venue is installing two DiGiCo Quantum 326 mixing consoles, a new flown L-Acoustics line array system in the balcony, and L-Acoustics LA12X CE amplifiers, placing it among the most technically advanced live music venues in London.

A full lighting overhaul with Stage Electrics will move the venue to a fully LED system with Martin and Chauvet intelligent fixtures, reducing energy use while enhancing the visual experience for audiences and artists. New architectural LED fixtures behind the Chapel’s rose window will illuminate one of its most distinctive features, creating a striking backdrop for performances.
Together, the upgrades represent a major investment in Union Chapel’s infrastructure, reinforcing its reputation as one of London’s foremost live music venues, and one of the most distinctive in Europe.