The MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Group is opening a pub in Gipsy Hill to coincide with celebrations for its 30th anniversary next year.
Due to open on Thursday 27 November, House of MOBO will host live music, creative showcases and community-led events.
MOBO group says it will also offer a “destination dining experience” inspired by global influences.
“True to MOBO’s mission of celebrating excellence and breaking down barriers, MOBO’s own pub will provide a stage for emerging and established talent, while offering a warm, inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome,” the group says.
It is working with brewer and pub manager Greene King which has invested in the pub.
Greene King already run other local pubs including the Prince Albert on Coldharbour Lane in Brixton, the Florence in Herene Hill and the Tulse Hill Hotel.
MOBO and Greene King say the pub – on the site of the former Paxton at 255 Gipsy Road (SE27 9QY) which closed two years ago – will be a community hub that celebrates Black culture and reimagines what a modern pub can be.
Plans for 2026 include a year-long cultural celebration honouring MOBO’s three decades of championing diverse talent and driving social impact through music.
The refurbished pub has a “bold new design” that “embodies inclusivity, collaboration and creativity”.
Greene King already works with MOBOLISE, the MOBO Group’s career development platform that connects driven talent to career opportunities, mentoring and professional growth across industries.
Greene King won two awards at the WiHTL Inclusion in Awards in October. WiHTL is a collaboration community devoted to increasing inclusion across hospitality, travel and leisure.
Unity, Greene King’s employee-led inclusion group that represents ethnic minorities and their allies, was awarded most impactful employee resource group, and Nick Mackenzie was named the most inclusive group chief executive officer in hospitality, travel and leisure.
Mackenzie said: “Our partnership with the MOBO Group is all about creating opportunities and opening doors to unlock and support under-represented talent in our sector, which is why we are incredibly proud to be working with them to launch the House of MOBO.
“This new pub will be a shining example of the important role our locals play at the heart of their communities – providing a space to celebrate culture, champion diversity and bring people together in a warm, welcoming hospitality experience that’s truly open to all.”
Kanya King CBE, founder and CEO of the MOBO Group, said: “The House of MOBO is a bold new chapter in our story – a place where culture, creativity and community come together under one roof.
“For three decades, MOBO has been about opening doors and building platforms, and now we’re extending that spirit into the heart of the high street
“This space represents everything we stand for – belonging, opportunity and coming together. It’s more than a pub; it’s a living, breathing reflection of the communities that inspire us.
“Our partnership with Greene King combines our shared commitment to positive social change. Together, we’re also opening up opportunities.
“The House of MOBO will be a home to connect, create, and be proud of who you are.”
Founded in 1996, the MOBO Organisation has discovered and supported talent in music, film and TV and operates year-round to create events, content, partnerships and opportunities for young people in the entertainment industries and beyond.
The MOBO Awards are a significant cultural event in the British music industry, celebrating excellence in Black music and culture.
They are the the premier outlet for recognising and honouring the artistic achievement of exceptional British and international talent in hip-hop, grime, R&B and soul, reggae, jazz, electronic/dance, alternative, gospel and African music.
MOBO supports undiscovered talent in music via MOBO UnSung, and across the wider creative and tech industries via MOBOLISE, a platform to empower diversity, excellence and transformation in the workplace.
The MOBO Trust through its long-standing partnership with Help Musicians has awarded close to £1m in funding, mentorship and development support, helping artists turn ambition into action.
This includes the launch of MOBO Help Musicians Amplified, a new 12-month career accelerator programme supporting artists creating music of Black origin with funding, tailored business guidance and industry networking opportunities.
