Article content
There is a little more nightlife in downtown London.
Article content
Aura Cocktail Nightclub has opened in the core, aiming to offer downtown restaurant-goers a place to go for drinks after dinner, and dancing well into the night, said owner Nic Howard.
“I’ve been in the industry here for nearly 20 years and since COVID, we’ve seen an exodus of the nightlife,” said Howard. “We want to offer a classic, nightclub experience.”
Article content
Aura opened about four weeks ago, on Richmond Street on the site of the former Revolution Nightclub behind Jack’s, the bar, with a main entrance off a parking lot.
“There are a lot of restaurants downtown, but there’s a need for post-dinner activities in the core,” said Howard. “People can come here with a small group of friends after dinner. It has an intimate feel and they can stay and party afterward.”
With a focus on serving the after-dinner crowd, Aura opens at 8 p.m. and the dance floor opens at 10 p.m., Howard said.
He’s trying to attract clients 25 and older, tapping into the business professional crowd as well as students.
Aura features two floors, with the dance floor open to viewing from the second floor. Much of the seating is on the second floor. It has capacity for more than 600 people and features an all new look after “substantial” investments in a new interior, from seating to floors, and lighting, he said.
Ward 13 Coun. David Ferreira, representing the downtown, welcomed the news, adding it proves the “resilience” of the core to have new investment.
“There’s a vibrancy there and we believe it will pick up again,” he said. “It shows people still have confidence in the core. It reminds us that people live there and visit.”
Article content
Howard used to manage Revolution and now, with the pandemic over, he believes a nightclub will work again.
“We have done significant work,” on the property, Howard said. “I noticed London’s missing something downtown where older people can feel comfortable, and go and hang out with friends.”
He is trying to capture the crowd that went to Downtown Kathy Brown’s, which was on Dundas Street, but is now closed. “There are still a lot of people down here.”
The opening comes as London’s downtown has suffered the loss of two established eateries. Gnosh and Massey’s both moved from the core to west London due to concerns over homelessness and poverty.
But Howard still believes in the core.
“There’s a lot going on downtown with the roadwork and festivals,” he said. “It will be a prominent place in London and it’s up to businesses to keep it going, to get more variety. This is a worthwhile investment.”
Recommended from Editorial
Share this article in your social network
