Altar opens in Leytonstone on 23 October with Simian Mobile Disco, Louis Theroux and Suggs

Altar, a new music and arts venue, bar and record shop in Leytonstone, east London, opens on Friday 23 October 2026. According to NME, which reported the announcement, the first programme runs from the opening night into December and includes Simian Mobile Disco, Alexis Taylor, Louis Theroux, Ed Harcourt, Suggs and Girl In The Year Above.

The schedule was curated by Jon Clifford of Dreamhouse Records, Toby L of Transgressive Records, and Simon Singleton of Shake The High Road Festival, along with others. NME also describes Toby L as Altar's founder and a filmmaker.

Opening night and the first weeks

The opening party on 23 October will feature DJ sets from Simian Mobile Disco, Kate Hutchinson, Charli Vos and ALTAR DJs, across two floors. Entry is free for all guests on a first come, first served basis.

A club-night series called ALTAR Lates begins on Friday 6 November with Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip, who will play a special set in the basement. Auntie Flo is on the decks the following night, 7 November.

On Monday 16 November, ALTAR Talks presents An Evening With Louis Theroux, in which he will hold a conversation with Toby L, followed by an audience Q&A.

The first ALTAR Piano Nights follow on 16 and 17 December, with Ed Harcourt, who is Mercury Prize-nominated, and Madness frontman Suggs. Girl In The Year Above, an Irish/Cornish band who signed to Transgressive Records last month, play on 18 December. NME notes that they previously recorded a cover of Massive Attack's 'Teardrop' for the soundtrack to Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man.

Other names on the bill so far include the London disco-punk duo MADMADMAD, Nina Yamada, post-rock group Dog Unit and the singer Joyeria. Shake The High Road, Dreamhouse Records, Eat Your Own Ears and FORM are among the promoters and labels with dates listed.

Altar Community

Alongside the gigs, Altar has announced three initiatives under the banner Altar Community. Altar Under-18 invites young artists to submit music for consideration for a series of nights booked and staged solely for younger performers. Altar Mentorships offers support and advice to people taking their first steps in the creative industries. Altar Rehearsals lets local musicians use the venue's basement for free rehearsal sessions.

War Child is the venue's launch charity partner, and visitors will have the chance to donate to it.

In a joint statement quoted by NME, Singleton, Clifford and Toby L said the programme was:

It’s a truly indicative sign of the immense breadth of talent from every generation, level and genre that this city has to offer.

They added that they were as excited to welcome artists and audiences from around the world as those living locally. NME reports that the line-up is intended to make Altar an essential place to see varied artists and performers. Further information is available through the venue's announcement.