Thursday the 8th of August saw the official launch of London’s very own House Of Vans, something that the skateboarding and local community have been excited about since rumours began. Vans took the opportunity to showcase the impressive 3,000 square-foot music venue, cinema, gallery, cafe and of course skate-park.
With the ribbon cut by Steve Van Doren himself, the day began with a quick tour of the venue covering everything from the ‘Scissors and Glue’ exhibition to the Vans Labs studio’s, open for residencies and workshops. Following a quick skate, the Vans team, that include some of the most notable names in skateboarding, surf, snowboarding and BMX, headed out for a boat ride around the Thames.
As the day drew to a close, the venue filled and the Vans team returned for more skating. The celebrations continued with a solid line up of music, with Hip-Hop legends Public Enemy headlining with support from Roots Manuva, Dinosaur JR, Toddla T and more, showing the diverse range of musical subcultures that Vans attracts.
We were walking around star struck for most of the evening, bumping shoulders with the likes of Tony Alva, Geoff Rowley and Christian Hosoi to name but a few. With drinks and food on tap and a good vibe all round, Vans certainly know how to throw a party. Launch event aside, it has to be said that the House of Vans is a great use of space and the perfect venue to bring a community together.
House Of Vans London is open now, free always to the public. You can head over to the official site to book yourself a skate session, check out upcoming gigs, see whats going on in the galleries and find out any more information you may need. Be sure to check out the video below that shows the events of the launch.
London House of Vans
Arches 228-232 Station Approach Road
SE1 8SW London
United Kingdom
