The MOBO Group and Greene King Partner Together to Open ‘House of MOBO’ Pub in South London

• ‘The House of MOBO’ in Gipsy Hill will be a home for culture, community and collaboration in hospitality

• The pub reopens on Thursday 27 November as a ready to serve the local community

The MOBO Group and Greene King have today announced the opening of a new pub partnership together – the ‘House of MOBO’, a vibrant community hub in South London that celebrates Black culture and reimagines what a modern pub can be.

Opening its doors on Thursday 27 November, the ‘House of MOBO’ will operate at the site of the former Paxton pub located at 255 Gipsy Road in Gipsy Hill, South London.

A unique collaboration between MOBO and Greene King, the pub will be operated by the MOBO Group with the support of Greene King Pub Partners – the leased, tenanted and franchise division of the pub company and brewer – which operates 1,000 pubs in partnership with entrepreneurs and businesses.

The new, landmark pub, which is reopening after the Paxton pub closed more than two years ago, will serve the community as a hub for culture, creativity and connection in the heart of South London.

The ‘House of MOBO’ has exciting plans in 2026 as part of the MOBO’s 30^th anniversary celebrations. This will be marked with a year-long cultural celebration honouring three decades of championing diverse talent and driving social impact through music, creativity and community.

As a cultural destination, designed to reflect the diversity and dynamism of modern Britain, the ‘House of MOBO’ will host live music, creative showcases and community-led events alongside a destination dining experience inspired by global influences.

True to MOBO’s mission of celebrating excellence and breaking down barriers, the ‘House of MOBO’ will provide a stage for emerging and established talent, while offering a warm, inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome.

To support this vision, Greene King has extensively invested in the pub, including a bold new design and refurbishment, creating a striking new space that embodies inclusivity, collaboration and creativity.

The ‘House of MOBO’ builds on the success of Greene King’s wider partnership with the MOBO Group, which has seen the company already work closely with MOBOLISE, the MOBO Group’s career development platform that connects driven talent to career opportunities, mentoring and professional growth across industries.

The House of MOBO is the centrepiece of the partnership between the MOBO organisation and Greene King, underpinning the latter’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

The news of the opening of the ‘House of MOBO’ comes after Greene King won two awards at the WiHTL Inclusion in Awards in October. Unity, the company’s employee led inclusion group (ELIG) that represents ethnic minorities and their allies, was awarded Most Impactful Employee Resource Group, with Nick Mackenzie being named the Most Inclusive Group Chief Executive Officer in Hospitality, Travel and Leisure.

Nick Mackenzie, Chief Executive of Greene King, said:

“Our partnership with the MOBO Group is all about creating opportunities and opening doors to unlock and support underrepresented 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 doing more than opening a pub - we're also opening up opportunities.

“The House of MOBO will be a home to connect, create, and be proud of who you are."

ENDS

Notes to editors

Please find picture attached of Kanya King CBE, Founder and CEO of the MOBO Group.

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About Greene King Pub Partners:

Greene King Pub Partners operates around 1000 leased, tenanted and franchise pubs across England, Scotland and Wales with independent business partners. In March 2023 it was recognised as the best leased and tenanted pub company at the Publican Awards, the 6th time Greene King Pub Partners has won the national industry award.

About Greene King:

Greene King is the country’s leading pub company and brewer with c.2,600 pubs, restaurants and hotels across England, Wales and Scotland. 

At Greene King we are passionate about delivering our purpose to ‘pour happiness into lives’. That’s for our customers, our team, our pub partners, our suppliers and the communities in which we live, operate and serve. Founded in 1799 with offices in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk and Burton on Trent in Staffordshire we employ around 40,000 people across the group with three divisions: Greene King pubs, Destination Brands & Ventures, and Brewing & Brands. 

• Greene King pubs: Greene King pubs is our mainstream pub brand located where people and communities come together; pubs enjoyed in cities, towns and villages throughout the country with clear ambition to be “The Nation’s Most Loved Pub Brand”. Pub Partners runs our tenanted and leased pubs business and Hive Franchise pubs. 

• Destination Brands & Ventures: Destination Brands is a portfolio of distinct brands which includes Hungry Horse, Chef & Brewer, Farmhouse Inns and Flaming Grill that bring friends and family together, delivering great service, quality and value for money for a range of eating out and drinking occasions. Venture includes Hickory’s, Premium (Crafted Pubs & Metropolitan Pub Company) and Hotels which operate autonomously of Greene King’s managed pub brands.  

• Brewing & Brands covers the brewing sides of the business. Quality ales are brewed at the Westgate brewery in Bury St Edmunds and the Belhaven Brewery in Dunbar. Our industry-leading portfolio includes Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen, Abbot Ale, Ice Breaker and Belhaven Best and our premium beers, Level Head and Flint Eye, brewed for the modern-day drinker.  

About the MOBO Organisation:

Since 1996, the MOBO Organisation has discovered and supported talent in music, film and TV. MOBO operates year-round to create events, content, partnerships and opportunities for young people in the entertainment industries and beyond. For close to 30 years, the MOBO Awards has remained a significant cultural event in the British music industry, celebrating excellence in Black music and culture. Its enduring legacy as the premiere 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 has been unparalleled. Global superstars who have been part of the Awards include Janet Jackson, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Sade, Lionel Richie, Beyoncé, Jay Z, Central Cee, Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse, Usher, Rihanna, Cardi B, Tems, Davido and Stormzy, just to name a few. The Awards has proudly been hosted all over the United Kingdom over the years, including shows in Newcastle, London, Liverpool, Leeds, Glasgow, Coventry and Sheffield.

Beyond the Awards, 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. Through the MOBO Trust and our long-standing partnership with Help Musicians, we’ve awarded close to £1 million in funding, mentorship and development support, helping artists turn ambition into action. This continued collaboration 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.

Press Contact: Nick Lawrie Email: NickLawrie@greeneking.co.uk Tel: 07812 256245

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