Soho House goes private in $2.7 billion deal, Eleven Madison Park brings meat back to its menu, and artist Lucy Sparrow serves up fish and chips made of felt. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Soho House goes private again
A game room at Soho House São Paulo; photo courtesy of Soho House
Four years after going public, Soho House is returning to private ownership, reports Inc. Magazine. The London-based company, which helped popularize a new wave of private members clubs, has agreed to sell to a group of investors at a $2.7 billion valuation, including debt. The brand has faced challenges over the years, from pandemic setbacks to scrutiny of its business model. Public trading brought pressure to scale, and today the company boasts more than 46 locations worldwide and 270,000 members as of June. But this growth has tested its promise of exclusivity. A consortium led by MCR Hotels will buy its shares at $9 apiece, well below the $14 IPO price. Still, Soho House remains optimistic about its global expansion plans.
Airport sounds become an ambient soundtrack
Musician Jordan Rakei records an engine for his airport soundtrack; photo by Matt Crossick/PA Media Assignments
There’s a grounding sense of calm in Jordan Rakei’s ambient music, but its creation stems from a place far from what many consider peaceful. In partnership with London’s Heathrow Airport, the musician has transformed more than 50 recorded airport sounds into a transportive soundscape that loops seamlessly. “Percussion was made from the sounds of passports being stamped and bags hitting the belt, a water fountain provided ambiance and ASMR [autonomous sensory meridian response], a jet taking off was transformed into a synth, while a baggage control siren became a soft synthesizer,” he tells Wallpaper. What’s often a stressful environment has become a calming backdrop, setting the tone for travelers embarking on their journeys. The composition is playing across Heathrow’s terminals this summer and is also available on Rakei’s SoundCloud.
Lucy Sparrow conjures a chip shop made of felt
Lucy Sparrow at her latest installation, the Bourdon Street Chippy; photo by Alun Callender
In London’s Mayfair district, a new fish and chip shop is making waves—but don’t expect to eat the food. Contemporary artist Lucy Sparrow has transformed the Lyndsey Ingram Gallery into a nostalgic eatery, dubbed the Bourdon Street Chippy, where everything from menus and portraits to plates of fried fare is made entirely of felt, writes Apollo. Over the course of eight months, Sparrow and her team created 65,000 handmade objects, each featuring handpainted labels by the artist. Known for her immersive felt installations—from New York bodegas to pharmacies—Sparrow once again balances playfulness and craft at her latest project, where red and white checkerboard floors, a service counter, and a floor-to-ceiling condiment wall set the scene. Visitors can check out and purchase the handcrafted products, from plates of smiling fried fare to photos of celebrity patrons until September 14th.
Meat returns to Eleven Madison Park after four vegan years
Photo by Robyn Lee, courtesy of Flickr
In a move sparking much debate, executive chef Daniel Humm is bringing meat back to the three Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park after four years of a fully vegan menu, reports The New York Times. Humm first introduced the meat-free menu in 2021 when he reopened the restaurant after its 15-month Covid shutdown, citing the fragility of the global food system. His decision to reintroduce meat—made after a period of reflection and a pivotal research trip to Greece—is meant to expand the guest base as he realized the vegan-only menu was limiting. “To me, that is the most contemporary version of a restaurant,” he tells The New York Times. “We offer a choice, but our foundation continues to be plant-based.”
Trailborn named Boutique Design’s Up-and-Coming Hoteliers
Ben Weinberg and Mike Weiss, cofounders of Trailborn; photo by Kort Havens, courtesy of Trailborn
Hospitality Design’s sister brand Boutique Design has announced its annual Up-and-Coming Hotelier honor, which recognizes emerging visionaries reshaping how hotels look, feel, and operate. This year’s recipients are Ben Weinberg and Mike Weiss, cofounders of Trailborn, an outdoor-centric hotel brand rooted in iconic natural U.S. destinations. The duo will be profiled in the Fall 2025 issue of BD magazine and celebrated at the 2025 Gold Key Awards gala, held in conjunction with BDNY, on November 10th at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York. Get your tickets today!
