Key Points
- Soul Mama, an immersive dining and music concept, has signed a lease for its second London venue at Angel Central in Islington.
- The new site is a 3,926 sq ft unit on the first floor with a circa 1,500 sq ft south-facing terrace, owned by CBRE Investment Management.
- Launched by musician and broadcaster YolanDa Brown OBE DL and music manager Adetokunbo ’T’ Oyelola.
- Simon Prince, asset manager at CBRE Investment Management, described Soul Mama as a key addition that will diversify the centre’s offerings and drive footfall.
- YolanDa Brown stated the move feels like a homecoming, as the original plan was for Islington, following success in Stratford.
- The Stratford site launched after a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign raising £248,148, a Guinness World Record for a restaurant project.
- Recent announcements indicate further expansion with Soul Mama Islington opening in May 2026 and a new Stratford site at Westfield in August 2026.
Islington (North London News) April 16, 2026 – Immersive dining and music concept Soul Mama has secured its second London venue at CBRE Investment Management’s Angel Central scheme in Islington, marking a significant expansion for the brand launched by musician and broadcaster YolanDa Brown OBE DL and music manager Adetokunbo ’T’ Oyelola. The agreement covers a 3,926 sq ft unit on the first floor, complete with a circa 1,500 sq ft south-facing terrace, positioning it as a prime spot for live music and cultural events in north London.
Why Has Soul Mama Chosen Angel Central for Expansion?
Simon Prince, asset manager at CBRE Investment Management, welcomed the development, stating:
“Soul Mama will be a key addition to Angel Central, diversifying an already vibrant line-up of retail and F&B brands. This unique concept provides an amazing audience experience, reflected by its popularity and expansion. It will be a musical hub on the first floor, driving footfall, encouraging all-day visitation and bringing new visitors to the centre.”.
YolanDa Brown added:
“With Soul Mama, we are on a mission to spread love one venue at a time and we see Angel Central as the perfect home for our next chapter. Our very first Soul Mama location was originally meant to be in Islington, so in many ways this feels like a homecoming. Having received so much love for Soul Mama in Stratford, we cannot wait to bring that same energy to the heart of north London and continue growing our community. It will be a real joy to bring more music, culture and connection to such a vibrant and spirited destination. Islington is about to get even more soul.”.
As reported in the Islington Tribune, Soul Mama is set to open in Islington Square near Angel this autumn, aiming to serve as a crowdfunded venue to help young people “find their feet” in the industry. Led by YolanDa Brown, BBC Radio 2 presenter, and Adetokunbo “T” Oyelola, the team described it as a “community space”.
The brand’s origins trace back to a Kickstarter campaign that raised £248,148, breaking the Guinness World Record for the most money pledged worldwide for a restaurant project, as noted in UK Jazz News coverage of the Stratford launch.
What Is the Background of Soul Mama’s First Venue?
The inaugural Soul Mama opened at The Gantry Hotel in Stratford, London E20, following an announcement in September 2024. UK Jazz News detailed the venue’s programming, offering
“jazz, soul, gospel, reggae and much more,” with an opening season featuring artists like Yellowjackets on 3 November and Bill Laurance on 28 September.
A Soul Mama Café launched from 11 am-4 pm starting 1 August 2024 at 40 Celebration Avenue, Stratford, E20 1DB. Harden’s reported that jazz saxophonist YolanDa Brown, in partnership with Adetokunbo ‘T’ Oyelola of Black Grape Global, shifted the project from its original Islington plan to Stratford, opposite Westfield, with a menu inspired by Caribbean, African, and South American cooking.
Soul Mama partnered with Ticketmaster to enhance ticketing and marketing reach, leveraging the platform’s technology for a seamless fan experience, according to the press release covered by UK Jazz News. The Stratford site was built on the momentum from the record-breaking crowdfunding launched last year, as highlighted in multiple outlets.
How Does Angel Central Fit into This Expansion?
Angel Central, a 15,793 sq m shopping centre opened in 2002, attracts approximately ten million visitors annually and houses leading retail brands alongside a cinema complex. Across Magazine noted that CBRE Investment Management completed a renovation of part of the site in March 2021, following a planning application submitted to Islington Borough Council in June 2018 to enhance retail, leisure, and restaurant spaces.
The masterplan included additional leisure areas and an outdoor terrace via a new link bridge, with London-based RED Construction appointed for a £16m refurbishment phase completed by late November 2020, as reported by Europe Real Estate.
Perega’s case study on the project, undertaken for client Topglass with Haskoll Architects and RED Construction, aimed to modernise the site and create more social spaces to position Angel Central as a retail and leisure hotspot in north London. Soul Mama’s first-floor unit aligns with these efforts to boost F&B and cultural offerings.
What Are the Latest Plans for Soul Mama’s Growth?
A LinkedIn post by YolanDa Brown on 13 April 2026 announced further developments:
“Soul Mama Islington in Angel Central, North London, opening in May 2026, and for our East Londoners, Mama Stratford opening in Westfield, August 2026.”
She framed it as “not closing, but moving forward and growing,” stating:
“When one door closes, another one opens… When one door, 2 doors open”.
The Soul Mama website lists upcoming events at the Islington site, including Soul Sessions: The Neo Soul Experience on 15 May and 17 July, and JB Rose on 17 May, with doors opening from 6.30 pm.
Background of the Development
Soul Mama emerged from a vision to blend live music, dining, and community engagement, spearheaded by YolanDa Brown OBE DL, a Grammy-nominated saxophonist and BBC broadcaster, and Adetokunbo ’T’ Oyelola, a music manager and founder of Black Grape Global.
The concept gained traction through a 2023 Kickstarter campaign that set a Guinness World Record with £248,148 raised in eight weeks, enabling the Stratford launch in 2024. Initially planned for Islington, the first venue opened at The Gantry Hotel amid a programme of jazz, soul, gospel, and reggae events, partnering with Ticketmaster for wider reach. Angel Central’s ongoing refurbishments since 2018, including leisure expansions and social spaces, provided the ideal setting for the second site, reflecting CBRE’s strategy to diversify offerings at a centre drawing ten million visitors yearly. Recent plans signal a dual-site future in 2026, building on proven popularity.
Predictions: Impact on North London Audiences
This development can enhance cultural access for north London residents and visitors by introducing a dedicated music and dining hub at Angel Central, potentially increasing live event options like jazz and soul sessions in Islington. Local communities may see boosted footfall to the shopping centre, supporting all-day visitation and drawing diverse crowds from the ten million annual visitors.
Music enthusiasts and young artists could benefit from community-focused programming aimed at industry entry, while F&B diversification might encourage prolonged stays, benefiting nearby retail. East London fans gain from the planned Westfield Stratford site, extending Soul Mama’s reach without displacing the original concept. Overall, it positions Islington as a stronger cultural node, fostering connections through music and cuisine for families, professionals, and tourists alike.
