The Black Cap Camden: AV Design for a London LGBTQ+ Landmark
After almost eleven years behind closed doors, The Black Cap Camden reopened on 21 March 2026. Audiotek helped bring the Camden institution back to life with a flexible audio, lighting, video and control system designed for everyday bar service, drag and cabaret, DJ nights, live shows and catwalk-led events.
A New Chapter for a Historic Camden Venue
The Black Cap has stood at the heart of Camden for more than 250 years and became one of London’s earliest gay pubs in the 1960s. Its stage helped shape British drag and cabaret, earning the venue a special place in the cultural memory of generations of LGBTQ+ Londoners.
When the Cap returned to 171 Camden High Street, the technical brief involved more than installing new equipment. The renewed venue needed to respect that performance legacy while operating as a modern, welcoming bar every day of the week.
The Black Cap Camden AV Project
Audiotek was engaged in July 2025, with design beginning in August and the on-site fit-out starting in October.
The brief covered audio, show lighting, video and central control throughout the main bar, upstairs bar, outdoor areas and the venue’s interactive disco loo.
The goal was to create a glamorous, performance-ready environment that could move effortlessly between relaxed daytime service and full-scale evening entertainment.
Key Lessons from The Black Cap Camden AV Design
- Design around the venue’s complete programme rather than one show format.
- Simple staff control and professional production access can coexist.
- Zoned audio can create a consistent multi-room experience while preserving the character of each space.
- Memorable details matter: even the disco loo contributes to the guest experience.
Designing One System for Every Type of Event
The same rooms needed to support background music, speech, drag and cabaret, DJ sets, live shows and catwalk-led events.
During normal service, venue staff had to operate the system confidently without a dedicated technician. For larger productions, visiting crews needed the control and connectivity expected from a serious performance venue.
Every technical element also had to sit comfortably within the glamorous refurbishment rather than compete with it.
Flexible AV Control for Staff and Technical Crews
Audiotek designed the venue around clearly defined operating modes.
Q-SYS provides the processing, amplification and touchscreen control required for straightforward everyday operation. Staff can manage routine service and DJ events through a simple, reliable interface.
For more involved productions, dedicated sound and lighting workflows give technical crews the access they need to operate larger drag, cabaret and live shows.
This approach makes a sophisticated system practical for a busy hospitality team without limiting the creative possibilities of the stage.
L-Acoustics Sound for DJs, Cabaret and Live Performance
The main performance space is built around an L-Acoustics system featuring A10i Wide enclosures, X8 delays and fills, KS21i low-frequency support and LA4X amplification.
The system provides consistent coverage throughout the room while delivering the clarity required for speech and cabaret, alongside the power and impact expected for DJ-led nights.
Pioneer DJ CDJ-3000 players and a DJM-V10 mixer provide an industry-standard performance setup, supported by Shure wireless and handheld microphones.
Ecler loudspeakers extend the audio experience into the upstairs bar and outdoor areas, allowing each part of the venue to have an appropriate sound level and character.
Chauvet Lighting for Drag, Cabaret and Late-Night Energy
Chauvet Professional Rogue R1 BeamWash and Ovation F-55FC fixtures give the venue a flexible lighting toolkit for drag, cabaret, live performance and catwalk events.
Chauvet DJ Cosmos HP effects, haze and DMX control add movement, atmosphere and impact when the room changes from bar service to late-night entertainment.
The lighting system can support a polished cabaret performance one moment and a high-energy DJ set the next.
AV Installation and System Integration
Audiotek began the on-site fit-out in October 2025 as the wider refurbishment gathered pace.
The team integrated sound, lighting, video and control systems across several distinct spaces before programming an interface that keeps routine operation clear for venue staff.
Behind that simple user experience sits a professional technical backbone, ready for engineers and visiting production teams whenever the event brief becomes more ambitious.
The Result
The completed system gives The Black Cap a flexible technical platform for its new chapter.
It provides warm, controlled background sound during everyday service, the clarity and impact required for DJs and live performance, and the operational simplicity a busy venue needs between shows.
Most importantly, the technology supports the Black Cap’s identity as a pub, nightclub, cabaret room and community space without forcing it into a single format.
A Landmark Camden LGBTQ+ Venue Returns
The Black Cap’s return is a landmark moment for Camden and London’s LGBTQ+ community.
By combining L-Acoustics sound, Chauvet lighting, Q-SYS control and carefully selected systems for each area, Audiotek created an AV platform capable of moving from relaxed bar service to full cabaret spectacle with confidence.
For venues that need performance technology without compromising everyday usability, talk to Audiotek.
The Black Cap Camden Equipment Overview
Audio Equipment
- L-Acoustics A10i Wide loudspeakers
- L-Acoustics X8 delays and fills
- L-Acoustics KS21i subwoofer
- L-Acoustics LA4X amplified controller
- Pioneer DJ CDJ-3000 players
- Pioneer DJ DJM-V10 mixer
- Shure SLX-D wireless system and SM58 microphones
- Ecler ARQIS, eMOTUS and NIMBO loudspeakers
Lighting Equipment
- Chauvet Professional Rogue R1 BeamWash
- Chauvet Professional Ovation F-55FC
- Chauvet DJ Cosmos HP
- Chauvet DJ Hurricane Haze 1DX
- Chauvet DJ DMX-AN2
Control System
- Q-SYS Core 110f
- Q-SYS CX-Q 8K4
- Q-SYS QIO-GP8x8
- Q-SYS TSC-70-G3 touchscreen
- Attero Tech wall control
- Netgear AV network infrastructure
Video Equipment
- Sapphire AV electric projection screen
- WyreStorm HDBaseT extension
- Unicol mounting hardware
