LONDON — The Academy of St Martin in the Fields (ASMF) has officially completed its acquisition of the London Festival Orchestra (LFO), securing ownership of The Warehouse in Waterloo. The transaction provides ASMF with its first permanent home in its history while preserving one of London’s most vital rehearsal and recording venues.
The deal builds on a relationship between the two classical music organizations spanning several decades. Ownership of the facility allows ASMF—a player-led ensemble operating without regular funding from Arts Council England—to strengthen both its long-term financial resilience and its creative capabilities.
A Historic Space Preserved
The Warehouse was established in the 1990s by cellist, founder, and music director of the LFO, Ross Pople. Converted from a Victorian brick structure, the venue was developed to give the LFO a permanent base and to offer London’s classical music community a dedicated facility for rehearsing and recording. It was the first time a British orchestra independently owned its home venue.
To finance the original project, Pople sold his Testori cello—a gift from legendary violinist Yehudi Menuhin, who encouraged the investment in a permanent musical property. Following a skiing accident in 2012 that ended Pople’s performing career, he continued to manage and preserve the building as an active facility for the wider music industry.
Over the last thirty years, The Warehouse has hosted an extensive list of world-renowned artists across classical and contemporary genres, including:
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Classical Masters: Yehudi Menuhin, Daniel Barenboim, Pinchas Zukerman, Pierre Boulez, Martha Argerich, Mitsuko Uchida, Trevor Pinnock, Murray Perahia, and ASMF founder Sir Neville Marriner.
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Contemporary & Pop Icons: Annie Lennox, Jamiroquai, and Shirley Bassey.
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Current Leaders: Joshua Bell CBE, ASMF Music Director.
“My first view of The Warehouse in 1993 was of a derelict Victorian monster of perfect proportions in a perfect location… 30 years on and it couldn’t be more appropriate that the Academy of St Martin in the Fields takes over,” said Ross Pople. “When CEO Annie Lydford approached me in the Spring of 2025, she offered a perfect solution to the growing concern of an old musician. I am delighted it is the ASMF!”
Centralizing Operations and Social Programs
The acquisition brings ASMF’s players, administrative staff, music library, historical archive, and creative partnerships together under one roof for the first time. Alongside its primary performance home at the Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, The Warehouse will act as the operational engine for the orchestra.
In addition to core orchestral work, the venue will host ASMF’s expanded social-purpose programs, including Ensemble Unheard—a newly established ensemble formed by individuals experiencing homelessness.
Planned Developments & Community Features:
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Industry Rental: Studios will remain available for external hire by third-party orchestras, choirs, and ensembles, generating revenue that ASMF will reinvest directly into its programs.
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Facility Upgrades: Planned improvements include acoustic optimizations, updated social and work spaces for musicians, and coaching studios available for affordable public hire.
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Education Suite: Long-term plans include constructing a dedicated education suite, for which planning permission has already been granted.
“Since its founding by Sir Neville Marriner in 1958, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields has always been entrepreneurial, independent and agile,” noted Annie Lydford, Chief Executive of ASMF. “At a time of growing pressure on the performing arts, we believe artistic ambition and financial sustainability must go hand in hand.”
Joshua Bell CBE, Music Director, added: “I have rehearsed with them many times at The Warehouse, so it is especially meaningful to see this much-loved space become the orchestra’s permanent home. The trust, freedom and shared commitment behind ASMF’s music-making need time and space to flourish, and this new home will give the players both.”
Funding and Capital Campaign Launch
The acquisition was supported by private donors, patrons, and the Mayor of London. Key contributors include lead donors Maria Cardamone and Paul Matthews, alongside Arnold and Kate Schmeidler, A Michael Lipper and Ruth C Lipper, Marie-Anne and Philippe Aymerich, Isabelle Deschamps, The DooGood Foundation, The Dow Clewer Foundation, Dunard Fund, The Fraenkel Charitable Trust, The Patrick and Helena Frost Trust, Lisa Walsh-Hawkins and Andrew Hawkins, The Hugh & Vera Miller Family Fund, Christina Co Mather, and Arthur Wang. Pro bono legal advisory was provided by Linklaters LLP.
With the initial purchase finalized, ASMF has launched a public fundraising campaign titled “Our Players. Our Purpose. Our Future. Our Home.”
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Campaign Goal: £500,000 by April 2027
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Purpose: Funding the operational transition, initial architectural and acoustic enhancements, and community engagement projects.
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More Information: asmf.org/our-home