The Columbo Group

The group's founding directors are Steve Ball and Riz Shaikh, both of whom were included in the "Top 1000 Most Influential" list by The Evening Standard in 2014 and 2015.[2] The two went into business and opened their first site, The Old Queens Head, in 2006, followed by Paradise by way of Kensal Green, Love and Liquor in Kilburn, and XOYO. The Columbo Group launched The Nest in Dalston on October 14, 2010.[3]

In January 2014 the group purchased The Cat and Mutton on Broadway Market and Bar Music Hall in Shoreditch.[4] The latter was transformed into a second site for the groups Blues Kitchen concept in April 2014.

The purchase of Electric Social in Brixton was announced by the group in April 2015.[5] It reopened as the third Blues Kitchen outpost in October 2015. The Blues Kitchen went on to win the ALMR, Dusk 'Till Dawn award for 'Best Food Offer 2015' that same month.[6]

Well-known Brixton club Plan B was acquired by the group in July 2015 and relaunched as nightclub Phonox.[7]

MAMA & Company’s former venue, The Jazz Cafe, was sold to The Columbo Group in January 2016, and reopened following refurbishment on May 24, 2016.[8]

It was reported in June 2016 that The Columbo Group have obtained ownership of The Barfly. The venue was relaunched on September 14, 2016 as The Camden Assembly.

Sunfall Festival, held July 9, 2016 at Brockwell Park to a sold-out crowd of 11,000, marked the launch of the group's first owned and operated festival. The 2016 line-up included performances by Jamie XX, Goldie, Joy Orbison, Kamasi Washington, Mind Against, and Zomby.[9] The festival received positive reviews[10] and announcements have been made for a 2017 follow-up.

Former creative director Andy Peyton confirmed the festivals return and its first round of performers via Twitter in February 2017.[11] The festival will return to London’s Brockwell Park on Saturday the 12th of August, and feature Helena Hauff, Derrick May, The Black Madonna, Theo Parrish, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Antal, Palms Trax, Move D, Beautiful Swimmers and Jackmaster. Additionally, live sets are promised from Roy Ayers, Floating Points, Larry Heard and Romare.

GQ spotlighted the group's expanding portfolio in their December 2016 issue with a feature column on the launch of The Camden Assembly. Circulated intentionally, the magazine details the £1 million refurbishment of the venue, its eclectic program curation and inciting a London nightlife revival.

In April 2017, the group confirmed reports that it had extended their portfolio by obtaining the freehold lease of The Blues Kitchen Brixton. The 7500 square-foot, three storey property at 40 Acre Lane, London SW2 5EP is the operators third freehold purchase.[12]

In January 2019, the company took over the legendary Metropolis Club in Bethnal Green, a very popular East London night club that currently hosts queer nights Dollar Baby and Savage Disco, from the team behind Sink The Pink and Mighty Hoopla

In February 2019, they launched the inaugural Maiden Voyage Festival, taking place on August Bank Holiday Sunday at Three Mills Island in Stratford. The lineup, put together by The Jazz Cafe includes Awesome Tapes From Africa, Bradley Zero, Charlotte Dos Santos, Gilles Peterson, Illa J, Louis Cole, Madlib, Nabihah Iqbal, Roy Ayers, Steam Down and Zakia.

• Phonox
• The Blues Kitchen