From Gatekeepers to Narrators: The Women Behind Chiltern Firehouse’s Iconic Guest List Are Transforming London’s Nightlife

Following the closure of Chiltern Firehouse due to a fire, two of London's most influential insiders are reshaping the nightlife scene with KENNA.

When a fire ravaged Chiltern Firehouse on Valentine’s Day this year, it not only closed one of London’s most iconic venues but also created a vacuum in the city’s social fabric. The Laddershed bar of the hotel had long served as a dazzling hub for A-list celebrities, industrial leaders, cultural influencers, and exceptionally fashionable visitors. The essence of the scene had ceased to pulsate.

Don McLean famously referred to "the day the music died" in relation to Buddy Holly's tragic death in an aircraft crash. This was equal for London's top social scene. As memes inundated social media, with socialites traveling to Chateau Marmont or finding solace at Hotel Costes, one reality became evident: Chiltern Firehouse transcended mere venue status; it represented a cultural phenomenon.

The fire was a pivotal moment of personal and professional turmoil for Kendal Barrett and Anna Howell, the pair responsible for Chiltern’s carefully prepared guest list. The duo had established their reputations outside the velvet rope, meticulously crafting the ambiance of each evening with intuition, prudence, and an expert grasp of social dynamics. In a moment, that platform vanished.

Instead of stalling, Barrett and Howell adapted. KENNA emerged from the remnants of the Firehouse.

Curatorship Rather than Spectacle

KENNA does not constitute a club or a conventional event series. It is a dynamic array of exclusive, invitation-only events — located on rooftops, concealed in basements, and presented as temporary takeovers. Their bond is not defined by geography or opulence, but by a philosophy: tailored connection. A word the duo invented after five years managing London's most sought-after social venues.

“We recognized that the genuine enchantment lies not in exclusivity, but in alchemy,” they elucidate. “It pertains to amalgamating the appropriate energies, rather than merely names.”

These evenings are not centered on paparazzi or performance. They pertain to liberty, tension, and continuity - the authorization to engage, and the assurance of unforeseen collaboration. “It is less ostentatious, more emotive,” Howell states.

A Novel Social Chapter

Currently hosting a weekly residency in the Broadwick Soho, informally referred to by insiders as the “Chiltern pop-up,” Barrett and Howell are once again establishing the rhythm of London’s nightlife. Every Thursday, a recognizable assemblage of celebrities, creatives, and cultural influencers convenes, motivated by an intangible allure beyond mere status: the resonance of belonging.

Despite being reticent regarding guest lists, they are clearly relishing their transformation from gatekeepers to architects of experience. “We are no longer merely opening the door,” states Barrett. “We are constructing the entire room.”

Their ethos is reverberating. In a time of excessive stimulation and meticulous curation, KENNA provides intimacy devoid of pretension and exclusivity free from snobbery. It is not merely a celebration; it is a venue for innovative convergence.

From Dining Tables to Talk Shows

What is their subsequent chapter? An in-depth exploration of the individuals who occupy their spaces. Enter Yes (No) Maybe, a podcast conceived at 2 AM during a dialogue with filmmaker Baz Luhrmann. Upon being inquired about his potential participation as a guest, he momentarily disappeared and reappeared with the succinct declaration: “I have an idea.”

Yes (No) Maybe is scheduled to perform live at the inaugural SXSW London this June, with Barrett and Howell curating both the attendees and the discussions that ensue. The podcast advances its mission: advocating for authenticity, curiosity, and creative energy.

Yes (No) Maybe at SXSW London:

Becoming: On Camera, On Page, On Purpose featuring YouTuber Jack Edwards and actor Herman Tommeraas

June 4, 2025 | 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM | Christ Church Spitalfields | Culture Stage

An open dialogue on visibility, creative identity, and the significance of authentic presence both online and offline.

June 5, 2025 | 10:10 AM – 11:00 AM | Christ Church Spitalfields | Culture Stage

A live extension of Yes (No) This discussion may center on innovative redirection and the instruments that assist artists in navigating uncertainty.

The Influence of Presence

For Barrett and Howell, this moment transcends nightlife; it embodies narrative. Not only the location of individuals, but also the rationale behind it. Their narrative exemplifies transformation and redefinition: transitioning from guardians of exclusivity to narrators of a more interconnected, aware social epoch.

“We received instruction from the finest,” they assert. “However, we are currently constructing something that belongs to us.”