Time Out Group
Time Out Group is a British media and hospitality company that publishes city-focused cultural content and operates Time Out-branded food halls and events venues.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Time Out Group is a British urban media and hospitality business built around the Time Out brand. It began in London in 1968 when Tony Elliott founded a small listings publication covering events, entertainment and alternative culture. The original magazine was a one-sheet pamphlet with an initial print run of approximately 5,000 copies. It developed into a weekly London publication with a substantially larger circulation and became known for combining practical city listings with editorial perspectives on culture and social issues, including gay rights, racial equality and police harassment. The company expanded beyond London through magazines, city guides, books, licensed editions and digital products. Its first major North American edition, Time Out New York, launched in 1995, followed by Time Out New York Kids in 1996. The success of international editions helped establish Time Out as a global city-information brand, with content distributed through websites, mobile applications, social channels, print publications and local editorial operations. The group has described its reach as extending across hundreds of cities in dozens of countries, although the precise number of active markets changes over time. Time Out faced pressure during the transition from print publishing to online discovery services. Time Out New York entered a market where competing digital listings businesses were already established, and the company was criticized internally and commercially for integrating digital products later than some rivals. It subsequently invested in common technology, mobile applications, location-based discovery and booking functionality. The New York and London iPhone applications launched in 2009, and iPad applications followed in 2012. The group also acquired or invested in technology businesses including LikeCube, Kelkoo, Flypay, Huge City, Hallstreet and YPlan to strengthen personalization, payments, mapping, event discovery and reservations. Ownership changed materially in 2011, when private-equity investor Oakley Capital acquired a substantial interest in parts of the business. The transaction provided capital for digital expansion and international development. Time Out Group later completed an initial public offering on London's AIM market in June 2016 under the symbol TMO. The group has two closely related operating pillars. Time Out Media provides editorial recommendations, event listings, restaurant and travel coverage, city guides, newsletters, apps, advertising and commercial partnerships. Its subject matter includes food and drink, theatre, film, music, art, nightlife, family activities and other urban experiences. The second pillar is Time Out Market, a food-and-culture venue concept that brings together independent restaurants, chefs, bars and cultural programming in prominent city locations. The first market opened in Lisbon in 2014 in the Mercado da Ribeira. Subsequent markets opened in cities including Miami, New York, Boston, Chicago, Montreal and Dubai, with further locations added or announced in Europe and elsewhere. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the media business to adapt its editorial proposition. In March 2020, the website temporarily changed its branding to “Time Out In” and promoted activities that audiences could undertake at home while public venues were restricted. Print has continued to contract: Time Out London ended its regular print edition in June 2022 after 54 years, while the brand continued digitally. Time Out remains an active international platform linking local editorial expertise, audience discovery, advertising, ticketing, experiences and hospitality venues.
History
Time Out was founded in London in 1968 by Tony Elliott, with Bob Harris as an early co-editor. The first issue was a modest one-sheet pamphlet listing things to do in London. Its editorial identity was shaped by the counter-culture of the period and included perspectives on civil rights, gay rights, racial equality and police conduct. The publication grew from an initial circulation of about 5,000 to a weekly circulation reported at around 110,000, establishing a durable local-media franchise. During the 1970s, the title expanded its editorial operation and developed a reputation for combining listings with critical coverage of arts, entertainment and city life. In the 1990s, Time Out began a more systematic international expansion. Time Out New York launched in 1995, followed by a children's edition in 1996. The brand then spread through licensed magazines, local websites, travel books, city guides and other editorial products. The transition to digital media was difficult. Time Out New York initially launched without a website and competed with established online services such as Citysearch and The Village Voice. The group later increased its investment in digital products, launching iPhone applications for New York and London in 2009 and iPad applications in 2012. Partnerships with software companies supported a shared technology platform, multi-city applications, location-based recommendations and booking functions. In August 2011, Time Out acquired LikeCube, a personalization business, and in December of that year it acquired Kelkoo, a daily-offers business. Oakley Capital also became an important investor in 2011, purchasing half of Time Out London and 66 percent of Time Out New York from Tony Elliott. In 2013, Time Out acquired the licensing rights associated with the Chicago publication. Further technology and discovery acquisitions included Huge City in 2014, Hallstreet in 2016 and YPlan in 2016. The group announced a £7 million investment in Flypay in 2015 to connect pay-at-table technology with its media platform. Time Out Market was launched in Lisbon in 2014 as Time Out Mercado da Ribeira. The concept combined local restaurants, chefs, artisan food vendors and cultural activity in a curated food-hall setting. New markets opened in Miami, New York, Boston, Chicago and Montreal in 2019, followed by Dubai in 2021. Additional markets were reported in Porto and Barcelona in 2024 and Budapest in 2025. The precise operating portfolio may change as venues open, close or move through development stages. Time Out Group became a publicly traded company on AIM in June 2016 under the ticker TMO. During the COVID-19 crisis, the digital brand temporarily became “Time Out In,” shifting recommendations toward activities that could be experienced at home. The business continued its movement away from print: Time Out London ended its regular print edition on 23 June 2022, although the London service remained available online. Today, Time Out combines digital publishing, city discovery, advertising, bookings, live experiences and hospitality venues under a common international brand.
- 2022
Time Out London ends regular print distribution
[1]The London edition moves fully online after more than five decades of print publication.
- 2020
Time Out In response to the pandemic
[1]The website changes its logo and editorial emphasis to support audiences staying at home.
- 2016
Time Out Group joins AIM
[1]The group completes its initial public offering and trades under TMO.
- 2014
First Time Out Market opens in Lisbon
[1]Time Out Mercado da Ribeira introduces the group's curated food-hall and cultural-venue model.
- 2011
Oakley Capital becomes a major investor
[1]Oakley Capital acquires significant interests in Time Out London and Time Out New York.
- 2009
New York and London iPhone apps launch
[1]Time Out begins extending its city recommendations into mobile applications.
- 1995
Time Out New York launches
[1]The first major North American edition expands the brand beyond the United Kingdom.
- 1968
Time Out is founded in London
[1]Tony Elliott establishes Time Out as a London listings publication, with Bob Harris serving as an early co-editor.
Products and positioning
A globally recognized city-discovery brand positioned between editorial media, local recommendations, event discovery and experiential hospitality. Its proposition emphasizes locally informed recommendations for culture, entertainment, food and urban leisure.
Digital media
Time Out digital city guides
Editorial websites and mobile experiences covering events, restaurants, nightlife, arts, film, theatre, music, family activities and travel. Local editors provide recommendations intended to help residents and visitors navigate urban culture, while listings and commercial tools support advertising, ticketing and discovery.
City publication · 1968
Time Out London
The original Time Out city service, historically published as a weekly London magazine and now maintained primarily online. It covers the capital's cultural calendar, restaurants, entertainment, exhibitions, theatre, film and nightlife.
City publication · 1995
Time Out New York
The group's first major North American edition, launched in 1995. Known as TONY, it provides New York event listings, editorial recommendations and local lifestyle coverage through digital channels and selected free print distribution.
Travel publishing
Time Out guide books
Travel and city guides written around local recommendations, cultural attractions, restaurants and less prominent urban destinations. The guide-book proposition extends the editorial brand beyond daily listings and digital media.
Hospitality and food halls · 2014
Time Out Market
A venue format that curates independent restaurants, chefs, food vendors, bars and cultural programming in a shared destination. The first location opened in Lisbon in 2014, followed by markets in North America, the Middle East and Europe.
Mobile applications · 2009
Time Out mobile applications
Mobile products integrating city guides, maps, location-aware recommendations, editor selections and event discovery. The early New York and London applications helped the company shift its service from printed listings toward mobile urban discovery.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Time Out In
International digital markets
During COVID-19 restrictions, Time Out temporarily changed its branding to “Time Out In” and redirected editorial recommendations toward films, food, culture and activities that could be enjoyed at home.
Outcome. The initiative allowed the digital service to remain relevant while many venues and public events were unavailable.
Brand decisions
2022
End regular print publication of Time Out LondonStrategyBackground
Audience behavior and the economics of print had shifted toward digital city discovery.
Action taken
The regular print edition of Time Out London was distributed for the last time on 23 June 2022.
Aftermath
The London service continued online, reinforcing the group's digital-first publishing model.
2016
List Time Out Group on AIMStrategyBackground
A public listing provided a new corporate financing and ownership structure for the international media and hospitality group.
Action taken
Time Out Group completed an initial public offering on London's AIM market under ticker TMO.
Aftermath
The company operated as a publicly traded group while continuing its digital transformation and market expansion.
2014
Launch the Time Out Market hospitality modelProduct launchBackground
The company sought to extend the brand from editorial recommendations into physical food and cultural experiences.
Action taken
Time Out opened Time Out Mercado da Ribeira in Lisbon, bringing together local food operators and cultural programming.
Aftermath
The concept became a second major growth pillar and expanded to additional international cities.
2011
Use external investment to fund digital and international expansionStrategyBackground
Financial losses and the need to expand the Time Out brand created pressure for additional capital.
Action taken
Tony Elliott sold half of Time Out London and 66 percent of Time Out New York to Oakley Capital.
Aftermath
The new ownership structure supported investment in shared online technology, partnerships and multi-city mobile products.
Recent events
Time Out Group ends plans for Waterloo market[3]
Reported:
Time Out Group said it no longer intends to proceed with developing Time Out Market London (Waterloo), citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Time Out rebrands as Time In[4]
Reported:
Time Out magazine rebranded itself as Time In during the COVID-19 outbreak, emphasizing staying inside.
Sources4 sources
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