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Key people at Time Out.
Time Out Group is a global media and hospitality company, curating information to help people experience cities. Its multi-channel platform offers content and booking for arts, entertainment, and dining. Originating as a London magazine, Time Out now provides digital guides and operates physical markets, empowering global urban engagement.
Tony Elliott founded Time Out in 1968, recognizing a clear need for a comprehensive London cultural guide. As a university student, Elliott launched the magazine, offering city dwellers a reliable resource for local events. This vision transformed a local publication into an international media presence.
The company serves urban residents and visitors seeking to immerse themselves in city life, facilitating access to cultural, culinary, and leisure activities. Time Out’s mission is to inspire and empower people to explore and connect with urban environments globally, fostering local culture appreciation.
# Time Out Group: High-Level Overview
Time Out Group is a global media and hospitality company that operates through two synergistic divisions: Time Out Media (editorial content and digital platforms) and Time Out Market (curated food and cultural venues).[1] Founded in 1968 as a London listings magazine, the company has evolved into a leading authority on arts, culture, food, and nightlife across hundreds of cities worldwide.[5] The company serves both consumers seeking cultural inspiration and brands seeking access to affluent, culturally engaged audiences through 360-degree advertising solutions.[1]
Time Out's business model addresses a fundamental challenge in the digital age: how legacy media companies can diversify revenue beyond advertising. By launching Time Out Market—described as the world's first editorially curated food and cultural market—the company created a "phygital" (physical + digital) platform that monetizes its editorial expertise and brand trust through experiential venues.[5] This dual-revenue approach positions Time Out as both a media authority and a hospitality operator, generating income from content, advertising, and venue operations.
# Origin Story
Tony Elliott founded Time Out in 1968 using £70 during a summer break from Keele University.[4] What began as a self-published, folded poster of eight pages—initially titled *Where It's At* before Elliott was inspired by Dave Brubeck's jazz album *Time Out*—quickly gained traction.[2][4] The first 5,000 copies sold out at 1 shilling each, and by 1972, circulation had exceeded 30,000, establishing Time Out London as the capital's leading listings magazine.[3]
Elliott's vision was straightforward: provide reliable, curated information about London's emerging urban culture and nightlife. This editorial curation became the company's defining strength. The brand expanded internationally starting in 1993 with *Time Out Paris*, followed by *Time Out New York* in 1995.[3] By 2010, Elliott had built the company to the point where he sold 50% of Time Out London and 66% of Time Out New York to private equity firm Oakley Capital, valuing the company at £20 million and securing capital for global expansion.[2] The company went public on London's AIM stock exchange in June 2016, trading under ticker 'TMO'.[2]
# Core Differentiators
# Role in the Broader Media and Hospitality Landscape
Time Out exemplifies how legacy media companies are adapting to the "media apocalypse" triggered by digital disruption and advertising commoditization.[5] Rather than competing solely on content in an oversaturated digital environment, Time Out leveraged its brand equity and editorial expertise to create a new category: experiential hospitality venues anchored by editorial curation.
The company is riding two significant trends: the experience economy (consumers increasingly value memorable experiences over products) and the trust crisis in digital platforms (algorithmic feeds lack the human judgment that editorial curation provides). Time Out Market's success—with Lisbon becoming "one of the city's most popular destinations" shortly after opening in 2014—demonstrates market appetite for curated, high-quality food and cultural experiences.[1]
This model also positions Time Out to capture value across the entire customer journey: from initial inspiration (media), to decision-making (advertising), to transaction (market venues). This vertical integration is rare in media and creates defensible competitive advantages.
# Quick Take & Future Outlook
Time Out's evolution from a counterculture publication to a "phygital" platform represents a viable playbook for legacy media companies seeking relevance in the digital age. The company's ability to maintain editorial credibility while expanding into hospitality suggests that trusted curation remains valuable even as distribution channels proliferate.
Looking forward, Time Out's growth will depend on three factors: (1) successfully expanding Time Out Market to additional cities while maintaining the editorial quality that drives traffic, (2) deepening synergies between media and markets to create a virtuous cycle of content-to-venue-to-content, and (3) competing against both digital platforms (which offer algorithmic recommendations) and traditional hospitality operators (which lack editorial differentiation).
The company's December 2022 decision to cease print publication of Time Out magazine after 54 years signals a full commitment to digital-first and experiential strategies.[6] As consumer preferences continue shifting toward experiences and trusted recommendations, Time Out's positioning at the intersection of editorial authority, digital platforms, and physical venues positions it to thrive—provided it can execute the complex operational challenges of managing a global hospitality network while maintaining editorial integrity.
Key people at Time Out.
