What’s Happening With Blue Note Jazz London?

Ya like jazz? From the famed Ronnie Scott’s to the legendary Jazz Cafe, the perfect acoustics of Soho Live to the offbeat Pizza Express Live, London is alight with world-class jazz music. The latest venue looking to open up in the capital is a New York City legend: Blue Note Jazz. Having already expended from its Manhattan home to the likes of Hawaii, Tokyo, Rio, Beijing and Milan, it’s a famed institution dating back to 1981, playing host to everyone from Ray Charles to Dizzie Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan to Carmen McRae, with plenty of musicians recording albums using Blue Note Jazz’s facilities, too.

But Blue Note Jazz London might not be a sealed deal just yet. Here’s why the Met Police is opposing the new opening.

Is Blue Note Jazz Club Opening In London?

Blue Note Jazz Club has filed for permission to open a new 350-seat live music venue in Soho, London. If the plans are approved, Blue Note Jazz London will be located in the basement of the St Martins Lane Hotel (45 St Martin’s Ln, London WC2N 4HX) in the heart of the West End – a former gym that has sat empty since 2023.

However, the plans may not be approved due to objections from the Met Police, who argue the opening would increase crime in the area, challenging the already-stretched police force. In particular, the Met takes issue with the Club’s request to serve alcohol and stay open until 1am seven days a week, which ‘could add to crime, disorder and public nuisance’ and leave ‘vulnerable’ club-goers (especially ‘intoxicated lone females’) exposed to ‘crime and disorder in the immediate area’, citing an uptick in illegal taxis and mobile phone snatchers in the capital.

A local resident concurred with the police’s concerns, according to The Standard. They said: ‘It is suggested that it is extremely likely that some of the dispersing jazz lovers may be inebriated to a greater or lesser extent, or perhaps slightly disorientated by their emergence into the cool night air. They will be immediately vulnerable to the gangs of criminals who already prey on similar groups of people in the Soho area.’

The police pushed back against Blue Note Jazz, suggesting an 11pm closing time – but the Club argued 1am is ‘integral’ to its function as a live jazz club. It said: ‘London’s cultural fabric is on the line here. Grassroot music venue infrastructure will fall even further and remain below replacement rate if new venues like this application are not supported.’

The City of Westminster Council is expected to come to a decision in the next five days. Until then, here are 15 of London’s best bars and clubs to get your jazz fix.