Renowned Blue Note Jazz Club to open in London after winning late license
The club – which has previously hosted Stevie Wonder, Raye and Ezra Collective – will open in Covent Garden.
By Nick Reilly
The world-renowned Blue Note Jazz Club will open a new venue in London early next year, after winning a protracted battle over its late license.
The 350-capacity venue will be the first Blue Note club to be established in the UK when it opens early next year in the basement of St Martins Lane hotel in Covent Garden.
Westminster Council has granted the license after the plans first faced opposition by both the Metropolitan Police and the council themselves. A Licensing Sub-Committee Report from the City of Westminster in February claimed that that the late license was at risk of heightening “crime and disorder” in the area. The opposition was also criticised by local musicians who claimed that it would be another blow to the capital’s nightlife scene.
Now, Westminster City Council has changed its position and said that the “venue management have engaged extensively with local people to improve their application and address the concerns that were raised by the police.”
The license will now allow the club to open until 1 a.m. on Monday to Saturday and midnight on Sundays.
It will feature two performance spaces: a main room with 250 person capacity, and a second 100 person capacity space. The venue will also host a kitchen open for dinners every day of the week.
Steven Bensusan, president of Blue Note Entertainment Group said in a statement, “We’re excited to be coming to London and grateful to Westminster Council for recognising what Blue Note can bring to the city’s nightlife. As we prepare to open in early 2026, we’re looking forward to bringing world-class jazz and a deep cultural legacy to one of the greatest music cities in the world.”
The original Blue Note club in New York City opened its doors in 1981, and new venues have since cropped up in Milan, Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
Sophie Asquith, Venue Support Team Manager at Music Venue Trust said: “Music Venue Trust is delighted to learn that Blue Note has been granted a license with the hours needed to enable its world-famous jazz operation to flourish in central London. Their plans and commitment have been thorough and conscientious throughout, and so we were very pleased to speak in support of the application at their recent hearing. The charity is excited to continue to work with the team, and wish them every success in their vision, bringing the very best in global and local grassroots jazz talent to their latest home in London.”