While small music venues across the UK face an uncertain future, London's jazz clubs are experiencing a remarkable boom, with major expansions and new openings defying the economic odds.
A Resurgent Scene
Iconic venues are growing at an impressive rate. The Jazz Cafe is extending its Camden base and opening a new location in east London, while the legendary Ronnie Scott's is undergoing significant refurbishment. In a major coup for the capital, New York's iconic Blue Note club has confirmed it will open its first London venue in Covent Garden in 2026, joining its international outposts in Japan, Brazil, Italy and China.
Steve Rubie, owner of the celebrated 606 Club in Chelsea, observes that while he's witnessed several resurgences during his nearly 50-year career, the current wave feels different. "Younger audiences are less scared of jazz," he notes. "It's all just music to them."
The New Jazz Generation
This open-minded approach has powered London's globally recognised jazz scene over the past decade. Young musicians who honed their skills at organisations like Tomorrow's Warriors and the city's music schools have cut their teeth in clubs, from late-night jams at Ronnie Scott's to the improvised jazz parties of Steam Down events.
The scene has produced major success stories like Ezra Collective, who have won the Mercury prize and played Wembley Arena. According to Aisling Doherty, programming coordinator at the EFG London jazz festival, these achievements are rooted in jazz clubs, which she describes as "the heartbeat of the jazz scene."
At Toulouse Lautrec in Kennington, manager Nolan Regent has noticed young people developing a genuine interest in jazz history. "Young people are keen to learn more about the history behind the music," he says, highlighting the popularity of their "the music of" series exploring iconic jazz figures.
Expansion Against the Odds
The physical growth of these venues is substantial. The Jazz Cafe has received planning permission to transform an art deco theatre in Stratford into a new outpost, while Ronnie Scott's has completely renovated its upstairs space into a new small venue called Upstairs at Ronnie's, scheduled to open on 6 February.
Blue Note's London arrival overcame initial concerns from police and local residents about its 1am closing time potentially causing an "uptick in crime" in the area. The late licence was granted in May, and renovation work is now underway in the basement of the St Martin's Lane Hotel to create two performance spaces and a kitchen.
This expansion contrasts sharply with the wider situation for grassroots music venues. Research by the Music Venue Trust found that nearly half of UK grassroots venues were running at a loss last year. Some jazz clubs haven't survived the pressures, with Kansas Smitty's on Broadway Market closing during the pandemic and never reopening.
Giacomo Smith, who co-founded the venue, explains that the decision wasn't purely financial. "You only have one career - and for me, I want to play," he says. "I don't think musicians should start jazz clubs, just like I don't think chefs should start restaurants. Because they care too much."
Despite the challenges, the intimate connection between performers and audiences in these small spaces continues to draw people together. As Rubie beautifully expresses it: "Being a member of an audience is as important as being a member of the band. It's a joint venture."
