The iconic venue has finally had a licence approved
Blue Note, which opened in Greenwich Village in 1981, is one of the most renowned jazz venues in the world, having welcomed everyone from Dizzy Gilliespie to Stevie Wonder onto the stage. The club has since opened venues in other major cities across the globe, including Tokyo, Milan, Shanghai and Rio de Janeiro, and now London is finally being added to that list, after a lot of back and forth with Westminster Council.
A licensing application submitted in February faced opposition from both the Met Police and the council, with concerns being raised over the impact that the late opening hours would have on crime and disorder in the area. The council has since changed its position, granting a full licence at the beginning of May.
That means Blue Note, which is opening early next year in the basement of the St Martins Lane Hotel in Covent Garden, will be able to operate until 1am Monday – Saturday and midnight on Sunday. There’ll be a 250-capacity main room and a 100-capacity second room, and it’ll also be open for dinner across the week.
Speaking about the London opening, Steven Bensusan, president of Blue Note Entertainment Group said: “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.”
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Key Information
Opening date | early 2026
Address | 45 St Martin’s Ln, London WC2N 4HX
For more information | bluenotejazz.com