‘Created With London In Mind’: Blue Note Jazz Club Opens First UK Location

The iconic Blue Note Jazz Club will open its first UK location in the heart of London’s West End, Sept. 23. It will be located in the basement of St Martins Lane hotel, Covent Garden. The first drop of shows was announced today.

Five-time GRAMMY-winning artist Robert Glasper will headline the club’s grand opening, Sept. 23-24, before returning for a further seven shows in November. Glasper will also serve as Blue Note London’s creative ambassador.

“London has been a big supporter in my career from the very beginning,” said Glasper, “and I’ve always had so much respect for the musical culture of the UK past and present. There is a deep love for music that pushes boundaries, and Blue Note has always been a home for that same spirit. Starting this new club is about creating a space where jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and everything in between can meet, evolve, and surprise people. I’m excited to build something in London that feels intimate, fearless, and alive, a place where artists can take chances and audiences can experience the music up close.”

Upcoming performances and residencies include Queen of Neo-Soul and five-time GRAMMY winner Erykah Badu; jazz-pop singer, pianist, songwriter Jamie Cullum; multi-award winning saxophonist and composer Nubya Garcia; iconic drummer Yussef Dayes; afrobeat collective KOKOROKO; East London singer and rapper Hak Baker, and many more.

The full 2026 schedule for Blue Note Jazz Club London’s opening season can be found below.

The Blue Note Membership ticket presale begins Aug. 12 at 10 a.m. local British time, while venue presale begins Aug. 13, 10 a.m. General sale kicks off Aug. 14, at 10 a.m. local.

Tsion Bensusan, co-owner of Blue Note Entertainment Group, commented, “London has always been one of the world’s great music capitals, with an extraordinary jazz heritage and an incredibly diverse creative community. Bringing Blue Note to London is something we’ve envisioned for many years, and opening our doors here marks one of the most significant milestones in our company’s history. For more than four decades, Blue Note has been dedicated to creating intimate spaces where artists and audiences connect through unforgettable live performances. Our hope is that Blue Note London becomes more than a venue, it becomes a home for musicians, a gathering place for the community, and an integral part of London’s cultural landscape. We are immensely proud and honored to bring the Blue Note legacy to this remarkable city.”

“Created with London in mind, Blue Note London will offer an intimate setting for a contemporary program that celebrates exceptional British talent alongside world-class international artists across jazz and adjacent genres,” according to today’s press announcement of the opening season program.

London is the epicenter of the UK’s jazz scene, and already home to maybe the most legendary jazz club outside of the U.S., Ronnie Scott’s.

Now, Blue Note London, located a mere ten-minute walk away from Ronnie Scott’s, will be part of the next chapter of London’s jazz story. “Reflecting the spirit of its sister venues in New York, Los Angeles, Milan and beyond, the club will showcase both established global icons and emerging grassroots talent, creating a program that is locally rooted and internationally connected,” the press release continues.

The director of music and programming at Blue Note London is Nick Lewis, who built his career at Ronnie Scott’s over more than 15 years, including the role of head of music and promotions, before serving as head of music for another legendary London live music venue, KOKO.

He said, “bnringing Blue Note to London is a real landmark moment, not only for our team but for the city’s rich musical history. We’ll be welcoming some of the greatest jazz artists worldwide whilst shining a light on our exceptional emerging homegrown UK jazz scene which has been on fire in recent years! Audiences will experience the very best of jazz and adjacent genres, nightly in the heart of London. We look forward to making a significant and meaningful contribution to the UK live music scene.”

Blue Note London’s Sept. 23 opening date falls on what would have been the 100th birthday of John Coltrane, one of the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz music.

Located on St Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden, the new venue will boast two performance spaces: a main room with a 250 person capacity will host two shows each night, at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. A second room, ‘B-Side’, with a 100 person capacity, will open later in 2026 with a focus on supporting emerging British talent. The venue will be open until 1 a.m. Monday – Saturday, and midnight on Sunday.

Blue Note London will also feature a contemporary food menu, featuring “elevated interpretations of jazz club favorites alongside dishes inspired by Britain’s exceptional seasonal ingredients and London’s diverse culinary influences as well as “a bar program that reflects the same artistry and attention to detail found on the stage each night.

The club’s rich blue interiors, elegant drapery, bespoke lighting, curated jazz photography, and Blue Note plaque tables that have become synonymous with the brand Every detail, have been designed by Julien Legeard of international design firm Legeard Studio, who also made sure sightlines, lighting and acoustics create an immersive environment where every seat feels connected to the stage.

Two Blue Note London memberships are available at launch, the Founding Membership offering priority access and exclusive experiences, as well as The Founders Society, limited to 100 members, which is reserved for those who want to play a lasting role in Blue Note London’s opening chapter, and offers “the highest level of access and hospitality within the membership program,” according to today’s press announcement.

Blue Note London’s 2026 Program (all artists perform at 7.30 p.m. and 9 p.m. each everning, with further shows TBA):

Sept. 23 – Robert Glasper
Sept. 24 – Robert Glasper
Sept. 27 – Yussef Dayes
Sept. 28 – Jamie Cullum
Sept. 29 – Jamie Cullum
Sept. 30 – Nik West

Oct. 1 – Nik West
Oct. 2 – Nubiyan Twist
Oct. 3 – The Banger Factory
Oct. 8 – Jamie Cullum
Oct. 9 – Jamie Cullum
Oct. 10 – IMEHO – An Intimate Experience with Erykah Badu
Oct. 11 – IMEHO – An Intimate Experience with Erykah Badu
Oct. 14 – Emily Bear
Oct. 15 – Nubya Garcia
Oct. 16 – Nubya Garcia
Oct. 17 – Nubya Garcia
Oct. 18 – Hak Baker
Oct. 19 – SHABAKA
Oct. 20 – SHABAKA
Oct. 22 – Steamdown x NYJO
Oct. 23 – Steamdown x NYJO
Oct. 24 – Keyon Harrold
Oct. 25 – Keyon Harrold
Oct. 26 – The Soul Rebels
Oct. 31 – Milena Casado

Nov. 2 – Richard Bona
Nov. 3 – Richard Bona
Nov. 8 – Brandee Younger
Nov. 9 – Trane – James Carter (Coltrane 100)
Nov. 10 – Trane – James Carter (Coltrane 100)
Nov. 13 – Robert Glasper
Nov. 14 – Robert Glasper
Nov. 15 – Robert Glasper
Nov. 19 – Robert Glasper
Nov. 20 – Robert Glasper
Nov. 21 – Robert Glasper
Nov. 22 – Robert Glasper
Nov. 27 – Jazzanova Live feat. Wayne Snow
Nov. 29 – Tank and the Bangas

Dec. 3 – New Regency Orchestra
Dec. 4 – Waaju x Majid Bekkas
Dec. 5 – Cory Henry Trio
Dec. 6 – Cory Henry Trio
Dec. 7 – Cory Henry Trio
Dec. 13 – The Brand New Heavies
Dec. 14 – The Brand New Heavies
Dec. 15 – The Brand New Heavies
Dec. 16 – KOKOROKO
Dec. 20 – The Brand New Heavies
Dec. 21 – The Brand New Heavies
Dec. 22 – The Brand New Heavies

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