PizzaExpress Jazz Club Soho: what to order and when to go
A basement jazz room on Dean Street, still called the Jazz Club by most: when to turn up, what to order and where to go afterwards.
By Only Soho Editorial
Down a flight of stairs at 10 Dean Street sits one of Soho's longest-running jazz rooms. It is officially PizzaExpress Live Soho now, but almost everyone, and every search box, still says PizzaExpress Jazz Club. Both names point to the same basement under the same pizza restaurant.
The history, briefly
The club has run since 1976, in a building PizzaExpress took on in the late 1960s. Founder Peter Boizot opened the first PizzaExpress on Wardour Street in 1965, and the company's own founder page says he turned the basement of the Dean Street site into a jazz club. Early residents were British pianists such as Brian Lemon and Lennie Felix. Boizot sold the company in 1993, and the music carried on.
The roll call is long. The official page and Wikipedia name Norah Jones, Amy Winehouse and Jamie Cullum among the performers, and Wikipedia says the club hosted the first UK performance of Diana Krall. The current building dates from 1878, according to Wikipedia.
The room
The Nudge describes it as very intimate, with low lighting, tightly packed tables and impeccable acoustics, and says live music runs seven days a week. The Jazz Guide lists a Steinway B grand piano and full table service. Expect to be close to your neighbours: a TripAdvisor reviewer notes that tables near the stage are very close when a show sells out. There is no dance floor. This is a sit down, eat, listen sort of night.
When to go
- Evening shows: doors are typically about half six, with music starting between half seven and eight. Listings show a half seven start for one October date and a quarter to eight start for a November one.
- Weekend lunch: some weekends bring a Jazz Lunch, with doors at noon and music from 1pm in one Songkick listing, and a Jazz Dinner at 8pm the same day.
- Festival time: during the EFG London Jazz Festival the club has run double sets in a night, for example 6pm and 9pm.
Line-ups change constantly, so check the what's on page at pizzaexpresslive.com before you set out. Shows do sell out.
Booking and prices
The restaurant upstairs and the shows in the basement are booked separately. Dinner is booked through PizzaExpress, show tickets through PizzaExpress Live or sellers such as WeGotTickets. One listing, for a November show, gives a ticket price of £22. Food and drink are paid for on the night, from the regular PizzaExpress menu. The venue's number is 020 7439 4962 and the restaurant's is 020 7437 9595. A membership scheme gives free tickets and discounts across the PizzaExpress Live venues.
Accessibility needs a call first: one promoter describes the basement as having no disabled access, while OpenTable lists wheelchair access for the restaurant. The restaurant hours on PizzaExpress's own page are 11:30 to 11:00 Monday to Saturday and 11:30 to ten on Sunday, but check before you go.
What to order
There is no famous house special, so go by the menu. Delivery prices for this branch, which may differ in the restaurant, give a guide: the Calabrian Feast (’nduja, Calabrese sausage, pepperoni, pancetta and hot honey) is £19.00, a Create Your Own pizza is £15.00, and the Baked Vanilla Cheesecake is £8.25. A bottle of Malbec is £35.45. Our pick: the Calabrian Feast, then the cheesecake as the second set begins.
For after
Walk round the corner to Jazz After Dark, 9 Greek Street, if you want more music. Time Out lists it as a Soho jazz spot with food. TripAdvisor gives hours of Tuesday to Thursday from five until half one and Friday and Saturday from five until half two, closed Sunday and Monday. OpenTable lists tickets at £10 Tuesday to Thursday and £20 Friday and Saturday. Reviews are mixed on the quality of the jazz, so treat it as a late nightcap with a band rather than a second main event. Order a drink and take a seat near the music.
Sources: Wikipedia, The Nudge, PizzaExpress and WeGotTickets.
