London Blue Note jazz club license approved but with earlier closing times

Following The Standard’s initial story on 13 February that a proposed London branch of New York's iconic Blue Note jazz club was facing opposition to opening by local residents and the Metropolitan Police, Westminster council have now approved the club’s licence but with earlier closing times than had been requested by the venue’s planning application. 

According to The Standard, representatives of the Met had expressed concerns that the club’s proposed business hours of 9am until 1am, seven days a week, would "expose more people to crime and disorder in the immediate area". 

Minutes released from a licensing hearing on 6 February in a 106-page document, show that similar objections were also raised by both the police and nearby residents, with some urging the licensing committee to reconsider an 11pm license, with one resident claiming that the venue would be "hugely disruptive" to the community.

The 350-capcity venue would to be located in the basement floor of the Covent Garden Hotel, St. Martin's Lane, with proposals first put before a licensing committee in November. West End Jazz Limited is the company that plans to operate the new venue and stipulated a policy for noise complaints and dispersal of people leaving the space in order to make its application smoother.

In a letter dated 6 February to the licensing committee, legal representatives for West End Jazz Limited once again stressed that they were planning to put robust measures in place in order to limit disruption to residents and others and added that "London's cultural fabric is on the line" with regards to the club’s approval to open. 

A petition started by campaigner David West has been updated on 18 February with the news that while the Blue Note has been granted a license it would be for opening hours of 11.30pm Monday to Thursday, 12midnight on Friday and Saturday, and 10.30pm on Sundays. These are much earlier than, for example, Ronnie Scott’s which can stay open until 3am from Wednesday to Saturday. Someone involved in the project has told West that these opening times will make the Blue Note "unviable" in the highly competitive West End. 

The Standard reported that officers told Westminster City Council at a hearing on 13 February that they believed that jazz fans leaving the venue late at night “may become a target for illegal taxis who prey on vulnerable, intoxicated lone females”, as well being targeted for mobile phone snatches. These concerns were echoed by a resident who asked councillors to limit the venue’s hours to 11pm to protect “vulnerable” jazz enthusiasts from criminals operating in the West End. 

Many comments on the petition to grant the license echoed the view that, “The Met's opposition is ridiculous. Jazz clubs are not hotbeds of crime and disturbance, 1am is not that late in Soho. This is excessive control.” Another comment added: “So Many Jazz venues have closed due to the pandemic I think we need new venues and Blue Note have a worldwide recognition.” 

New York's Blue Note first opened in Greenwich Village in 1982 and presents some of the biggest names in jazz all year round. This month alone sees a two-week residency by multi-Grammy winning bassist Esperanza Spalding with further bookings next month from The Roots, David Murray and Billy Cobham’s Time Machine. Other branches of Blue Note have opened in cities such as Tokyo, Milan, Beijing and Rio de Janeiro. As and when the London branch does open, it will be the UK's first Blue Note jazz club.

Sign the petition to get the Blue Note's late License approved by visiting www.change.org/p/approve-the-blue-note-london-late-license