Scotch of St James: Where Hendrix Played His First London Show

Hidden in Mason's Yard, a quiet courtyard in St James's a few minutes from Piccadilly, Scotch of St James is one of the most storied rooms in London nightlife. Plenty of clubs claim a history; this one has the dates to prove it. Here's the story, what the room is like today and how a Thursday night there works.

1965: the club of swinging London

The Scotch opened on 14 July 1965, a venture of the nightclub impresario Louis Brown, whose earlier rooms included La Poubelle and Le Kilt. It quickly took over from the Ad Lib Club as the place where the swinging-sixties crowd and the bands of the day went after hours. The Beatles and the Rolling Stones were regulars, and the management kept tables for them. The Who, the Kinks, Rod Stewart, the Moody Blues, Eric Burdon and the Animals were all part of the scene, with the Gass playing as house band in the mid-sixties.

Stevie Wonder and Jimi Hendrix

Two nights stand out. On 3 February 1966 Stevie Wonder performed at the Scotch, and it was there, after the show, that Paul McCartney met him for the first time. Then, on 24 September 1966, a then-unknown American guitarist arrived in England and was taken to the Scotch the same night. Jimi Hendrix got up and joined the house band on stage: his first performance in London. A month later, on 25 October 1966, the newly formed Jimi Hendrix Experience played a private showcase there, their first UK gig.

Decline, closure and the 2012 revival

Like most sixties clubs, the Scotch fell out of fashion in the seventies and eventually closed. In January 2012 a group of investors restored it and reopened the doors, keeping the sixties character of the room. It had a short spell in 2013 as Le Baron London, in a collaboration with the Paris club brand, before returning to its own name in March 2014. Since the revival it has drawn a new generation: Kate Moss, Harry Styles and Rita Ora among its guests, performances by the likes of Miles Kane and John Legend, and parties for fashion houses such as Stella McCartney and Longchamp.

What it's like today

Today the Scotch runs as an intimate late-night club with a capacity of around 150, so it feels like a private party rather than a superclub. The music is open format, moving through hip-hop, house, R&B and commercial across the night. Because the room is small by design, table availability is genuinely limited, more so than at a big club, and Thursdays, the night we book, sell out. It's a natural fit for birthdays, client entertaining and anyone who wants somewhere with real character rather than a warehouse.

Dress code and the door

Smart, in keeping with St James's, but with room for individuality: a well-cut blazer or a vintage leather jacket both work here, and a nod to the sixties never hurts. No sportswear, trainers, shorts or ripped clothing. Bring valid physical photo ID. Given the size of the room, arriving with a confirmed booking matters more here than almost anywhere else in London.

Finding it

The address is 13 Mason's Yard, London SW1Y 6BU, a courtyard tucked between Duke Street St James's and King Street. Green Park and Piccadilly Circus stations are both a few minutes' walk. Mason's Yard is easy to miss because it's a courtyard rather than a street frontage, so give yourself a moment to find the entrance.

Booking a Thursday table

We book Scotch of St James on Thursdays. A table includes reserved seating, a dedicated host, bottle service and priority entry. Tell us your date and group size on WhatsApp and we'll come back with availability and the exact details. Book as far ahead as you can: in a room this size, there are only so many tables.

Open format — Hip-Hop, House, R&B, Commercial · ThursdaySee Scotch of St James & book →