Soho jazz and blues institution Ronnie Scott's has announced its reopening, in some welcome news for music fans, Soho fans, and fans of historic London institutions managing, somehow, to survive 140-odd days of vanished revenue.
There was a false start last month — with plans to reopen on 1 August cancelled at the last minute — but from 19 September the venue officially plans to reopen again, with tickets for their line-up already on sale (with many of the first shows already sold out).
View this post on Instagram
The club's set-up gives them an advantage over many other London venues in adapting to Covid-safety regulations; the Jazz Age-style cabaret tables and booths, the table service and reserved seating, all already made it something nearer a restaurant than your average shoulder-to-shoulder gig venue in layout.
There'll be some changes, though. The club's reopening at 50% of its previous capacity, among other social distancing measures. Burgers and champagne will be served to newly installed outside seating, at the front of the venue. And so far none of the shows listed are for their late-late slots, the midnight starts that you used to rock up to at pub closing time, and spill out of in the cold pre-dawn.
Upstairs at Ronnie's (previously hosting gigs of its own, separate to the main club) will become a lounge bar now, open at weekends and any evening that there's a gig in the main club.
Ronnie Scott's is reopening on 19 September.
View this post on Instagram
