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Sat / Apr 17
Party Earth Review The Phoenix Artist Club is kind of like a high school theater club, if that club was located in the basement of a West End theater, served lots of booze, and was populated by the Who’s Who of London’s established... ... read full review
1 Phoenix Street
London WC2H 8BU
Central, Northern Lines: Tottenham Court Road; Piccadilly Line: Covent Garden
020 7836 1077
M–W noon–2am, Th–Sa noon¬–2:30am, Su noon–1:30am
Last entry 1am M–Sa and midnight Su
Non-members welcome prior to 8pm
Covent Garden / Soho, London –
The Phoenix Artist Club is kind of like a high school theater club, if that club was located in the basement of a West End theater, served lots of booze, and was populated by the Who’s Who of London’s established and aspiring theater scene.
Tucked around the corner from The Phoenix Theatre is a wide staircase that leads patrons down to velvety red curtains and the quirky, intimate bar space. The amicably kitschy décor features a 1930s parquet floor, copper-topped bar, memorabilia from past productions, signed West End posters, and row upon row (upon row) of autographed headshots.
Nooks and crannies provide space for the musical casts to burst into impromptu song, while a tongue-in-cheek “Box Office” section gives the management a place to compare set notes over Red Stripe, and two barebones stages host regular performances that include jazz quartets, cabarets, readings, DJs, and no doubt a lot of impromptu monologues.
Hanging from the ceiling, of course, are stage lights.
A late-night drinking license and budget-friendly prices on standard suds and grub make this members club the after-party spot of choice for West End’s theater crowd, though anyone is free to enter before 8pm – and stay long after.
Before or after a West End show, The Phoenix Artist Club is a worthwhile stop, and probably the best place in town for patrons to sidle up to a table and exclaim, “Hey! It’s…that guy.”
Aspiring Laurence Oliviers, actors, musicians, set designers, theater groupies, seasoned breakers of fourth walls, hard-drinking creative types, mid-20s to 50s+.
Varied weekly schedule might include live jazz, cabaret, request-taking DJs, readings, and more. Show tunes over the loudspeakers – when not sung on Tuesday’s open mic night.
Themed events throughout the year. Check venue calendar.
Standard pub fare and bar snacks served until 10:30pm. Sunday roast from 1pm.
Entrance after 8pm is available to members only, though non-members can enter prior to 8pm and stay as long as they like.
Standard membership £120/year with discounts available for certain affiliations. Snacks £1.50, sharing platters £10–£20, pub grub £6–£11. Sunday roast £8. Beer £3–£4, wine £4–£5/glass or £15–£20/bottle, mixed drinks £4.50.
Smart casual: post-show costumes, suit jackets, jeans, nice t-shirts, long flowing dresses. Dressing up is as popular as dressing down.
No baseball hats or sports jerseys.
Tuesdays for the Open Mic night or any night to get loopy with the cast after a big show at The Phoenix Theatre or any other nearby performance venue.
The Spice of Life (6 Moor Street) is a landmark Soho pub with live music nightly and a big crowd of theatergoers. Its intimate downstairs space has a similar feel to Phoenix Artist Club.