A new performance space is set to open above Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, expanding one of London’s most respected live music institutions. In February 2026, the Soho institution will reveal Upstairs at Ronnie’s – a new 140-capacity live venue. Closed for refurbishment in 2024, the first-floor space has been completely transformed as part of a major building-wide redevelopment. The result is a purpose-built, intimate auditorium that respects the club’s six-decade pedigree while quietly raising its technical game.
Expect enhanced acoustics, high-spec Yamaha and D&B Audio sound and lighting systems, an upgraded stage, a Yamaha S3X Grand Piano, a state-of-the-art kitchen. Newly appointed Executive Chef Steven Connolly will oversee a culinary offer designed to rival the club’s musical standards.
Musically, the brief is broad but considered. The venue will showcase leading jazz and jazz-adjacent artists, while welcoming contemporary soul, acoustic R&B, gospel, hip-hop, global music and classical performance. It will also launch its own take on the much-loved Late Late Show, creating additional, affordable stages for emerging grassroots talent.
An Opening Season with Intent
The launch line-up will feature a Piano Trio Series spotlighting Ashley Henry, Reuben James, Charlie Stacey and DoomCannon. A straight-ahead vocal jazz jam will be hosted by Natalie Williams, Emma Smith and Georgia Cécile.
Acoustic soul and R&B will come from Vula Malinga, Vanessa Haynes and Tony Momrelle, while innovative voices include Tawiah and garage and house pioneer Elizabeth Troy. The programme also introduces the first Ronnie Scott’s Classical Series, co-directed by Lizzie Ball and James Pearson, featuring the Ronnie Scott’s Classical All Stars alongside a hand-picked selection of leading classical soloists and ensembles. A new Ronnie Scott’s Gospel Choir completes the bill.
Backstage, reimagined
For the first time in its history, Ronnie Scott’s is opening its backstage spaces to the public. Reborn as The Greene Rooms – named in honour of owner Sally Greene – the new ‘club within a club’ will operate as a members’ lounge and artist space.
Set on the first floor, the venue offers a discreet Soho refuge for pre- and post-show gatherings, intimate events, artist meet-and-greets, exclusive talks and workshops.
A Strategically timed Expansion
This redevelopment represents Ronnie Scott’s most significant transformation since its 2005 acquisition and reopening by Sally Greene and Michael Watt. It also arrives at a critical moment for live music, with the Music Venue Trust reporting that 16% of grassroots venues closed in 2023 and more than 40% operated at a loss.
Ronnie Scott’s is investing forward – positioning itself not just as an institution, but as an active custodian of the UK’s independent music future.
Fred Nash, Managing Director of Ronnie Scott’s, said:
“With Upstairs at Ronnie’s, we set ourselves the somewhat audacious goal of creating the greatest small live music venue in the world. In all seriousness, it’s about creating a beautiful, intimate space where audiences can experience extraordinary performances, and where artists feel truly valued.
At a time when so many venues face uncertainty, we’re proud to be investing in live music, championing grassroots talent, and supporting Soho’s vibrant cultural community.”
After more than six decades at the centre of the UK’s jazz landscape, Ronnie Scott’s shows no appetite for standing still. Upstairs at Ronnie’s is designed to function not as an extension, but as a destination in its own right – a space intended to attract the calibre of artists and audiences that define serious live music.
Tickets for Upstairs at Ronnie’s are now available here.
