The Scotch of St. James

History

1965–1980

The Scotch of St. James was where a then-unknown Jimi Hendrix first performed on the night of his arrival in England on 24 September 1966, when he joined the house band for an impromptu session on stage. It was on this night that Hendrix met Kathy Etchingham who became his girlfriend. On 25 October 1966 the Jimi Hendrix Experience played their first UK gig as a private showcase at Scotch of St. James. The club was also where Paul McCartney first met Stevie Wonder, after the latter's live performance at the club on 3 February 1966.

During its heyday in the mid 1960s, bands such as The Gass were employed as the house band. Patrons at that time included the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, the Kinks, Rod Stewart, the Moody Blues, the Spencer Davis Group, Eric Burdon, the Animals, Sonny and Cher, Inez and Charlie Foxx and Goldie and the Gingerbreads. The Beatles and Rolling Stones were also regular visitors and the club management gave them their own tables.

After falling out of fashion in the 1970s, the club struggled for clientele and eventually closed down in the mid-1980s.

2012–present day

The club was restored and reopened by a group of investors in January 2012. After a brief collaboration with Parisian nightclub brand Le Baron between April and November 2013, the club was initially renamed 'Le Baron London at The Scotch of St. James' and then later reverted to the original name of The Scotch of St. James in March 2014.

The new club is a fashionable nightclub frequented by the rich and famous including Kate Moss, Sofia Coppola and Benicio del Toro, Suki Waterhouse, Cara Delevingne, Georgia May Jagger, and Edie Campbell. The club has also attracted pop stars such as Harry Styles, Plastic Bertrand and Rita Ora.

Other events hosted by the club include performances by musicians such as Miles Kane and John Legend. The club has also hosted parties for fashion houses including Stella McCartney, J.W Anderson, Longchamp, Roger Vivier, Matthew Williamson, Linda Farrow, Rockins and Eyeko. Others who have held private parties at the club include Scarlett Johansson, Rihanna, Jack White, Dinos Chapman, Keira Knightley and Mark Ronson. The venue's official Instagram account has also mentioned that the rock band Metallica partied there after a visit to London.

References

Bibliography

References

1. "Friends of The Scotch of St. James".
2. "The Scotch of St James".
3. Cramp, Nathaniel. (31 July 2006). "''Ad Lib club: It happened here''". Time Out.
4. (April 2013). "''Le Baron London Reopening at Scotch of St. James Playlist''". [[Vogue (magazine).
5. Vulliamy, Ed. (8 August 2010). "Jimi Hendrix: 'You never told me he was that good'". [[The Guardian]].
6. ''Record Collector'' issue 330 (2006) p.93
7. ''Record Collector'' issue 330 (2006) p.94
8. "''Paul McCartney meets Stevie Wonder''". Beatlesbible.com.
9. Leslie Fran. (2009-01-28). "Interview with Bobby Tench". Blues In Britain.
10. Miles, Barry. (1998). "Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now". Vintage.
11. "''A social club for The Beatles: return to rock'n'roll clubland''". The Independent.
12. "''The London bars and restaurants where fashion folk hang out''". London Evening Standard.
13. ""Super models and shy tycoons launch The Scotch and Jalouse"". Cityam.com.
14. ""The Scotch: Where The Beautiful People Play In London"". newnownext.com.
15. "''the Le Baron Playlist''". vogue.co.uk.
16. "''The Scotch St.James''". [[DesignMyNight.com]].
17. "'Harry Styles parties in swinging 60s playground Scotch of St James". hellomagazine.com.
18. "''Rita Ora dares to bare in revealing denim dress at the launch of Rockins For Eyeko ''". standard.co.uk.
19. "''Purple Diary''". Purple.fr.
20. "''Roger Vivier Virgule party''". tatler.com.
21. "''Rockins for Eyeko launch party''". tatler.com.
22. "Revisiting the swinging 60s at the Scotch St.James". london-olios.com.