The House of Song, the group behind The Piano Works in Farringdon, is opening its second live music venue, Studio 88, this month off Leicester Square.
Studio 88 joins Piano Works as the only two London venues offering non-stop, late-night live music based exclusively on an audience-requested repertoire. As well as live music, the 400-capacity, 350-seated venue will offer a menu of California Cones, dispensed by usherettes from trays, with theatrical cocktails served table-side.
Located on Whitcomb Street, just south of Wardour Street, in the heart of the West End, the 12,000 sq ft site was acquired by House of Song through Emma Cousins at CDG Leisure. A highly team of contractors from the world of stage, sound engineering and screen have been enlisted to ensure the best quality entertainment experience.
Studio 88 Founder and Managing Director, Alan Lorrimer said, “With the number of London’s live music venues in decline (50 venues have shut their doors for good since 2007), we are delighted to be opening our second live music venue in the very heart of the capital.
'We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people that supported our application to open, including The Music Venue Trust, the Mayor of London’s office, The Songwriting Academy, our musicians and our neighbours. We want play our part in ensuring London continues to provide a world-class music offer.”
The menu at Studio 88 comprises primarily of California Cones. The cones can be ordered individually from the venue’s usherettes or come as a set of six with a glass of prosecco with table reservations. Fillings include the likes of miso pork with a spicy coconut yoghurt to shiitake mushrooms with kale, garlic, tamari and sesame seeds.
An experimental cocktail list, The Autograph Collection, features theatrical serves based around famous music and film studios including Pinewood, Abbey Road and Motown’s first headquarters, Hitsville USA whilst the House of Song’s ‘Signature Collection’ features classics like the almond and hazelnut sour and pornstar martini. Other drinks include a selection of spirits, wines and beers.
Designed by Libby Watson Theatre Design, Studio 88 comprises of a raised performance area with two grand pianos allowing the six-piece house band to take centre stage. The Blue Room, offers a separate space for 100 guests and has its own bar and grand piano, making it ideal for private, corporate and theatre functions.
Sound specialist W1 Productions, have designed a high-quality audio system optimising vocal intelligibility for every single seat in the house. Mike Robertson, an Olivier award-winning lighting designer, has produced a new retrospective lighting design that uses elements from theatre, never seen before in a hospitality venue, to provide a sense of journey from the front door to the end of the evening.
The name, Studio 88, is inspired by the plethora of creative studio spaces in London’s West End that fuel the capital’s creative performance, music, dance and film industries and the fact that there are 88 keys on a keyboard.