We'll let you in on a little secret. There's a new nighspot that's opened up in Soho that will fulfil all your West End dreams...
The Room Where It Happens, the top floor of 5 Greek Street, is a bar like no other, a den of decadence where you will never get told off for singing too loud. Home to a team of singing waiters, from 5pm every evening they will take your orders for food, drinks and your favourite showtunes, with the room singing along in between sips. Then, from 9pm the crowd gathers around the piano for the ultimate singalong.
We visited a few weeks ago and walked in to the sounds of one of the team (a Hamilton West End OG no less) perfectly spitting out My Shot before a trio took to the mic for a glorious rendition of Seasons of Love - a personal fave. As the night carried on and the requests came pouring in, we were treated to tunes from Six, Pocahontas, The Little Mermaid and more, before the performances culminated in a stellar performance of Defying Gravity and - of course - One Day More with its delectable six part harmony... this soprano couldn't resist belting out the final high C; where else could you get away with it at full volume...?
The food is surprisingly good for bar grub; we tucked into some juicy buttermilk chicken with cocnut sriracha mayo, pan roasted king prawns wrapped in bacon with confit garlic sauce, spring onions and pea shoots, and a spicy Asian papaya salad. Cocktails are named in a nod to the great names of the stage - we loved The Cynthia, with Olmeca tequila, kiwi and lime and The Salonga, a mix of Beefeater gin, aperol, yuzu sake, pineapple and ginger beer. Delicious.
Come the weekends you can book in for a bottomless brunch, while the forthcoming Bank Holiday they will be open until 4am Saturday and 2am Sunday for a night of singing until you vocal chords run dry. Having been in a choir for the last 12 years and a HUGE fan of musical theatre, I can say for some certainty I will be dragging my whole group of friends back here; it was UNTOLD amounts of fun. Singing is good for the soul - fact - and there's no better tonic than belting out showtunes with a bunch of strangers. Book yourself a table.
The Room Where It Happens
5 Greek Street, London, W1D 4DD
