Troubadour Club

Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix played here once upon a time, and throughout the years The Troubadour’s music policy has focused mostly on guitar-based acts. Unsigned artists play acoustic, folk, rock and indie with the hope of being discovered, so expect plenty of confessions of how they slept on people’s floors whilst busking round the world in search of their dream, as well as the new breed of plummy female songwriter who plays guitar and sings about drinking rosé wine to numb the pain of a break up. The stage is surrounded by tables and food can be ordered throughout the performances (hearty pub grub, think fish and chips, burgers and steaks) just like at Ronnie Scott’s, but thankfully without the Soho jazz venue’s prices.

It’s not just a live music venue though, it is also a wine shop, café and restaurant complete with a luscious garden for alfresco dining. The drinks list is utterly excellent, with aperitifs, wines from renowned vineyards and digestifs - far more than you’d get at a rock gig – and even more unlikely is the fact that The Troubadour once hosted Ban the Bomb and Black Panther meetings in the exact same spot where today the locals gather to nibble on tomato bruschetta. They even have regular wine tastings, but for all its chic aspirations the charming building that houses The Troubadour gives away its vintage past (the venue was founded in 1954) and its dim lighting and flimsy wooden furniture are part of its appeal.