Soho’s Phoenix Arts Club, which was crowned Best Pub for Late Night at the Great British Pub Awards (GBPA) in 2021 and was a finalist in the Best Pub for Entertainment category in 2024, will stage its biggest ever production on Monday 20 April to raise funds to combat rising costs.
The pub has been at the heart of London’s cabaret scene for more than 30 years and continues to provide established and budding acts a space to audition, rehearse, experiment and perform in the West End.
Operator Ken Wright told The Morning Advertiser (The MA) the club “never really recovered” after the pandemic.
He said surviving as an independent venue in central London was “like walking a tightrope”, adding many of the pub’s competitors had closed.
“Late-night and grass roots music venues face enormous challenges”, he continued. “We are now the last community space of our kind.”
Rising costs
He added: “The state of our industry is well documented. Rising cost of utilities, taxation, employee costs, licensing restrictions - the only difference being our location at the heart of London’s theatreland means all these costs are higher and attracting footfall far harder.”
Wright pointed to expensive public transport, hotel prices and high crime levels as factors deterring some customers from visiting London, adding persuading them to stay after 11pm is even more challenging.
He explained if the fundraising target was achieved it would stabilise and secure the business for the future.
Without the funds, Wright said the venue will enter “survival mode” and be forced to explore further cost-cutting measures.
This could resulting in the loss of apprenticeships and work placements, an end to daytime opening for auditions and rehearsals and permanent closure on Mondays and Tuesdays.
“Survival mode means all the ‘nice to do’ things go”, Wright warned.
Survival mode
“We have offered apprenticeships in both traditional hospitality and technical theatre roles.
“We work with both The MVT and Camden Council offering work placements for local disadvantaged youths who would not normally be drawn to our type of work. We host military veterans and musical theatre students - young and not so young from all backgrounds and remain one of only two LGBTQ+ facing venues in Camden.”
While Wright kept tight lipped about the surprises the team have in store for the night, he said the audience should “expect the unexpected”.
The show will be held at the Phoenix Theatre, which is directly above the venue and is home to the Stranger Things production.
ATG have donated the use of the theatre and their ticket platform free of charge. Performers have also donated their time and talent for the event.
All profits from the gala will go to the Phoenix Arts Club Community Interest Company (CIC). Tickets are available for purchase now via ATG.
