London is home to some pretty brilliant places to have a boogie, but few come more iconic than Ronnie Scott’s. And it seems as though we’re not the only ones who think so, as the legendary locale has just been named the most popular independent music venue in the whole country. And yes, we’re feeling pretty darn smug pleased about it.
This shiny new accolade comes courtesy of Betway (because, I mean, who else is more clued up and qualified on the subject of indie music spots than them, hey?). They did some research, analysed some data (including the likes of social media hashtags, Google reviews, and Google search volume), and crunched some numbers to reveal the best and most beloved music venues across the UK.
Four London venues actually earnt themselves a comfy seat at the table. But only one could take the crown as the most popular independent music venue of all. And that is, of course, the world-renowned Ronnie Scott’s.
Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club
Having originally set up shop in a basement on Gerrard Street in 1959; Ronnie Scott’s was the UK’s first modern jazz club. It was opened by two musicians, Pete King and – you guessed it, folks – Ronnie Scott, and started its life as a spot for local musicians to come and jam together. It wasn’t until 1965 that the vibrant venue moved a few streets over and flung open its doors on Frith Street. It’s been showing Londoners (and beyond) a great time ever since, and can still be found in the very same Soho spot, 60 years later.
The jazz club quickly picked up momentum, and has been frequented by many famous faces over the years. The stage has been graced by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Zoot Sims, Miles Davis, and Chet Baker. And that barely even scratches the surface. It’s a certified London institution, still going strong to this very day. So much so, that Betway’s research found it have the highest annual search volume in the country – with a whopping 1.62 million people looking it up on Google each year. Not bad, hey?
The UK’s most popular independent music venues
- Ronnie Scott’s, London
- SWG3, Glasgow
- The Cavern Club, Liverpool
- Troxy, London
- Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
- King Tut’s, Glasgow
- Band on the Wall, Manchester
- The Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow
- Cafe Oto, London
- MOTH Club, London
You can peruse Betway’s full findings here.
