:The Scotch of St. James

The Scotch of St. James was where a then-unknown Jimi Hendrix first performed on the night of his arrival in England on 24 September 1966,{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/aug/08/jimi-hendrix-40th-anniversary-death | title=Jimi Hendrix: 'You never told me he was that good' | first=Ed | last=Vulliamy | newspaper=The Guardian | date=8 August 2010}} when he joined the house band for an impromptu session on stage.Record Collector issue 330 (2006) p.93 It was on this night that Hendrix met Kathy Etchingham who became his girlfriend. On 25 October 1966 the Jimi Hendrix Experience played their first UK gig as a private showcase at Scotch of St. James.Record Collector issue 330 (2006) p.94 The club was also where Paul McCartney first met Stevie Wonder, after the latter's live performance at the club on 3 February 1966.{{cite web|url=http://www.beatlesbible.com/1966/02/03/paul-mccartney-meets-stevie-wonder/|title=Paul McCartney meets Stevie Wonder| publisher=Beatlesbible.com|access-date=7 December 2014}}

During its heyday in the mid 1960s, bands such as The Gass were employed as the house band.{{cite book|author=Leslie Fran|title=Interview with Bobby Tench|publisher=Blues In Britain|pages=18, 19, 20 Vol 1 issue 94|date=2009-01-28}} Patrons at that time included the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, the Kinks, Rod Stewart, the Moody Blues, the Spencer Davis Group,{{cite book |first=Barry |last=Miles |author-link=Barry Miles |title=Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now| year=1998 |pages=140 | publisher=Vintage |location=London |isbn=0-7493-8658-4}} Eric Burdon, the Animals, Sonny and Cher, Inez and Charlie Foxx and Goldie and the Gingerbreads. The Beatles and Rolling Stones were also regular visitors and the club management gave them their own tables.{{cite web| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/a-social-club-for-the-beatles-return-to-rocknroll-clubland-8505674.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/a-social-club-for-the-beatles-return-to-rocknroll-clubland-8505674.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=A social club for The Beatles: return to rock'n'roll clubland|work=The Independent|access-date=7 December 2014}}

After falling out of fashion in the 1970s, the club struggled for clientele and eventually closed down in the mid-1980s.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

The club was restored and reopened by a group of investors in January 2012. After a brief collaboration with Parisian nightclub brand Le Baron between April and November 2013, the club was initially renamed 'Le Baron London at The Scotch of St. James' and then later reverted to the original name of The Scotch of St. James in March 2014.

The new club is a fashionable{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/restaurants/the-london-bars-and-restaurants-where-fashion-folk-hang-out-9730170.html|title=The London bars and restaurants where fashion folk hang out|work=London Evening Standard|access-date=7 December 2014}} nightclub frequented by the rich{{cite web|url=http://www.cityam.com/article/supermodels-and-shy-tycoons-launch-scotch-and-jalouse|title="Super models and shy tycoons launch The Scotch and Jalouse"| publisher=Cityam.com| access-date=7 December 2014}} and famous{{cite web|url=http://www.newnownext.com/the-scotch-where-the-beautiful-people-play-in-london/06/201/|title="The Scotch: Where The Beautiful People Play In London"|publisher=newnownext.com| access-date=7 December 2014}} including Kate Moss, Sofia Coppola and Benicio del Toro,{{cite web|url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/le-baron-london-reopening-at-scotch-of-st-james-playlist| title=the Le Baron Playlist| publisher=vogue.co.uk| access-date=2019-05-01}} Suki Waterhouse, Cara Delevingne, Georgia May Jagger, and Edie Campbell.{{cite web|url=http://www.DesignMyNight.com/london/bars/victoria/the-scotch|title=The Scotch St.James|publisher=DesignMyNight.com|access-date=7 December 2014}} The club has also attracted pop stars such as Harry Styles,{{cite web|url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/travel/2014121222416/harry-styles-scotch-of-st-james-nightclub/|title='Harry Styles parties in swinging 60s playground Scotch of St James |publisher=hellomagazine.com|access-date=2019-01-04}} Plastic Bertrand and Rita Ora.{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/rita-ora-dares-to-bare-in-revealing-denim-dress-at-the-launch-of-rockins-for-eyeko-9883663.html|title=Rita Ora dares to bare in revealing denim dress at the launch of Rockins For Eyeko |publisher=standard.co.uk|access-date=2019-01-04}}

Other events hosted by the club include performances by musicians such as Miles Kane{{cite web|url=http://purple.fr/diary/entry/miles-kane-performance-at-a-sauvage-mens-s-s-2015-presentation-london-photo-flo-kohl|title=Purple Diary|publisher=Purple.fr|access-date=7 December 2014}} and John Legend. The club has also hosted parties for fashion houses including Stella McCartney, J.W Anderson, Longchamp, Roger Vivier,{{cite web|url=http://www.tatler.com/bystander/events/2013/october/roger-vivier-virgule-party#!/12253/image/1|title=Roger Vivier Virgule party| publisher=tatler.com| access-date=7 December 2014}} Matthew Williamson, Linda Farrow, Rockins and Eyeko.{{cite web|url=http://www.tatler.com/bystander/events/2014/november/rockin-launch-party#!/15711/image/1|title=Rockins for Eyeko launch party| publisher=tatler.com| access-date=7 December 2014}} Others who have held private parties at the club include Scarlett Johansson, Rihanna, Jack White, Dinos Chapman, Keira Knightley and Mark Ronson. The venue's official Instagram account has also mentioned that the rock band Metallica partied there after a visit to London.{{cite web|url=https://london-olios.com/2017/05/03/revisiting-the-swinging-sixties-at-the-scotch-of-st-james|title=Revisiting the swinging 60s at the Scotch St.James|publisher=london-olios.com|access-date=2019-02-11}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book | author=Miles, Barry | author-link=Barry Miles | title=Many Years From Now | publisher=Vintage-Random House | year=1998 | isbn=0-7493-8658-4}}
• {{cite book | author=Spitz, Bob | author-link=Bob Spitz | title=The Beatles: The Biography| url=https://archive.org/details/beatlesbiography00spit| url-access=registration| publisher=Little, Brown and Company (New York City)| year=2006 | isbn=1-84513-160-6}}

• {{cite web|url=http://www.the-scotch.co.uk|title=The Scotch of St James website|access-date=8 December 2014}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/style/articles/2013-11/21/le-baron-club-founder-and-graffitti-artist-andre-saraiva-interview|title=Le Baron's André Saraiva on the art of clubbing|work=GQ|access-date=7 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210084514/http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/style/articles/2013-11/21/le-baron-club-founder-and-graffitti-artist-andre-saraiva-interview|archive-date=10 December 2014|df=dmy-all}}

{{The Beatles main}}

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Category:1965 establishments in England

Category:1980 disestablishments in England

Category:2012 establishments in England

Category:Music venues completed in 1965

Category:Music venues completed in 2012

Category:Music venues in London

Category:Nightclubs in London

Category:Buildings and structures in the City of Westminster