London Tour Date

With its KOOKY décor and dusty, antique vibe, Jamboree feels like a true labour of love. Gramophones sit on bookshelves in cosy corners, battered Chesterfields line the walls and miscellaneous pieces of art and sculpture fill what’s left of the space.

The brainchild of Liechtensteinien interior designer Rena Beck and her music producer partner, it was founded two years ago as a private member’s club – and in February this year opened its doors to the public as a bar and venue for live music and theatre.

“In the space of three months we’ve gone from being a brand new venue in an undiscovered location – with our friends’ bands coming down to play – to a serious contender on the underground live music scene, with some legendary bands booked up for the next few months as well as some of the most exciting new bands around,” says Beck. And they have.

Located in the Cable Street Studios complex (it was built over 150 years ago as a sweet factory, and is now home to a number of music and arts studios and other small businesses), Jamboree sits on the fringe of a cobbled Victorian courtyard which has the type of red brick surrounds that bring industrial revolution Britain to mind.

The Cable Street complex (that word seems 200 years too modern for this place) is also undergoing change. Rena tells me that an art gallery is soon to open opposite Jamboree, and a nightclub and dance studio are also in the offing.

“Jamboree is unique for several reasons,” says Rena. “The location means that when people walk through the door they’ve got no idea what to expect, and are always bowled over by the friendliness and intimacy of the place.

“The main thing about Jamboree is that bands love playing here because the audience is so responsive and audiences love it because we put on great bands. Simple.”

The atmosphere at Jamboree is what makes it. It sounds clichéd, but there’s a feeling of intimacy that’s rare in London venues.

It may be a bit out of the way down in Limehouse, but with a couple of colleges round the corner we think this place will grow and grow.