It was the first London venue in which Jimi Hendrix played a live performance and has regularly attracted A-list celebrities into its doors. Now, having been a casino and a private members’ venue since that time, 3 Cromwell Road is reopening its doors as a restaurant, bar and club for all.
Located inside a stunning, three-story Georgian townhouse overlooking the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, it has a prime position in the capital, making it the perfect location for cocktails before dancing. Co-owned by Howard Spooner and Dipak Panchal, whose projects include the Fulham Road party palace Dukebox and Mahiki (Prince Harry’s favorite nightclub), the venue is in good hands.
The decor inside is cutting-edge with furniture by Andrew Martin, founder of Interior Designer of the Year Award and described by The Sunday Times as “a barometer of style for our era.” Each of the three rooms: The Drawing Room, a high-ceilinged top floor bar; The Back Room, a ground-floor cocktail bar; and The Basement, the contemporary club downstairs featuring fireplaces as well as pop culture décor like neon color schemes and Kalashnikov rifles papered to its walls.
The venue, which was originally called The Cromwellian in the ‘60s, was a hot spot for A-list celebrities, with the likes of Sean Connery, The Royal Ballet’s Margot Fonteyn and actress Jayne Mansfield calling it their regular bar. It also showcased an impressive lineup on the bill and sometimes became a venue for jam sessions by regulars Elton John, The Animals, Eric Clapton, The Drifters and Stevie Wonder.
Today, the Drawing Room only serves steak frites and drinks for dinner and weekend lunches starting midday. Inside, there’s a giant vintage chandelier, a mini grand piano, vintage table football and a Great Gatsby theme. At the bar mixologists will prepare drinks from an impressive cocktail list by Anthony Bannier (Moët Hennessy; Supper Club; Soho House; Beach Blanket Babylon).
On the ground floor, The Back Room will bring in a mix of DJs and live performances, boasting a courtyard and lush garden to the rear. It’s open daily and doesn’t close its doors until 3 a.m., so it’s a great spot for a nightcap.
For those who like to put on their dancing shoes, The Basement is home to the club, where visitors will find dance podiums and neon décor. Bringing a group? There are tables available for private hire; doors open from Thursday to Saturday until 3 a.m.
