Islington Dive Bar Night Picker: Essex Road and Quiz Nights
Jazz Club in London: Crazy Coqs Art Deco Cabaret Nights
Crazy Coqs is an Art Deco jazz and cabaret room beside Piccadilly Circus in London. Learn about the cocktails, table seating and the West End walk afterward.
Crazy Coqs brings glamorous vintage entertainment to 20 Sherwood Street, London W1F 7ED beside Piccadilly Circus, welcoming patrons seeking an exquisite jazz club near me. Tucked within the subterranean expanse of Brasserie Zedel inside the historic Regent Palace Hotel building dating back to 1915, this meticulously restored art deco jewel box was opened in 2012 by restaurateurs Jeremy King and Chris Corbin. Today it operates as one of London's most stylish intimate venues for live jazz, Parisian chanson, cabaret, and American songbook standards.

Piccadilly Art Deco Splendor and 1930s Heritage
Arriving at the venue is remarkably central, located less than a two-minute walk from Piccadilly Circus underground station across Regent Street. Visitors enter through the modest ground-floor lobby on Sherwood Street before descending an opulent marble staircase into the vast subterranean dining complex beneath the West End streets. Following the brass guidance signs past the bustling Brasserie dining room and the sultry Bar Americain brings guests directly to the discreet entrance of Crazy Coqs, where red velvet curtains frame the foyer.
The interior is an authentic art deco masterpiece, showcasing monochrome geometric carpets, polished black lacquer trim, mirrored wall panels, and intimate round tables lit by frosted glass sconces. An elevated performance stage featuring an acoustic baby grand piano sits right at eye level with the audience. Seating just eighty guests across intimate banquet tiers and bistro chairs, the room feels remarkably close and personal, creating an electric dynamic where every vocal nuance and delicate chord substitution resonates with crystalline clarity.
Performances are ticketed in advance through the official Brasserie Zedel box office website, with standard jazz and cabaret tickets generally priced between £20 and £40 per person depending on the featured artist, day of the week, and performance slot. The venue commonly hosts two distinct evening sets, an early showcase around 7:00 pm followed by a second house performance at 9:15 pm. Given the eighty-seat capacity, acclaimed jazz vocalists and Broadway performers regularly play to sold-out houses, making advance reservations essential.
Subterranean Parisian Cocktails and Intimate Cabaret Acoustics
While full multi-course dining takes place in the cavernous Brasserie Zedel dining room adjacent to the club, Crazy Coqs provides a dedicated light bar menu designed for enjoyment during performances. Guests can order light savory snacks including French artisan saucisson for £6.50, mixed warm olives for £4.50, spiced marcona almonds for £5.00, and cheese gougeres. Patrons desiring a substantial French meal typically reserve a pre-show table next door, enjoying classics like steak frites for £16.95 and French onion soup before the music begins.
The cocktail menu showcases sophisticated aperitifs and showgirl-inspired specialty libations created specifically for the room. Signature creations include themed cocktails like Yvette's Whisper for £12.75, the Empress of the Night at £13.25, and bespoke champagne cocktails priced at £15.75. Classic drinks such as the French 75, Dry Martini, and Negroni are poured for £14.00 to £15.00, accompanied by a curated French wine list starting at £8.50 per glass and £34.00 per bottle, with grand marque champagnes available on ice.
Audience etiquette reflects the venue's sophisticated theatrical setting, where focused listening is celebrated and upheld. House lights dim completely as the band takes the stage, signaling audience members to keep conversations strictly paused throughout each musical number. Table service operates with discreet attentiveness, with waiters gliding through the mirrored aisles to deliver drinks quietly between songs. Patrons are invited to capture non-flash photographs during applause, while video recording and illuminated mobile phone screens are discouraged.
Pre-Allocated Table Seating and West End Night Strolls
Adjacent to Crazy Coqs sits Bar Americain, a celebrated American-style cocktail lounge wrapped in rich leather banquettes, warm mahogany, and classic jazz age prints. This stylish bar serves as the ideal pre-show gathering spot, allowing ticket holders to unwind with a handcrafted martini or dry sherry before theater doors open. Guests emerging from early evening shows often return to Bar Americain to discuss favorite arrangements over a midnight Manhattan.
Table seating inside Crazy Coqs is pre-allocated by the maitre d' based strictly on the timestamp of your ticket booking. Because the venue is exceptionally compact, there are truly no inferior sightlines in the room, although early bookers enjoy prime central tables right beside the piano. When entering, the door team checks digital tickets by lead surname and guides your party directly to your reserved cabaret setting, eliminating any stressful rush for open seating.
Stepping out into the late-night air after the performance places visitors directly in the heart of London's vibrant West End theater and dining quarter. A two-minute stroll brings you into the illuminated neon splendor of Piccadilly Circus, while walking north reveals the boutique cocktail dens and historic playhouses of Soho. The surrounding streets are alive with energy at midnight, with iconic London black cabs passing by and late-night brasseries serving espresso until late.
To craft an unforgettable evening at Crazy Coqs, book a dinner reservation in Brasserie Zedel seventy-five minutes prior to your music ticket time, letting you savor a three-course Parisian meal without watching the clock. Skip ordering food during the performance itself; focus instead on an elegant glass of champagne or a signature cocktail that can be sipped quietly while the jazz quintet swings. If weekend evening tickets are sold out, check the early 7:00 pm sitting, which often has better availability.
Practical details for attending Crazy Coqs begin with its address at 20 Sherwood Street, London W1F 7ED. Plan a realistic budget of £30 for show tickets, £14 for artisan cocktails, and £28 for pre-show brasserie dining, with a discretionary 15% service charge added to restaurant and bar bills. Smart casual attire is encouraged to match the room's art deco elegance, and a complimentary cloakroom is available near the entrance.
Who will fall under the spell of Crazy Coqs? Lovers of vintage cabaret, jazz scholars who appreciate Great American Songbook arrangements, theatergoers seeking a refined post-show nightcap, and romantic couples will find it irresistible. With its flawless art deco architecture, polished acoustics, and vibrant Parisian energy, Crazy Coqs remains one of London's most glamorous and enchanting musical treasures.
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