Ain't Nothin But The Blues Bar

Located in the nightlife district of Soho, London’s original Blue’s bar “Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues Bar” is an icon. From the outside, this small bar is nondescript but, once you step inside, the experience is transformative. This bar is considered one of the best in the world for good reason. It offers incredible live music nightly with great local talent, legendary acts and world class performers. The bar is intimate and inviting with a cool vibe and lively atmosphere that features two to three live sets a night depending on the day of the week. It’s always packed with people dancing, vibing and having fun. You can find a calendar online which lists dates of jam sessions and headliners. Entrance is free and seating is limited, so if you want or need to sit you might need to get there early. The service is good, staff is friendly and efficient, and you’ll find a wide selection of drinks and craft beers to order from. Ain’t Nothin’ But incredible Blues music, good drinks and an infectious energy. Highly recommend!

Great place. The music was amazing and so was the atmosphere. Staff are friendly and very good at serving. Can't wait to come back.

We didn't have food here, we had some light beers. But it's the live music performances that's the point. A blues bar. In London. This wasn't a planned visit, but aprt of our activities and a spontaneous eous stop led to us spending 3 hours here watching 2 different performers, the second performance was more.swing jazz but still great fun. It's a lively atmosphere but intimate super limited seating

Had a great night out at the bar. Fabulous music from The 251s!! Service was great, atmosohere great. Had to leave far too early in the night .. 11pm Recommend arriving early for the best seats. Definetly the best blues bar this side of the Atlantic!🎷🎸🥁🎶🇦🇺🍺

Awesome pub for live music. Our group had a great time hanging out here and having a couple pints while listening to a live band. Place seemed really popular and full of regulars who knew each other which is always a nice sign. Shout-out to the bartender wearing the Nottingham t-shirt who noticed my friend was wearing a Brighton sweater following Brighton's 0-7 drubbing. Was a funny moment and a great memory for the trip haha.

For pure Blues, this is the best place in London. You can walk in, without a booking or ticket and see top performers almost any night a week. Right in the middle of Soho and off Carnaby St. Staff are nice and all very welcoming. Only thing to be aware of, it can get quite busy. It's an awkward space at times, and not always easy to see the performers or get to the bar. Any music fans visiting London, try out this place

Absolutely great. It's definitely a must go if you're into blues. Awesome live music and good beer.

A genuine blues bar in the heart of Soho. Great music played live to a largely appreciative audience. However, there has been a lot of talking on my visits. Beer options are acceptable, both cask and keg.

ain't nothing but a late night out in soho.... ain't nothing but a side street that also houses dishoom, clearly a distraction for anyone hungry. ain't nothing but an overflowing crowd being told outdoors drinking ceases after 10pm? ain't nothing but a one in, one out queuing system, so just stand patiently in line for entry. ain't nothing but relief from the outdoors elements in exchange for a sardines packed indoors on a monday night because there's no cover charge? ain't nothing but jostling for precious real estate as you inch yourself towards the bar to quench your thirst. ain't nothing but cashless transactions, even a cashless tipping machine, just tap and go! ain't nothing but a beer in one hand and a cup of nuts in the other, still inching ever so slowly towards the stage. ain't nothing but non stop live music and a boisterous appreciative crowd making room to groove along. ain't nothing but a long wait to poach one of a handful of tables to sit and soak in the ambience, freeing up your hands to clap! ain't nothing but enthusiastic jamming sets right up till 12.45am. ain't nothing but a good late night out in soho!

Come here on Sunday and Monday @ 4p for 4 hours of blues bands that rotate every 15 minutes. The event is free, the beer is flowing, the venue is legendary and the music is legit blues!

Sooo fun! Live music and great drinks. Service was really great too! Had a great time!

having been to this bar over many years I have most recently been shocked. what once was a truly diverse and inclusive blues bar has now become the opposite. me and a diverse group of ethnically diverse work colleagues went to the blues bar after dinner only to be told our sort was not welcomed. specialising in Esg this shocked me, when I asked the doorman what he meant by this he sheepishly responded by saying he didn't like the look of us. the doorman's name was wolf or so he claims. I asked to speak to the bar manager and he bluntly told me to p;;s off. shocked by the disgusting behaviour of this chap I felt it worth warning others. i am afraid upon principles and morals this bar falls short of the kind of bar that I find ethically responsible. in todays standards and what a blues bars is meant to represent im afraid this place no longer meets the true blues bar criteria to me. a genuine shame worth avoiding for better blues bar experience. honestly don't waste your time here

Great live music. Sunday/Monday is best for the open mic pure blues jam sound. Shouts to Johnny and Ian. Even on a cover charge weekend, the amazing talent of the bands and the packed crowd of Blues heads from all over the world is totally worth the experience.

Both Service and ambiance were good. Nice place for get together with friends. Live music is good.

This place was super popular on a Monday night!! I was really surprised. There was a live show going on and the bar was full (even a bit of a line outside), with British and American and even French patrons of all ages inside. Bathrooms downstairs were a bit gross but besides that nothing to complain about. Normal priced drinks; not much place to sit when it's this crowded.

Oh! If you are a Blues fan and in London...this is the place to go to...love the vibe, service, and the bands...although at times, not all the numbers they sing are blues.

I fo not usually write reviews but i felt i had to after reading bad press aboit the place yesterday. This place is fantastic. Take everyone if you want to have a good evening with live blues music for free. They play every night and the place is a small independent bar in Soho. Ignore the news about a group being turned away becase of their colour. I have seen people of every colour, gender and belief there. I have met people from every corner of the world there. everyone is welcome. Go and see for yourself.

It's a dive bar's, dive bar. It's the music that saves a place like this. Yup we had to queue up at 8:30 to see the C Dragons, a rock/blues group from Canada. Totally worth it. What an awesome find. The decor hasn't changed in so long it's now historical like the Green Mill in Chicago. Same vibe. Old and cruddy and it's fine by me! The place has a total of Six tables located by the band. Should you be so lucky to get a table. We table hovered for about an hour hoping someone would leave. Nope, no one left!! Ugh but we still had a great time dancing in our spots to the remakes of classic blues tunes. Come with little stuff to carry. It's packed shoulder to shoulder and it gets hot. Should the music move you as it did me you'll get hotter. Strategy - Walk in, grab drink from the bar, then go towards the front. They do have old CRT screens above the bar but why? when the live performance is just steps away. It's a dark, dive bar. Service is non existent but I never expected it from this place. Depending on who's playing, I would definitely come back!

Unquestionably the best "hole in the wall" blues bar in the U.K. The place is packed, shoulder to shoulder because the Beer is cold, the ladies are stunning, and the talent on that stage, brings you solid, masterfully played blues every night. Get there for open mic night, to catch new, up and coming talent earning there chops and living the dream . I know blues, Im the front man for the CADILLAC BLUES BAND TX and on my last visit, had the honor of performing at "AINT NOTHIN BUT". The crowd was electrified when we brought them some deep Texas Country rockin blues. This is the real deal. This joint brings you back to the very roots of the blues. Aint Nothin But is where the souls of the great blues Gods would hang out late at night watching the new crop of talent, KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE.

My friend and I got lost and arrived 30 minutes before closing. All the begging for entry was absolutely worth it. Great live music and okay drinks. Reminds me of The Shrine in Harlem, New York without the diversity

Awesome, awesome, awesome! I walk pat this place on the way to and from work and I've finally been there for a night out and enjoyed every minute of it! It's a tiny weeny little bar playing nothing but the blues (the clue is in the name) and serving no frills, no nonsense drinks and bar snacks. I'm not particularly into blue music but I loved all of the music being played, for the great atmosphere if anything. I'd recommend anyone to try this place out, which is full of lots of young music-loving twenty somethings all chatting to each other whether they know each other or not.

This small live music venue was suggested to me when I was looking for an alternative date venue. It is a pretty tiny place with only a handful of tables in front of the musicians. The bar specializes in whiskies of all varieties, and, so, was ideal for supping on a bourbon and ginger. We got our drinks, found a ledge and soaked up the music. The music is definitely the reason to come here - it is far to busy to sustain a conversation - and there are frequent guest bands. This is definitely worth checking out but do try to get there early and grab a table.

Wonderful nights of really good blues, cheap as chips and a very cool crowd, you can practically strike up a conversation with anyone (very un-London!) Get there early (before 8pm) to have a fighting chance at getting in, get there really early (not much past 7?) for a shot at a seat. Or just have hawk eyes :)

Love this place. Saturday afternoons are free and kind of an open mic from 4-8pm. Each person/group will go on for a few songs, and look out for Phil Hughes - he's apparently there every week and plays a pretty mean harmonica. Other nights you'll pay a cover (although at least on Friday entry is free before 8:30pm). The music is top notch though, and the atmosphere is great. It's a pretty small place, so it can get packed in the evenings, but that's what you want in a live music venue isn't it? You'll find Bitburger and a few other beers on tap - don't expect fancy cocktails as the emphasis is to quickly serve patrons and move on to the next person - like I said, it gets busy! You'll have fun though!

This is a really fun date place. I actually came here on a first date - though I'm not sure I'd recommend it for that as it was rammed and pretty hard to speak to your date! Anyway it's a small, simple venue and generally packed so be prepared for that. But it's a fun atmosphere and makes a change from dreary generic bars. The music was good while we were there. Apparently they do a 'blues jam' session too where you can sign up and perform/jjam on stage (if that's your cup of tea!).

Terrible experience, we will never return. What had been a lovely evening apart was let down supremely by the security staff who out of the blue told my boyfriend (who was the only Asian in the bar) that he wasn't welcome back in after we came outside for a cigarette. £6 for entry and then effectively being kicked out felt like daylight robbery and my boyfriend was left feeling like he didn't belong. What a shame people and places with these views still exist.

Wait what? Am I in the UK? Totally felt I was back home in New Orleans in here. It's divey, dingy and there is some good ass music in here. The decor has posters of pretty popular blues/jazz artists like Howlin Wolf. Props for even having a working ceiling fan in the front right of the venue. You ain't authentic unless you got one of dem fans rotating. I came here on a Sunday at around 10pm and the place was packed. It's tiny, so it does feel slightly claustriphobic. There are about 4 or 5 tables in the front near the stage. I suggest loading up on the alchy because the bar is small and there isn't waiter service. The act that performed that night was really good. I was pleasently surprised. Wasn't expectin anyone on this side of the pond to perform with soul.

Another one of my favorite places for live jazz and blues in London. I loved this place and its intimate atmosphere from the moment I walked in. This place is pretty casual: the stage isn't really stage but more of a corner with instruments. Greatly recommended.

This was the best jazz bar I experienced in London. My husband and I walked into this bar to have one drink, we were pub hopping while on vacation. The band started up and then that was it, we didn't leave till closing lol. Great music, nice people, amazing nachos and cider on tap (I don't like beer). Hands down we will be visiting this bar again in June during our next visit to London. There's limited seating, so if you would like a table arrive early. It gets packed!

This place is both wildly popular and unbelievably tiny. You'll notice words like "cozy," "cramped" and "intimate" peppered throughout these reviews, though I've got a mind change that last one to "illicit" based on the positively compromising closeness of people in the crowd when I was here. They should put some of those white-gloved Japanese rail employees on the payroll to help shove people inside. Seems to be worth it, though. As a Texan, I was more than pleased with the bourbon selection. Also seems like a fabulous place if you'd like a blues dynamo to kill it on the guitar directly from your very own lap. Who wouldn't feel awesome to be able to say that? "You'll never guess what happened last night...!" The only unfortunate thing is that it was SO cramped (and therefore so ungodly hot) the day we came in that we weren't able to stay long. Hard enough to get a drink -- even harder to step away from the bar to drink it! Who knew that a group of three would constitute all the logistical nightmare of a large party? Too bad it's not a little easier to enjoy the place.

I was here on my trip to London and loved it. It is a bit small. I just saw a story that a famous black performer is claiming he was racially profiled. Me and my black friends got in just fine. So I am doubting the veracity of his story. He said he brought 8, plus him which makes a group of 9. Large group and if they were already full, it may be possible to be turned away. But this person is accusing them of racism and nothing could be farther from the truth. There are two sides to every story. Like I said, it's a small bar. I think someone needs to get over themselves and put away the faded, over used race card. They have good drinks and good tunes :-)

I can't believe i've forgotten to write about this place. Literally the coolest bar in west end. It really doesn't belong west, it belongs in some back alley in the east or something. This bar plays live blues bands! Yep, sometimes you'll see an upright bass player. Totally cool! I LOVE this place. But just a warning, I was met to come here last saturday, trying to get here early at 7:30pm, but sadly there was already a queue outside and we never got in. it was too cold to wait outside! But i have been here before, and its worth coming here early! The place is really cool! They do serve food, in a drunken state i've ordered nachos once. I really can't comment, cause in the state i was in, i would have eaten the dirt on someone's fingernails! But they seemed good at the time, possibly even when sober.

If you like beers, blues and hang out with your friends this is the right place!!!! One of the most beautiful blues bar in London I've ever seen. I've tried the Mad Goose and the Ghost Ship beers...wonderful!!

This place have great live blues band playing until late at night! Its fun the place was pretty jam when i got there (getting a drink while waiting for a table next door) its cool :) for people who love live music and cheap drink!!!

This is a great little bar for hearing live blues music. I think it's probably the best in London. It's TINY, has a few seats around the little stage up front. It gets REALLY crowded in the evenings so get there early! If you are short like me, there is a screen where you can see what's playing on the stage. Staff are lovely, blues music is excellent, they serve good food and the decor is very fitting for a genuine blues bar. Even though it is in Central London, it gets a regular crowd as well as a transient tourist crowd. If you like blues music in small intimate venues, then this is a must for you!

This place is awesome! The Bar: Get there early to get a seat - on a Tuesday night, it was packed by 7:30pm The Music: Country, blues, Johnny Cash...need I say more? A perfect taste of home right in the middle of Soho. The guys were super talented, playing the harmonica, bass, and guitar, and singing incredibly well! The Ambiance: It's loud - there's live music playing. I came on a date, so conversation was hard to maintain, but it was also nice to have something to pay attention to during any awkward silences. The Drinks: Like I said, I was on a date, so I didn't pay. And I only drank beer. Definitely a fan of this bar!

Seriously Ain't Nothing But... the best. I stumbled upon this bar during one of my days in London. I was lured in by the music and I am so glad I popped in for a pint. They have a house band here, but they also have a sign-up list for people to play on stage. It's amazing because they were all strangers put on stage by the host at random. I don't think I've ever enjoyed myself quite like that night. I had never seen anything like it; they sounded incredible--as if they had practised for hours, when in reality, they had only met each other five minutes prior. Thanks for one of the most memorable nights, ANB. I'd highly recommend this place! TIP: They charge you a service fee if you use your card.

One of the best blues bars in Europe. First time i visited Ain't Nothin' But.. was a late Saturday night in 2011. it was quite crowded in the bar and it also smelled quite bad. BUT the music is fantastic! It's a very friendly atmosphere in the bar and you always have fun there. people tend to be quite drunk but no one cares.

Great live music and interesting decor + fun experience but you have to take in account several things: 1. The line and wait time to get in could be at the least 20-30 min. Depending on the amount of people inside... 2. While you are waiting people will smoke around you especially near the entrance - which leads to my upside - no smoking inside! :0) 3. Inside it's really small... Think about the size of a small app. bedroom with a kitchenette- the stage hardly fits the players, there are few tables near it and to get to it you go through the narrow and pact tube like area from the entrance (on the right is a small bar area). -went at 22:00 on a saturday- waited 20 min. And when entering felt like in a sardines can...until you manage to get close to the sitting area and can see the band and breath too... - ages were 20+ to 80+ ;0) - There was an entrance fee of 5£ a person. Don't know if it's the same each day... - music that evening was blues mixed with american country rock sound- really good music and great vibes from the crowd.

Isn't it loooovelyyy? As the great Steve would say! Well, firstly, London has a huge variety of pubs and discos.. but believe me people, this is a tiny cosy wood british blues bar that makes you feel at home with its atmosphere, happyness, and high quality cask ales offer, everyday with live music, but not simply music, hey, there they are really able to play BLUES! I really recommend you to try it! You won't be disappointed! Of course if you like blues 'n beer :) (I also recommend you to try the "Mad Goose", if they dispose it! It is a marvellous ale!)

Now this is one cool little club. Hidden away on Kingly Street in Soho (yeah I didn't know it either), this blues club is a fantastic find. And it appears it is not a very well kept secret as this place was packed with a queue down the street on a Wednesday night. We managed to entrench ourselves beside the bar as there wasn't a hope of getting up near the stage but there were television screens scattered about so we didn't feel too far from the action. The accoustics in here are great and the music was even better. Good selection of drinks particularly speciality beers. I tried the Ghost Ship which was a lovely malty ale. The bar staff were brilliant. They had a smile on their faces for the entire night, and you never had to wait long to be served despite how busy the place was. They were more than happy to let you sample the beers too before buying. This contradicts some reviews I have seen here and on other sites but from my point of view they were awesome. I brought a date here last night and I scored massive brownie points - he is going to have to think of something really good to top this place!!!

I can't believe that I have not reviewed this place yet! I feel like I'm saying that a lot. If claustrophobia is a problem for you, maybe Ain't Nothing But... is not the place for you to come on a night out. It is generally always packed, and that is not a bad thing for me! The atmosphere is always happening and every band that I've seen play here are of a decent standard. Of course, night to night, this does change from merely adequate players to truly exceptional but the standard is never anything less than entertaining. I love the fact that this place is open later on, and continues to churn out the music. London can have a tendency to shut down way too early for an international city, but this place does a great job of providing a very viable late night destination with the live entertainment in the mix too. If you are coming here for an intimate date, conversation will be difficult. A girl asked to go here on a first date a number of years ago - I don't think we even managed to swap information about jobs or hometowns. The bar is well stocked and the regular staff all do a great job. The decor around the place provides some very authentic posters, rather than the more mainstream, hokey type posters then that I have seen in other such establishments. I do really like it here and maybe, I will consider doing a gig here at some point with my own blues band!

This place is absolutely packed at the weekend. I really cannot see the point of queuing up just so you can stand near the door of a venue. I did manage to get a pint of Mad Goose so it was not a total loss.

Yes yes yes!! Everything I want in a bar! Live Maurice, good drinks and a great location! It's situated super close to Oxford street, so you can take the load off in the afternoon, while shopping and perfect for a night out! The place is ideal! Love it! I went with a bunch of super cool yelpers, post the afternoon tea and was super impressed! They play jazz and blues which is great, and I could have easily stayed the entire afternoon if we didn't have to rush off. Drinks were standardly priced and the seats was comfortable enough. What sets it out for me though is the music!!! Live music is what makes a pub!! I'm so keen to go back for a night out and experience the bar when it's in full on mode, as it was quite quiet when we visited. I've heard it gets busy, so you maybe struggle to get and there's a small charge to get in, but I'm certain it'll be with the money. I'm there in the New Year, who is coming with?

£3.20 a pint, but you get live blues every night for free (weeknights are free, weekends you have to pay). Decked out in wood this bar slightly has a Chicago Chic feel, whilst still retaining a London vibe. A small stage at the front of the cosy space offers up blues from amateurs and pros alike. A house band often fills in the gaps between the more celebrated acts, however, whoever you are going to see you need to get there rather early to grab a seat next to the stage - by far the best area to spectate. If you don't manage to get in early doors you may be fighting for the pettiest amount of elbow spaces with other punters, as it does get rather packed. All in all, this is a remarkably reasonable bar considering the free live music and great location you get in tow with your pint.

If you love the blues in the style of the man: BB King. Then the blues bar is where you need to be. It is in the style of a classic southern dive blues bar, with the band, a guitar, and a man singing his blues. It can get quite full with a queue down the street so I suggest you get their early on the weekend (Before 9:30) and instead of paying to get in, just have another round of drinks, you may even be lucky enough to get a table. However if you go on a weekend it's free to get in. This is probably one of the best nights out in London, great atmosphere, music, and drinks.

A tiny shoebox of a blues club, some might call it cramped, but I'd call it cozy and conducive to that sort of strangers-sitting-at-the-same-table-buying-each-other-shots sort of camaraderie. Combine that with a diverse crowd, great music and friendly staff and you can't really help but have fun here. So if you want to hear some good music played right under your nose, this is the place to go!

I absolutely love this place, it's a friendly and lively venue with fantastic live music and a good atmosphere. However you need to arrive early in order to get in, not pay a service charge, and to get a seat. If you arrive in the evening, you should expect to queue/wait to get in there are quite a few times when I have had to queue for about an hour and a half in the cold. However once you're in you'll find it's worth the wait.

Was here only once for a jazz night but it was great the singer was hitting on me and all of my female friends so none of us were jealous and everyone felt equally hot :) Otherwise, drinks were a bit pricey but it's Soho and in the end, you are not here to get trashed but to listen to music. Venue is small but that's only good as it makes the atmosphere really cosy. There is a designated smoking area as well.

Great blues and jazz place! Super busy and great talent! Just have a couple beer or wines and take it all in!

Good music, good drinks and not too pretentious. We were there from opening with some drinks while passing the time of day, surprisingly at this time the crowd is generally older and here just to enjoy the live music and have some fun. The place is divey and looks as though it's been there forever, probably one of the last bastions of what Carnaby Street used to be like. It's busy in the evening and there's a cover, but at 3pm on a Saturday, it's a great place to sit down and rest and have a drink to recover before heading out again into the madness that is the West End. Drinks are decently priced for the West End and earlier in the day it's easy enough to grab chairs and a table. Evening is packed so plan on standing!

This is my favourite bar in London, without a doubt... Let's be honest, London is riddled with soulless, characterless, forgettable bars that do well because they have the footfall...and a TV. They aren't special, they're just....convenient. Ain't nothin' but.. is a bar worth going out of your way to visit and if you get there early enough to nab a seat then even better. The atmosphere is great, the music is great (especially on jam night) and the decor is unpretentious, like a wholesome CBGBs. Plus, since it's so close to Oxford Street it's perfect for husband parking and a post shopping wind down. It's just really good, you should totally go.

After the fantastic festive Yelp event, some of us headed to Aint Nothing but... I was suprised that in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Soho and even more with Christmas that you would have this great mellow place to chill out in. It was dark with dim lighting and pictures of Jazz and Blues greats dotted around the bar. It was a Saturday and the live music started from 4pm. The singer was interacting with the audience and even greeted us as we left. The bar felt like your local actually- reminds me of a pub where I currently live. I don't know when I'll come next but it gave me a chilled out afternoon before I headed back into the Christmas rush.

We visited Ain't Nothin' But for the first time on a Thursday evening, a few bars into our night. First impressions weren't great - they were operating a one in, one out policy on the door which is fair enough, but the bouncer wasn't particularly nice about it. The interior of the bar is pretty small, which meant we struggled to find a decent place to park ourselves without being shoved from all directions. The live blues music was pretty fun, but the bar staff were rude to my friend - upon trying to order Jaegerbombs he was told that he could have Jaeger, but that if he tried to drink it mixed with a Red Bull he'd be thrown out! Obviously the bar has had a bad experience with it before, but certainly shouldn't be taking it out on an innocent punter who was just trying to order a drink! Particularly in the middle of Soho. Overall not a terrible bar, but there are other places I'd prefer for next time.

Awesome venue for live music. The good: If you get a table near the front you're literally within arms distance of the band. The crowd is lively. They'll often sing and dance along with the songs. The drinks are cheap. It's free to get in before different times (depending on the night). The bad: The place is crowded. The drinks are watered down. The ratio of guys to girls is not in the guy's favor. The tables at the front crowd what would normally be a dance floor.

Along a dusty London side street, underneath an old neon sign you'll find Ain't Nothin' But The Blues, and one of Soho's best bars. This institution of a blue bar is great for young and old, groups or couples - a real leveller of a place. It's tiny, it's noisy and it's a great place to swig a few Jack Daniels and Coke and listen to some amazing live music. Come early to avoid disappointment as it gets pretty busy and seats are few and far between. But you don't mind a bit of hustle and busy you'll become a life long fan of this wonderful bar.

A night on the town here Ain't Nothin' But... fun! The music's great, the vibe is great and the people are great. What more could you ask for? ...well I guess a little less sardine can on a Saturday, but beyond that, it rocks!