North London Food & Culture

Revealed: exciting plans for Camden’s Jazz Cafe

We speak to Columbo Group head honcho Steve Ball about what to expect with this month's relaunch

Steve Ball:
Steve Ball: ‘We actually have a relaunch fortnight.’ Photo: Columbo

Why did you buy the Jazz Cafe?
Many of us here at the Columbo Group have a personal history with the Jazz Cafe, the venue’s early days having fed into what we do at our other locations (places like Blues Kitchen, The Nest and XOYO) a great deal. What makes this so special is that we have the chance to channel that history in to taking the Jazz Cafe forward. We have a huge respect for the work they’ve done and for the greats that have played there.

Talk us through how the new interior will look.
Concrete, brass, reclaimed and new furnishings. We wanted to inject some industrial design elements but keep a feeling of warmth that suits such an intimate space. At the moment the work is still in progress, so some elements are coming together organically as we speak.

Famous exterior on Parkway. Photo: CG
Famous exterior on Parkway. Photo: CG

The food was never great. What’s on the menu now? And how will it differ from, say, the nearby Blues Kitchen?
It’s been created totally independently of any of our other venues, and will have its own very individual identity. Dishes we’re planning on featuring are chicken yakitori in soy and sake, seared tuna fatoush and avocado, and a brisket and bone marrow burger, with delicious S’mores cake for dessert. On the cocktail front we’re planning both classic and contemporary drinks, from negronis to penicillin, for example.

Yum. What key acts are coming up over the summer?
Kelis, Mortiz von Oswald Trio, Omar, Slum Village, Andy Stott – plenty to look forward to across the jazz, electronic and hip hop genres, with more to be announced as the summer progresses.


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Hip new logo. Photo: CG
Hip new logo. Photo: CG

What can readers expect on the launch weekend?
We actually have a re-launch fortnight, and even two weeks isn’t long enough to pack in all the music styles and sounds. Just the tip of the iceberg: electronic visionaries Pantha Du Prince and Dave Harrington plus new talents like Mammal Hands and Pete Josef. We’re also joined by Massive Attack’s Daddy G for a DJ set on 4th June.

Finally, we hear you’ve also bought the Barfly?
Yes, but I can’t really say anything about that, other than that we’ve acquired it and have some exciting plans. We’ll let you know more as and when.

The Jazz Cafe reopens on 25th May at 5 Parkway NW1. More info here

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