phoenixartsclub.com

Phoenix Arts Club is an independent cabaret and variety venue in Soho, London, created by entertainers for entertainers. It hosts nightly multi-line-up shows spanning cabaret, variety, drag, musical theatre, burlesque, aerial and comedy, then transforms into a late-night cocktail bar after the performances. If you want a theatrical night out in central London with the option to just buy a ticket rather than commit to membership, this is the key thing to know: non-members can purchase tickets to a show and receive temporary membership for the night.

What happens at Phoenix Arts Club

The venue describes itself as London's legendary theatrical hangout, now celebrating 35+ years. Its programme is built around nightly multi-line-up cabaret shows, with performers drawn from cabaret and variety — drag, musical theatre, burlesque, aerial, comedy and more. Because the line-ups change, the specific acts on any given night are not fixed; the club notes that "you never know who might take to the stage."

After the show, the space becomes a late-night cocktail bar and hangout. It welcomes West End theatre workers, actors, writers, painters and film-makers through its art deco doors, and it stays open from 9pm 'til late for showtunes singalong.

Who it's for

• Cabaret and variety fans who want a multi-act show rather than a single headliner.
• Theatre industry people and night owls looking for a late bar in Soho after a show.
• Visitors to London who want a Soho night out with a theatrical edge.
• Non-members — you do not need to join to attend a show.

Tickets, membership and prices

The club states that prices start from just £15 for show tickets, and that yearly membership starts at £150. It also says all monies raised are reinvested back into the Club's fabric and frame. Advanced booking is essential, so plan ahead rather than turning up on the night.

Practical things to know before you go

• Location: Soho, London — in the heart of the West End theatre district.
• Timing: Shows are nightly; the venue is open 9pm 'til late for showtunes singalong.
• Booking: Advanced booking is essential.
• Accessibility stance: The club says it believes the arts should be accessible, which is reflected in the from-£15 ticket pricing.
• Reputation: It reports 1,000+ 5-star reviews across Google, TripAdvisor and Facebook, and has been recognised by The Handbook as "best bar for a touch of theatrics" and by Time Out as a "most loved late night venue." Secret London describes its artistic programme as one of the most diverse in London, bringing new and emerging artists to the West End.

How to decide if it's right for you

Choose Phoenix Arts Club if you want a Soho night that combines a multi-act cabaret or variety show with a late bar, and you prefer buying a single ticket over committing to membership. It suits people who enjoy variety line-ups and a theatrical crowd. If you want a fixed headline act, a quiet early evening, or a venue outside Soho, this is less likely to fit. To stay updated on line-ups and dates, the site offers a "Stay in the loop" sign-up.

Phoenix Arts Club hosts nightly multi-line-up cabaret and variety shows spanning drag, musical theatre, burlesque, aerial performance, comedy, and more. The Soho venue describes its programme as one of London's most diverse, bringing new and emerging artists to the West End. If you want a single evening that mixes several performance styles rather than one genre, this format is the draw — and because the line-up changes nightly, the specific acts vary by date.

The show format

Shows are built as multi-line-up cabaret bills rather than a single headliner. That means one ticket typically covers several performers across different disciplines in the same night. The club says you "never know who might take to the stage," so the running order is part of the experience rather than something fixed.

Genres named by the venue include:

• Drag
• Musical theatre
• Burlesque
• Aerial
• Comedy
• Cabaret and variety more broadly

Where the shows sit in the venue's history

The club has been running for 35+ years and is known in the showbiz world as "that Soho bar." It describes itself as truly independent, created by entertainers for entertainers, and says it welcomes 100,000 cabaret lovers a year. Its programme is described by Secret London as "one of the most diverse in London."

After the show

The venue shifts into "Post Show" mode as a late-night cocktail bar and hangout, open 9pm 'til late for showtunes singalong. It draws West End theatre workers, actors, writers, painters, and film-makers through its art deco doors — so the crowd after the curtain is part of the appeal for some visitors.

Practical points for deciding

• Booking: Advanced booking is essential.
• Access: Non-members can buy a ticket to a show and receive temporary membership for the night.
• Prices: The club states prices start from just £15, with yearly membership starting at £150. All money raised is reinvested back into the Club.
• Timing: Shows are nightly; the bar runs from 9pm until late.

If your interest is a specific genre — say, only burlesque or only musical theatre — check the line-up for your chosen date before booking, since the bill is mixed and changes nightly. If you're happy to see a range of acts in one sitting, the multi-line-up format is exactly the point.

After the cabaret show ends, the room doesn't close — it turns into a late-night cocktail bar and hangout. The venue stays open from 9pm 'til late, with showtunes singalongs, and it draws a mixed crowd of West End theatre workers, actors, writers, painters and film-makers through its art deco doors. If you're deciding whether to stay after a performance, the answer is that the post-show bar is a core part of the night, not an afterthought.

What happens after the show

The Phoenix Arts Club runs nightly multi-line-up cabaret shows, then shifts into "Post Show" mode as a late-night cocktail bar and hangout. The same space that hosted drag, burlesque, aerial, comedy or musical theatre acts becomes a place to drink and socialise until late.

Two things define the atmosphere:

• Showtunes singalong — the venue is open 9pm 'til late for this, so the entertainment continues in a more informal, participatory form.
• A showbiz crowd — the Club describes itself as "that Soho bar" in the showbiz world, welcoming the West End's theatre workers, actors, writers, painters and film-makers after their own shows finish.

Who you'll be drinking alongside

This is the detail that separates the Phoenix from a standard late bar. It was created by entertainers for entertainers, and the post-show crowd reflects that: performers, creatives and industry people who come in after their own curtains come down. The venue says you "never know who might take to the stage," which applies to the bar hours as much as the booked show.

If you're going for the performances alone, you'll still get a full night. If you're going for the room — the art deco setting and the chance to be around theatre people — the post-show hours are the reason to stay.

Practical points before you go

The Club frames its pricing around accessibility — it says the arts should be accessible, and all money raised is reinvested back into the Club. That's worth knowing if you're weighing a one-night ticket against annual membership: the yearly option starts at £150, while a single show ticket starts at £15 and includes temporary membership for that night.

How to plan your evening around it

1. Book a show in advance. Advanced booking is essential, so pick a night from the nightly line-up rather than turning up hoping for a walk-in.
2. Arrive for the performance. Your ticket covers the show and gives you temporary membership for the night.
3. Stay for Post Show. Once the line-up finishes, the space becomes the late-night cocktail bar — this is when the theatre crowd arrives and the singalong side of the venue takes over.
4. Expect a late finish. The venue runs 'til late, so plan transport home accordingly.

The main thing to decide is whether you want the show only or the full night. The show is the headline; the post-show bar is where the Club's identity as a Soho theatrical hangout actually plays out.

You can attend a Phoenix Arts Club show without being a member: buy a ticket to any performance and you receive temporary membership for that night. Tickets start from £15, advanced booking is essential, and the venue opens at 9pm for its nightly cabaret and variety line-ups in Soho, London. If you plan to go regularly, annual membership starts at £150.

Who can get in

The club is not members-only for audiences. According to the venue, non-members can purchase tickets to a show and receive temporary membership for the night, which covers their visit. That means the practical route for a first-time visitor is simply to book a ticket rather than apply for membership in advance.

Annual membership (from £150) is the alternative for people who expect to come often. The club states that all money raised is reinvested back into the Club.

Booking and arrival at a glance

Step-by-step: booking a show

1. Choose a date. Shows run nightly, so pick the evening that suits you and check what is on that night — the line-up changes, and the club describes its programme as multi-line-up, spanning drag, musical theatre, burlesque, aerial and comedy.
2. Book in advance. The venue states advanced booking is essential. Treat this as a requirement, not a suggestion, especially for weekend nights in Soho.
3. Buy your ticket. Prices start from just £15. Your ticket also gives you temporary membership for the night, so there is no separate membership step for a single visit.
4. Arrive for the 9pm opening. The venue opens at 9pm and runs late. Plan your travel around a late finish if you want to stay for the post-show bar.
5. Stay for the after-show. After the performances, the space turns into a late-night cocktail bar and hangout, attracting West End theatre workers, actors, writers and filmmakers.

What to expect once you're inside

The club describes itself as "that Soho bar" in the showbiz world — independent, created by entertainers for entertainers, and now welcoming 100,000 cabaret lovers a year. The format is a multi-line-up bill rather than a single headliner, so a given night mixes genres and performers. As the venue puts it, "You never know who might take to the stage."

If you are deciding between a one-off visit and membership: a single ticket is the lower-commitment option and already includes temporary membership for that night, while annual membership makes sense only if you expect to return often enough for the £150 starting price to work in your favour.

Common sticking points

• Turning up without a booking. Advanced booking is essential, so do not rely on walk-in availability.
• Assuming you need to join first. You do not — the ticket covers your temporary membership for the night.
• Arriving before 9pm. The venue opens at 9pm; there is no earlier door time given.
• Expecting one fixed genre. The programme is deliberately mixed, so check the night's line-up if you have a preference.