We went to the blues jam tonight. The music was very good. And I had a fun time singing and blowing harp. Friendly staff. Great posters! Sound level was very reasonable. The host managed all the musicians and traffic very well. Good players and singers. Howard Blu Maryland, read more

Fantastic atmosphere and some really good notes for an American werewolf in London. I shall return on my future travels.

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! read more

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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! read more

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 read more

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

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. read more

Ain't Nothin' But... - Jazz & Blues Near Me - London, XGL

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

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

Ain't Nothin' But... - Jazz & Blues Near Me - London, XGL

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! read more

Ain't Nothin' But... - Jazz & Blues Near Me - London, XGL

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. read more

Ain't Nothin' But... - Jazz & Blues Near Me - London, XGL

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. read more

Ain't Nothin' But... - Jazz & Blues Near Me - London, XGL

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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. read more

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 :) read more

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 read more

Ain't Nothin' But... - Jazz & Blues Near Me - London, XGL

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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!). read more

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!! read more

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! read more

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! read more

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! read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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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!) read more

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!!! read more

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! read more

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. read more

£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. read more

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. read more

Ain't Nothin' But... - Jazz & Blues Near Me - London, XGL

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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! read more

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. read more

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

Ain't Nothin' But... - Jazz & Blues Near Me - London, XGL

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! read more

Ain't Nothin' But... - Jazz & Blues Near Me - London, XGL

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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. read more