The are quite a few venues in Soho that have had their part to play in rock history. Oddly, The Spice Of Life isn’t one that would necessarily spring to mind – despite having more reason than most to boast about some of the acts it has hosted in the past…

During the 60s and 70s (though it was called the Scots Hoose at the time), the basement bar at The Spice was a popular venue for folk musicians and saw performances from the likes of Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Cat Stevens, Donovan, Bert Jansch and Sandy Denny. And in the late 70s (by which time it had taken on its current name) the pub became a regular haunt for The Sex Pistols – something that caused it to be featured in the cult 1986 biopic, Sid & Nancy.

Its history, though, stretches back further than this. On the spot where the Spice stands, in Soho’s bustling Cambridge Circus, there has been a tavern since around 1750 (though its present incarnation was built in 1898) and it has gone by a few different names over the years.

Originally known as The Cantons – something which can still be seen in the building’s stonework and on the flags which hang from its rooftop gargoyles – the pub went on to be renamed The George & 13 Cantons, then the Scots Hoose and finally The Spice Of Life.

In 2008 The Spice remains a friendly and popular Soho pub, as well as a busy London venue. New Zealand-born manager, Andy Ranum, took over the venue in 2000 and told us that at the time the only live music it had was one night of jazz per week.

In 2001 the backstage bar was remodeled to create more room and make The Spice more of a live venue again, and since then Ranum – with the help of a number of promoters – has built up the venue’s reputation as a place for live music.

Recent years have seen it gain a name for itself as an intimate and atmospheric jazz venue where you can regularly see the same types of performers that take to the stage at the nearby Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, but for a fraction of the price.

It has live music every day, with a weekly roster that includes open mic nights, blues jams, jazz sessions, indie-rock gigs and even a monthly classical night, and holds about 100 people.

“The gigs are always quite intimate,” says Ranum. “It’s a relatively small venue, and it gets pretty cosy with about 100 people in the room, but that’s what I like about it.
“Last year we invested in a great PA, and bands now always comment on how good the sound is (thanks again to John, soundman extraordinaire). It’s also a great looking venue, with lots of brick, low ceilings and subdued lighting giving it the feel of an underground jazz club from the 1950s.”
Over his eight years at The Spice, Ranum has seen “string quartets, jazz singers, acoustic singer/songwriters, blues bands, art punk bands, and funk and soul acts” all perform in the backstage bar.

“A tough question,” he says, of his favourite act to perform at The Spice. “You’re talking a lot of gigs. That would be over 3000 acts. Hmmmm. The Guillemots were great. Jamie Cullum was another good one. I really wanted to not like him, but he’s a really nice bloke and he has got an incredible voice.

“Recent highlights are Snowman (the loudest and, quite possibly, best band I’ve seen this year) and Orphans & Vandals (haunting and beautiful orchestral indie).”

And if you could choose any act to see in the future? “It would have to be some interesting and intricate acoustic or downbeat band as that kind of thing seems to work really well here. Do they have to be alive? Elliot Smith? The Walkmen? Son of Dave? Arcade Fire? Nick Cave? No.... Leonard Cohen!!”

Phew! Thank God for that. We were a bit worried about the Jamie Cullum comments…

Michael Wylie-Harris


Where? 6 Moor Street, Cambridge Circus W1D 5NA 020 7437 7013
Web? www.spiceoflifesoho.com
How? Tube: Leicester Square (Northern and Piccadilly lines)
Buses: 7, 8, 10, 14, 19, 24, 25, 29, 38, 55, 73, 98, 134, 176, 242, 390
Founded? 1898
Atmosphere? A calm amid the storm of Soho
Pint? £3 - £3.50