7 Exton Street, Waterloo1901 Arts Club is one of London’s most intimate and distinctive venues for chamber music and classical recitals. Situated in Waterloo, just a short walk from the South Bank, it occupies a beautifully restored late Victorian house that offers a very different concert experience from the city’s grand concert halls.
Built in 1901 as a schoolmaster’s residence, the building retains its traditional exterior while its interiors have been transformed into an elegant European-style salon. The idea for the club came from conductor and violinist Joji Hattori, who recognised the need for a welcoming central London space between the informality of a private living room and the scale of a major concert hall. After extensive restoration, the venue opened to the public in 2007.
The heart of the club is its ground-floor Salon, a beautifully appointed performance room seating up to 45 people in concert configuration. With its warm colours, gold curtains, parquet flooring and intimate atmosphere, it creates a rare sense of closeness between musicians and audience. A Steinway Model C grand piano is available for performances, making the space particularly suitable for piano recitals, vocal programmes and chamber ensembles.
The club regularly welcomes accomplished musicians and emerging artists, as well as organisations presenting chamber concerts, solo recitals and special musical events. Its activities are closely connected with the Hattori Foundation, a charitable organisation supporting exceptionally talented young instrumentalists and helping them develop international careers.
Unlike a conventional concert hall, 1901 Arts Club offers an informal salon experience in which the audience can enjoy music at exceptionally close quarters. The lounge, bar and small terrace provide welcoming spaces for conversation before and after performances.
For lovers of chamber music and intimate classical recitals, 1901 Arts Club is a hidden gem of London's cultural scene — a place where outstanding musicians perform in the atmosphere of a private musical salon.
