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Madame Jo Jo's London Review
You there in the cashmire sweater! You look like the type that enjoys the finer things in life: delightful evenings idly spent mixing with sophisticated high-rollers, sipping extravagant cocktails containing exotic fruits whilst lounging on plush debonair furnishings. Is that The Duchess of Cornwall sitting next to you? Why, you almost couldn’t tell with the lighting being as flattering as it is. Besides, the mellifluous tones enaminating softly from the sound system have lulled you into an anesthetising stupour.
Clearly, you’re either a monged-out ponce or James Bond and, clearly, you’re not going to like Madame Jo-Jo’s: the live bands are noisy and have been summoned from every walk of life - even some of the extinct ones; the upholstery was last refurbished long before sitting down was even invented; and the carpet exudes a pugent odour, just like those that walk upon it. Overall, MJJ’s should be filed under ‘seedy’ in the ‘underground dens’ classification. Right next to ‘dodgy stripclubs’.
And that’s precisely why it’s so eye-bleedingly good. Who wants bright lights and shiny surfaces when you can have Paul Weller DJing at a rockabilly night?! Who wants to sip a cocktail when you can gulp red wine at the scene of The Kaiser Chiefs ‘Modern Way’ music video?! That’s history squelching under your feet, you know? That’s sweat from many a drug-addled rock star woven into the fabric. The crass spirit of punk lives on. F**k the queen and all that sail her!
Offering up a stupendous smorgesbord of entertainment that is primarily meant to be primal, MJJ’s is home, nay SQUAT, to the following freakshows: London Bites - a mini kiev in the bucket meal of comedy and drama; White Heat, The Glitz and Electrogogo – giving retro a comeback without forcing it into the Australian jungle; and, the jewel in the tarnished crown darlings, Kitsch Cabaret - a Saturday night package (oo-er) that lays on (oo-er) a fine banquet of cheap canapes and fancy crisps (oo-er), then subjects you to flamboyant outfits, smutty jokes and Abba-medleys. A troop of trannies (known as The Barbettes) rouse the crowd into participating and at their head (oo-er) is their female leader, the frolicking Miss Terri - tiny in stature yet strong of presence, her subtle Aussie (oxymoron) accent and firm derriere means she’s na-na-na na-na-nana-not too far off the original.
Madame Jo-Jo’s is the most fun a person can have whilst still wearing their trousers! But of course, being Soho, they are optional.
The gay weddings are gauche and tacky, the divorce parties are louche and wacky. Otherwise 9 out of 10
Christian Rose-Day (16 11 2006)
Madame Jo Jo's London Description
Madame JoJo’s is an internationally renowned entertainment venue in London’s Soho, combining sensational cabaret, innovative club nights and live performance.
Madame JoJo’s has been the venue of choice for The Scissor Sisters, Marc Almond, Siouxsie Sioux, Bloc Party, Dev Hynes (ex Test Icicles), and The Kings Of Leon.
The kitsch style interiors with crimson velvet banquette seating, gilded art-deco balustrades make it a popular venue for filming, high profile celebrity / corporate events and live showcases. It featured in the November 2005 video for Modern Way by the Kaiser Chiefs, and for scenes in Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut before that.
Madame JoJo’s is host to regular, well established club nights with a wide ranging musical output that includes classic funk to French House, hip-hop to northern soul.
Kitsch Cabaret is the venue’s long running Saturday night where performers delight in providing a theatrical show packed with some of the best songs of the last 60 Years.
For those who tire of non-descript nights out in mass-produced venues featuring monotonous music and faceless décor, Madame JoJo’s offers a refreshingly different night out - a truly unique experience in the heart of Soho.
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Average Customer Rating (5 Votes)
Very poor - a rip off - kept waiting outside for over 2 hours then had to stand in the venue, could not see or hear the acts and £3.50 for a can of cheap supermarket lager. A disgrace. Avoid.”
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[ Unknown ], Ilkeston (21 12 2008)
The Kitsch Cabaret was not as described sadly. Paid for 12 of my friends for my birthday and was very disappointed. The show is drag but is described as an all female las vegas style show. It was actually three men dressed in drag putting on a very poor show which none of us were even interested in watching in the end. The best bit of the show was when a drunk started stripping and upstaged the drag! We were told the music would e rockabilly but we were led to a dance club called an anon. Drinks prices were OK but the 20 is way too expensive for the show. Its a real shame as they have an otherwise lovely venue.”
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[ Unknown ], bristol (08 12 2008)
I found that Madame Jojo's was a great venue to watch lots of newcoming underground bands for those that are bored of the mainstream. I go Saturday nights, to the Kitsch Cabaret and I am always guaranteed to have a great night. The venue has heaps of character, I've taken loads of people there in the past, girls and guys and even though they all have different music tastes everyones loved it. Perfect for hen nights, you are served with impecable style by the Barbettes, very glizt and glamorous. The decor is so very art-deco, and its in the very heart of Londons Soho!”
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[ Unknown ], london (12 11 2008)
Best club in London!”
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Tamy Brussels, London (19 08 2008)
I would like to:
Extra Info
- Cocktails
- Security
- DJ
- Cloakroom
- Dancing License
- Live Music