A Victorian hall that once staged Vivienne Westwood’s first catwalk show is turning its dining room into one of London’s most atmospheric live music venues this November, with Manchester soul singer Lusaint topping the bill.
Pillar Hall at Olympia will host Live at Idalia, a month-long programme of soul, jazz and R&B performed in the hall’s grand restaurant, while diners eat beneath marble columns and soaring ceilings.
Lusaint, whose real name is Lucy Hopkins, will perform on Saturday November 14.
The Stretford-born singer is known for her smoky vocals and blend of jazz, soul, blues and pop. She first found fame through viral covers of En Vogue’s Don’t Let Go and Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game. In 2019, Don’t Let Go became the UK’s most Shazamed song in a single day after it was played on television, and her Wicked Game cover has since been viewed more than 40 million times on YouTube.
Organisers say she has racked up more than 250 million streams and won backing from BBC Radio 1, Elton John and Rolling Stone. She has also performed alongside Raye, Tom Grennan and Michael Kiwanuka.
Her Olympia date offers fans a rare chance to see her in an intimate setting, at a table rather than in a crowd.
The setting has its own story to tell. Pillar Hall opened in 1886 for concerts, balls and exhibitions, and later hosted one of Britain’s earliest film screenings. Next door, Olympia’s great halls welcomed Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd in 1967, Rod Stewart in 1977 and The Cure in 1992.
The Grade II*-listed building reopened in March as the first hospitality venue within Olympia’s £1.3 billion regeneration. It was restored by restaurateur Des Gunewardena, founder of D3 Collective and former chief executive of D&D London, with interiors by Robert Angell Design International.
Idalia’s modern British menu is led by executive chef Samantha Williams and executive pastry chef Lorena Tommasi, with dishes including lobster linguine and a Sicilian pistachio cheesecake. Cocktails include the Zandra Royale, inspired by fashion designer Zandra Rhodes.
After dinner, the evening moves downstairs to Pepperbird, a 50-cover speakeasy with dark red interiors, burgundy banquettes and antique mirrors, inspired by Olympia’s musical heyday. Its cocktail menu, The Live Set, is arranged like a gig, running from The Opening Set to The Main Act and The Encore.
The November line-up opens on November 6 with Grammy-nominated New Orleans soul songwriter Acantha Lang, whose debut album Beautiful Dreams reached number three on the Official UK Jazz and Blues Albums Chart. She has been compared to Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight.
Los Angeles-born vocalist Selina Albright, who has worked with Gerald Albright, Dave Koz and Peter White, follows on November 7, with London jazz singer and pianist Jordan Jackson on November 13.
Brit School alumnus EMRE, who sings with Raye’s Flames Collective and has played All Points East and The Great Escape, closes the month on November 19.
Music begins in Idalia from 7.30pm, with selected late sets in Pepperbird from 9.30pm.
Restaurant reservations are required, and a £10 live music cover charge applies to selected performances. Pillar Hall is at 5 Olympia Way, London W14 0EY, opposite Kensington (Olympia) station. Bookings are via pillarhall.co.uk.
