London’s Oriole bar forced to close due to Smithfield Market redevelopment

City jazz club and speakeasy bar Oriole has announced it has been forced to close at the end of the year due to the ongoing redevelopment of Smithfield Market and the relocation of the Museum of London.

London's Oriole bar forced to close due to Smithfield Market redevelopment
Image courtesy of speakeasyents.com

New Years Eve is set to be the bar’s last night open for the foreseeable future. Edmund Weil and Roisin Stimpson, founders of Oriole’s parent company Speakeasy Entertainment, have come to a surrender deal with The Corporation of London due to the ongoing redevelopment of Smithfield market and the Museum of London.

Oriole’s owners have plans to relocate the jazz club and cocktail bar to a new central location in 2023.

Founders of Speakeasy Entertainment Weil and Stimpson called the announcement a “bittersweet moment for us”, describing Oriole as “the jewel in the crown of Speakeasy Entertainment”.

They added: “Whilst it has been trading really well, this gives us the opportunity to relocate to a place that is a little more suitable for our offering.”

Its founders are planning to “shift the spotlight to our food offering due to the success of our Dinner and Show offering, whilst still cherishing our iconic cocktails”.

Weil and Stimpson are already in the process of finding a new location for the bar, and plan to bring on Oriole’s bar manager and general manager as employee shareholders in the new site, following the success of this model with Speakeasy Entertainment’s Swift Bars, founded in collaboration with Bobby Hiddleston and Mia Johansson.

In their joint statement, Weil and Stimpson said: “Oriole was the second venue we ever opened and it has been amazing to see our Oriole fly the nest and grow into the success it has been. We see this as a real opportunity to improve things.’’

Speakeasy Entertainment is also responsible for London’s Swift Bars and speakeasy Nightjar, which was set to open a second site earlier this year.

Leave your reply

Most Recent Stories

Noble Rot partners with The Wine Society

Noble Rot Mayfair has opened a new cellar private dining room with a special collection from The Wine Society  to welcome the occasion. 

London's hottest restaurant openings: December 2023

Christmas is the time of year to eat, drink and be merry – here are some of the new London spots worth dropping by this festive season.

Tributes paid to Russell Norman

The restaurateur credited with transforming London's dining scene with the opening of Polpo, Spuntino and Brutto, died last week at the age of 57.

Mendoza sweeps up Michelin stars

In the very first edition of the Michelin Guide in Argentina, Mendoza took home four of the six stars in an awards ceremony last week firmly placing the wine region at the top of any gastronome’s bucket list of places to visit.

WLC Eats: The Clove Club, Shoreditch

Douglas Blyde heads to what was once Shoreditch Town Hall to visit The Clove Club. While there, he explores the two Michelin-starred restaurant's "masterful" and "memorable" tasting menu, and raises the question of why chef-patron Isaac McHale hasn't written a book yet.

Most Recent Stories

Noble Rot partners with The Wine Society

Noble Rot Mayfair has opened a new cellar private dining room with a special collection from The Wine Society  to welcome the occasion. 

London's hottest restaurant openings: December 2023

Christmas is the time of year to eat, drink and be merry – here are some of the new London spots worth dropping by this festive season.

Tributes paid to Russell Norman

The restaurateur credited with transforming London's dining scene with the opening of Polpo, Spuntino and Brutto, died last week at the age of 57.

Mendoza sweeps up Michelin stars

In the very first edition of the Michelin Guide in Argentina, Mendoza took home four of the six stars in an awards ceremony last week firmly placing the wine region at the top of any gastronome’s bucket list of places to visit.

WLC Eats: The Clove Club, Shoreditch

Douglas Blyde heads to what was once Shoreditch Town Hall to visit The Clove Club. While there, he explores the two Michelin-starred restaurant's "masterful" and "memorable" tasting menu, and raises the question of why chef-patron Isaac McHale hasn't written a book yet.