Savoy Sessions: Jazz on the Strand

When the formal dinners and balls of the 19th century gave way to tea dances in the early 20th century, London's Savoy hotel was at the heart of the new trend.

Throughout the 1920s and thirties, couples flocked to the Savoy's elegant Thames Foyer to dine and dance. The music of the hotel's dance bands was broadcast to radio listeners across the world.

The tradition continues today every Thursday and Friday evening when the foyer resounds to the elegant melodies of the jazz age.

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Nicola Emmanuelle, one of the more regular faces among the various vocalists and musicians who preside over these twice-weekly Savoy Sessions, regales her audience with faithful but fresh takes on old favourites.

With a twinkle in her eye and plenty of camaraderie, Emmanuelle and her talented band breeze their way through classic tunes by the likes of Cole Porter and Hoagy Carmichael with effortless charm and sophistication.

While the music harks back to the roaring twenties, the foyer's decor is as far away from a smoky, low-lit speakeasy as you can get.

Instead, performers serenade their audience from an elegant central pavilion beneath a magnificent glass cupola, which floods the lounge with natural light and gives the space marvellous acoustics.

Music aficionados dropping into the Savoy Sessions as an after-dinner treat can enjoy a handcrafted dessert, paired with a cocktail.

For those looking for something more substantial, the foyer also serves salads, sandwiches and a selection of starters and main meals.

Since it first opened its doors in 1889, the Savoy has been renowned for its cocktails. Those served in the Thames Foyer do not disappoint.

The cocktail list here is short – a truncated version of the list available in the Savoy's iconic American Bar and elsewhere in the hotel – but it embraces a comprehensive range of flavours.

Espresso martinis are happily devoid of the artificial sweetness frequently found elsewhere, while cosmopolitans and margaritas are similarly well-judged.

The champagne cocktail – Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV and Hennessey cognac set off with sugar and angostura bitters – was a special delight, eye-openingly punchy while still irresistibly sippable.

The Savoy Sessions take place in the Thames Foyer of the Savoy at the Strand, London, every Thursday and Friday, with performers playing three sets between 8.30pm and 11.30pm.