Not since Barclays Bank in Camden Town became the Jazz Café in 1990 has London seen a new, purpose-built jazz nightclub.

South London, a jazz desert relieved only by occasional oases inside Victorian pubs, has never had one. Until now, that is. The Hideaway, brainchild of businesswoman Frances Strachan, will change all that. Formerly a snooker hall secreted down an alley opposite Streatham overground station, it has been spectacularly transformed into the spacious and smart clubrooom, restaurant and bar launched by tenorist Ed Jones last Friday and diva Mica Paris the following night.

Jones’s boys baptised the bandstand with Stateside numbers by Wayne Shorter and Thelonious Monk to augment an ambience closer to New York than New Malden. With its full-length drapes, techno-look ceiling, matt-black panels and orange keyhole logos, the room has the right jazz feel and excellent sight-lines from every spot.

Ross Stanley, exulting in the club’s new grand piano, matched Jones for nimble improvisation over vigorous grooves from bassist Ryan Visloo and drummer Tim Giles. Later this month Dave O’Higgins, Mornington Lockett, Nigel Hitchcock and singer Nina Ferro feature in a no-nonsense bill compiled with input from the 606 Club’s
Steve Rubie, who would also approve of the food.

Stand-up comedy rules on Thursdays, and big-band Sunday lunchtime sessions are under discussion. It looks good. The future’s black and orange.
Information: 020 8835 7070, www.hideaway.co.uk.