Evans & Peel Detective Agency

Evans & Peel Detective Agency sits behind an unmarked door on Earls Court Road, disguised as a private investigation office. Ring the bell, state your case to the detective, and the bookcase behind the desk swings open to reveal a candlelit Prohibition-era basement bar below. It's London's most committed speakeasy concept — a venue where the entrance ritual has been running since 2012 and still catches first-time visitors off guard.

The Space Behind the Bookcase

The basement opens into a warren of interconnected spaces: a main dining room, a long bar built from reclaimed church pews, and a private library alcove for smaller groups. Glass display cases line walls of broken ceramic tiles, filled with spirits and lit by candlelight. The 1920s theming is thorough — evidence tags, magnifying glasses, and case maps decorate the detective's office upstairs — but below, the bar has the feel of a place that's been lived in rather than set-dressed. Critically acclaimed since it opened, it consistently ranks among London's best speakeasy bars.

Live Music and Late Nights

The venue's relationship with live performance runs deeper than background jazz. Evans & Peel has hosted musicians from Ronnie Scott's — full ensembles, not just a soloist on a stool — and the stage infrastructure reflects that pedigree. Thursday through Saturday, live swing, jazz, and blues fill the basement as standard. For private hire, that infrastructure means the venue can handle serious live entertainment without needing external production.

An Earls Court Original

With capacity for up to 110 guests and a full in-house cocktail and catering operation, Evans & Peel is an event space that generates its own atmosphere. The combination of immersive entrance, Prohibition-era interiors, and genuine musical heritage makes it a venue where the setting does the heavy lifting — guests arrive curious and leave with a story. Earl's Court tube is five minutes on foot, and the venue runs Tuesday through Saturday until midnight.