51°30′53″N0°7′29″W / 51.51472°N 0.12472°W / 51.51472; -0.12472The Hospital Club, later renamed the H Club, was a members' club for people in the creative industries in London, England. It housed a television studio (h Studio), recording studio, screening room, live performance space, restaurant, lounges and gallery over seven floors.
In 2017, the Hospital Club opened a second location in the former Redbury Hotel in Hollywood, California.[3] In 2020, both clubs closed permanently due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other "extenuating circumstances".
1996 — Building purchased by Paul Allen, planning submitted. Local objections to development mean the project stalls for a number of years while a compromise with residents is worked out[4]
2004 — Private members' club, restaurant and recording studio open[7]
2017 — the Hospital Club opens a second location in the former Redbury Hotel in Hollywood, California.[3]
2020 — The club closed permanently due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other "extenuating circumstances".[8]
2021 — The contents of the London club were sold at auction on 15 September.[9]
Food hygiene ratingsedit
In 2014, the club received a zero rating for food hygiene after an inspection found mice feces in kitchens, prompting worries of cross-contamination.[10] In 2015, the Hospital Club received a five-star rating by the Foods Standard Agency.[11]
Television studio (h Studio)edit
The venue's 2,700 square feet (250 m2)[12]television studio is located two floors below ground level, and when it opened in 2003 was the first high-definition television studio in the UK. A grid height of 4.4 metres (14 ft) and a size of 61 feet x 44 feet, roughly equivalent to that of Television Centre's TC2, means it was well used for programme production.[13]
The studio can accommodate an audience of approximately 250 people sitting or standing.[14] The sound production room was upgraded in conjunction with Solid State Logic.[15] In summer 2023 it was announced that the studio would be re-opening [16] after an extensive refit. Celebro Studios have taken over the running of the studio site and are to install a second smaller podcasting and streaming studio on the site.[17]
Referencesedit
^Paytress, Mark (1 January 2008). "Chasing Rainbows". Mojo.
^"Radiohead to Stream 2008 Live 'In Rainbows' Film". SPIN. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
^ abBeebe, Lisa (12 July 2017). "Here's a First Look at h.Club LA, the Private Social Club Coming to Hollywood and Vine Los Angeles Magazine". Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
^ abNaylor, Tony (28 February 2015). "The Hospital Club, Covent Garden, London: hotel review". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
^ ab"British Lying-In Hospital". Lost Hospitals of London. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
^ ab"St Paul's Hospital, Endell Street". Lost Hospitals of London. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
^"Meet Sue Walter at The Hospital Club". 26 September 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
^"h Club London to close permanently". The Stage. Retrieved 20 September 2021.