![](https://www.sardinesmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/PRI_198583977.jpg)
Show: Overtures Piano Bar at the London Hippodrome Casino
Society: Special Events (British Isles & Eire)
Venue: The Hippodrome Casino, Cranbourn Street, Leicester Square, London WC2H 7JH
Credits: Overtures@hippodromecasino.com
Type: Sardines
Performance Date: 16/09/2021
Overtures Piano Bar at The Hippodrome Casino
Maybe it’s because Mini Sardines went down with Gastroentaritis the same night, maybe it’s because I felt a distinct clique at Overtures, maybe it’s because the PR people – whose job was surely to make sure I had a great time – completely ignored me after the first ‘hello’, or, maybe it’s simply because I had a better time up the road at The Pianoworks Singeasy pre-lockdown. Whatever the reason, something didn’t quite sit right with The Hippodrome Casino’s newly opened piano bar.
It probably didn’t help that twice it was boasted that said Piano Bar was the ‘only’ venue of it’s kind in London. That’s just a play on dates. Singeasy at Pianoworks, Leicester Square has, like everybody else, been closed during lockdown but is due to reopen again in two weeks on Saturday, 2 October 2021 (so, technically, yes it is currently closed).
Overtures is a Piano Bar based on musical theatre, underneath Leicester Square’s Hippodrome Casino and open every Thu-Sat from 8pm-2am. Visitors can request showtunes and then singalong when they are played – if they are played – or just listen to the entertainment. However, if you’re not intimidated by the strangely thick crowd around the electric piano – played by the truly talented Tom Knowles on press night – you might get your request in. It’s quite something when a pre-existing crowd all appear to know one another – as well as all the tunes, especially when the venue has only just opened!
It all came across as a little self-indulgent with pianist, hosts and crowd seemingly singing along to their own favourites… When one of the hosts did ask me if I had a request – to which I asked for anything from Les Mis, I was told ‘don’t worry, we’ll be getting to Les Mis.’ I left at gone 10pm (over an hour after my initial request), at which time Les Mis had not been played at all.
You’re obviously welcome to ignore Mister Grumpy; indeed, perhaps you need to be in a crowd to enjoy this kind of outing. But I think I might revisit Overtures’ nearest competitor next time.