TESTIMONIALS
Dear Salena and Tony,
I'm really sorry to hear this news. It's disappointing and sad that today's market appears unable to support a quality venue of the kind you were both endeavoring to establish.
Stay in touch.
Best,
Eddie and Marjorie W
Dear Salena,
We were very sorry to get the telephone message from Tony yesterday to inform us that the jazz room has closed. We had booked a table for this coming Sunday lunch time. We've been to the Jazz room three times since it opened,
have thoroughly enjoyed every occasion and would definitely have continued as regular (if not frequent) customers.
We've both lived in London for over 20 years and in all this time have never before found a venue with such a unique
combination of qualities. The general ambience, service, food and music have, in our experience, been outstanding. We both feel really sad and disappointed that you have had to close the venue so soon.
Thank you for the enjoyment we have gained and best wishes for the future. Please keep us updated of your
plans.
Marcia and Trevor R
Dear Tony
Thank you for your e-mail, below. I am very sorry to hear about the demise of the club. I only spent one night there, on Friday 21 June when I came with my girlfriend to see Nora Evans. However, we were both really impressed with the club. We liked everything about it: The food, the music, the decor, the friendliness of everybody there.
I wish you and Salena the very best of luck in everything you do from now on, including any more ventures like this nightclub. Was the location the problem? For myself I really liked the idea of finding such a gem in Shepherds Bush, but I wonder if the majority of punters are looking for a West End venue. Whatever the reason, I am very sorry to see you go.
In my book the Salena Jones Restaurant was a really wonderful venue, better even than Pizza on the Park, and I am rather fond of that place too.
Good luck and Best Wishes for the future
Richard Gillard
We are so sorry to hear this – the nights we have had there were superb. Maybe a re-think of strategy especially in terms of charging will be beneficial – it has to do with the licensing of the premises. But maybe in another venue it will work, for people who wish to have a night out for drinks and music.
All the very best
Simone Wu
Dear Salena and Tony
I feel really really choked about the closure of the Club.
What an awful shame. You really made it into the best club in town.
And you did it all with such good taste.....It was the way a really classy
jazz club should be.
You couldn't have created a nicer atmosphere.
Some of the most enjoyable musical moments I have had in the last year have
been in your place, in your club, in your company.
I shall really miss it. And I shall especially miss hearing Salena sing
Dindi.....(amongst other things)
I wish there were something I could do to help...I wish I could step in and
help financially (but I'm still battling hard to keep my own business
going)..
Are there no philanthropic millionaires out there who can help?
Can't Richard Branson do something??? (I'll call him if you want me to - not
that I know him personally, but I'm not frightened of trying...)
I'll call you sometime next week. (This week is probably the most hectic of
the year for me workwise)
Meanwhile - my feelings of sympathy and sadness are with you.
Best wishes,
Ralph
Dear Salena and Tony,
I am so sorry at the news. I know how hard you have worked and how high and
worthy your aspirations were, I am now distraught.
I do hope that something will turn up and please keep my name on the mailing list at the above address. Is it not worth holding a benefit night to at least raise some money and to go out with a bang. People only realise the importance of
things in their lives when they are threatened with losing them.
Very best wishes
Ivor
Dear Salena and Tony
This is sad news indeed.
But thank you both for giving us such wonderful music, even if only for a short time.
I count myself lucky that it's just a couple of weeks ago that I came to see a great show with Salena backed by wonderful musicians and sweetly accompanied by Chinara.
Life can be very surprising. Who knows what may arise out of the ashes of this? Good luck for the future and please do keep me on your mailing list.
Best wishes
Carole
Dear Salena and Tony
This is sad news as it was a wonderfully intimate venue and everyone was so welcoming.
I wish you both every success and will look forward to your next venture.
Best Regards
Anita
My dearest both,
Just to say that Martin and I are very sorry and saddened to hear your news....it is such a great shame. I know that I have said this to you on previous occasions but would like to tell you again...we thought the club a truly wonderful place and always had such a fun time, as did our friends.
Do you have any plans for the near future? Please do keep us posted as to your ventures and should you ever re-open, wherever it is, I shall expect to be one of the first to know....so do keep in touch. In the meantime, my thoughts are with you.
Love and best wishes,
Sunny (& Martin). xxx
We are very sorry to hear of your closure. We had a very nice evening there
on Saturday.
Your miracle may be the food menu which is OK for a special occasion for
those who can afford it but it is expensive and prohibitive in my view for
this area for people who enjoy jazz and would like to make it a regular
thing. This area needs your club but it has to be affordable and more
relaxed really where you can buy a drink at the bar and generally move around
or perhaps hang around! This may not be your vision but jazz is cool and
relaxed and just does not go down with the high priced menu and set tables.
You need to be able to 'drop in', and buy a drink. Or, some may want to make
an occasion of it and go with the menu, but there should be alternatives.
Do not be afraid of attracting unattractives! Jazz is special and whether
its followers are rich or poor, they will go to your club for the sheer joy
of jazz and everyone will be of like minds. But to make it work you have to
cater for both. There I believe will be your miracle.
I hope you will try again. We had a lovely evening on Saturday but would not
be able to afford to go again yet a while. The show was great, the musicians
were great, Salena was great. The whole heart of the club was great.
These are my observations anyway. I do wish you all well.
With love
Jacqui
Dear Tony & Salena
We were so sorry to receive the dreadful news.
I suppose it is kind of inevitable that London proves once again that it isn't a great city when it comes to jazz. We do most things very well - from bad (and occasionally good) pop music to the ubiquitous dreary pageantry. Wimbledon, with all its phoney patriotism rakes in the dough. But when it comes to supporting one of the finest jazz singers in the world, and certainly the best to reside here, we are complete flops.
You laid it all on - great venue, very good food and of course the best jazz. But it still isn't enough for this strange place. I do think the address was wrong I'm afraid. People would have hiked there once the word got around but an awful lot of people think that your end of The Bush is off the map. With your investment you didn't have time to wait for the word to spread. You are the latest in a very long line of honourable jazz failures in London and very much more worthwhile than most of the others.
Please keep me on the mailing list and I hope that things are not too tough. Thank you for bringing some joy into my life as you will again in the future.
Much love and fond regards
Brian T
Tony,
I was saddened and shocked to hear that the club was closing - because, as you know, I felt it had such potential.
I had seen the listings in the Guardian and heard it mentioned on Jazz FM, so I had hoped that things had picked up.
I only wish I'd been involved earlier because I know I could have made a positive contribution to help you get sustained growth. And it would have given me great pleasure to help you make a success of such a great club.
But, looking to the future, I hope that both you and Salena will continue to find success in other areas - I'm sure you will, you're both formidable survivors!!
Doubtless we'll bump into each other and some venue along the way, but in the meantime, please accept my commiserations and my best wishes for the future.
Kindest regards
Ian
Tony,
What can I say! I am so sorry to hear about the closure of the club. My heart goes out to you both. I was really getting use to Ken and myself having Sunday Brunch with you guys on a regular basis - there is a huge gap for me which is going to be hard to replace. I am in the process of developing my own business and am finding it extremely difficult, but I am plodding on - keep the faith I am sure you and Salena will find a way to start again.
Positive vibes for always
Lorlett
Thanks for letting me know, really sorry to hear this sad news. Thought it
was a great venue. Very best wishes for any future ventures you undertake.
John A.
Hi Tony.
I understand from Trevor that Salena's club has closed down.
You may have written to me (I've been so busy at work I'm not up to date
with my post) - I can't seem to find an e-mail, but I was away recently and
it could be hidden somewhere in my Inbox.
I am obviously very sad to see the demise of such a lovely venue right on my
doorstep! Please pass on my feelings of sadness to Salena that the club is
no longer a great part of the Shepherds Bush scene. I shall certainly miss
it!
Could you just e-mail me back quickly and let me know what arrangements are
being made to refund members? If you have already sent something out,
please forgive me (but send me an e-mail anyway!)
Once again I must say how very sad I am at this news.
Carole
Dear Salena and Tony
What devastating news to hear that the club has closed. I had no idea that the business was in jeopardy.
You must both be terribly upset after the incredible amount of effort you put into it.
I hope you can at least take some comfort from the fact that it gained a reputation almost from the outset as being a truly classy venue and that was to the credit of both of you.
Stay well and please let's get together soon
Love and friendship as always
Gail and Cass
We are sorry to hear the sad news. We would like to wish you all the best for
the future.
Charles & Cindy King
I am very sorry to hear the news.
It's a very tough business I'm afraid as Ronnie Scott
discovered.
Maybe we'll see you round here. You're always welcome.
Love to Salena
Regards
David
Dear Tony and Salena
I'm so sorry to hear that you have closed the club. I'm sure there is a market for such good music in such a good setting. Unfortunately my husband and I have been unable to support you as much as we would have liked, as we haven't had a weekend in London since Easter (and work precludes mid-week socialising). We were very much looking forward to coming back once our time became our own again.
Do please let me know of future plans, and we wish you all the very best for the future.
christine
Tony / Salena , so sad to read your mail, I really thought you were onto a winner....hope whatever you decide to do works out for you both, and please keep in contact. I really enjoyed the few visits we could make, and hope that "the voice" continues...........
All the best, Paul and Viviane M
Very sorry to hear your news. I think the concept is great and I hope your
next venture is a success. Keep me posted!
Michael L
Dear Salena and Tony,
We are in a state of shock and so very sorry for you, for if anyone should have succeeded with all your talent and energy it's you two, sadly we guess that Sept 11th must have effected your tourist trade, and whilst the government say otherwise, people are apprehensive regarding the future, and that must contribute.
Sadly the distance, prevented our visiting you as often as we would have wished, but we did so enjoy our evening with you both, and would have been up again soon. We know it's little comfort, but whatever happened it can't distract from the fact, that too briefly you both created something very special, it was brilliant, and certainly deserved to succeed, but nevertheless gave pleasure to so many people, ourselves included.
Please do keep us on your Email list, we wish to hear of the next adventure.
Sincelley
Yours Roger and Wrennie
So sorry to hear this - we only came once, but we had a fantastic time - great music and superp food.
Wishing you all the best for the future.
Natasha T
OH NO!!!!! this is awful. My boyfriend and I came to your club recently and had
the most fantastic evening. It was such a rich relaxed romantic setting, and the
staff were wonderful. We had been meaning to come along for a long while ever
since seeing your club in the events listings of the Jazz FM website. And were
definitely going to come back again!
kind regards and all the best for the future
Anita
To Salena and Tony,
I am deeply sorry to hear of the closure of the club - I thought it was,in my opinion, the only club with class around and rivalled the best of New York.
As a businessman I can understand your problem and have always felt that unfortunately the unseen 9/11 terrorist cooldown and the downturn in certain parts of the UK economy was bound to inhibit new entertainment ventures.
Anyway, thanks to both of you for giving me hours of musical and culinary pleasure at the Club.
See you soon
Brian M
Dear Salena and Tony,
I am so sad that you have had to close. We were hoping to come for a Birthday
Party in two weeks time, and just getting numbers etc. Oh dear, oh dear.
Please let me know when you are singing elsewhere..
Love to you both
Rosamond
Salena & Tony
Really sorry to hear your news. It must be terribly frustrating when you know there is a market out there.
Wishing you all the best
Declan
Dear Salena and Tony
I am so sorry to hear the news. I know how much you have both put into this venture. I do know, however, that you are not going to be standing still for long ... miracles do happen. I am also sure that you will both focus on all the positive things that have come out of it.
Lots of love and hope to see you
Karen (and Joe)
Dear Salena;
We have not met, but I am a jazz lover and have been to the club, although never had the pleasure of seeing your good self. I brought an uncle from The Gambia and he and I enjoyed it tremendously. He is a fiercely indulged jazz man. I am so sad you are closing. I hope something works out so you can reopen.
My best wishes to a better future.
Pa Tamba
Tony & Salena
I am so sorry to receive your news. In my short time as a member I valued the atmosphere, music and especially the friendship that you both have given me.
The club has been an oasis of style & tranquility.
I was hoping celebrate my African girl friends’ first visit outside Africa with you next week, and would be pleased to buy you both a drink in London somewhere if you are still around.
Please let me know if you are free for that drink & keep in touch. Looking forward to version 2 of Salena Jones!
With my very best regards
Steve C
Selena, Tony
Really, really sorry to hear that the club is closing, and things haven't
worked out as hoped.
You both worked so hard, it is such a shame.
Melissa/x
Dear Salena & Tony,
I am so sorry to hear the bad news !! ;-(((((( It is such a shame and you have tried so hard and done all the right things to make it into a great club.
Keep in touch and good luck for the future !!
Love
Peter & Linda King XX
Very, very sorry to hear this bad news.
Please keep my name on your mailing list.
I really do hope that you will be able to re-open sometime in the future. Miracles do happen!
Norman B
Tony and Salena
This is truly a sad day for jazz in London.I am very sorry to hear the news
and thank you again for giving me the opportunity to perform at your fine
establishment.
All the best for the future.
Frank
Dear Tony
What sad news. I know you must both be
very disappointed at having to close, but
as you say, financial realities are a horror for
all of us. I do wish you luck with whatever
happens next and if I can be of any help in the
future you know where to find me.
Love & best wishes, and I do hope our
paths cross again some time in the future.
Stella
Dear Tony and Salena
Very sad news that you sent out. Though we only managed to get to you on the one occasion for my 60th Birthday (you recall that Salena and I share the same Birthday but not the same birth date!) it was a night that we and our friends will always remember - in fact one of our friends who came just said he'd like to have his upcoming 60th there!
We have now moved from Beaconsfield to North Cornwall to a village called Stratton 2 miles from Bude so we are handily placed for the famous Bude Jazz Festival in August/September! We would have found it difficult to get up for a meal unless we had a planned week-end visit but we would have loved to come again.
As it is we will have wonderful memories of the night of 2 February and I'll never forget Salena's opening remark to us that we'd come too early and seen her without her face!
You are right about the demand but the costs and overheads of a restaurant your size must mitigate against it - it takes time to get to the critical mass required to sustain such a venture - a fact that bankers and accountants overlook.
Joy and I wish you well in the future and hope we may see Salena perform at some stage or other in the future.
Finally I will be leaving my current business e-mail address at the end of the month and would be pleased if you could retain my home address for the future which is as below
Kind regards and Good Luck for the future
Michael
Many thanks for this Tony. Very sorry to hear your venture didn't work out.
I'm a big fan of jazz and I'm sure there is a place for Salena in London,
but maybe not Shepherd's Bush. My other comment as a punter is that your
prices are a little bit dearer than other jazz venues I know in Town, and
although I'm sure Salena is worth the price, I'm not sure she's well known
enough. so people are coming for the jazz rather than her. My suggestion is
move to somewhere more prestigious where you can get away with the prices
and probably attract a more affluent clientele too. Maybe a business venue,
such as the city, or London Bridge?
Anyway, thanks again. Good luck with the next stage of Salena's conquest of
Britain and I hope to be a part of it. Please keep in touch.
Marcus P
Dear Tony and Salena,
We are SO sad to hear this news. You must both feel very down and
dispirited and we want you to know we sympathise.
I know that September 11 and the general malaise all over will not have
helped and battling against the World Cup and Wimbledon will also have been
against you.
We will speak on the phone as we are just off to work and end of term
functions but we wanted you to know how sad we are for you and to let you
know we love you and are thinking of you.
Ann and Iain
Hey I am really disappointed as I never made it in time. As I guess with a lot of folk it was on the 'must do' list. I have only just rented a flat in Shepherds' Bush from August and thought it might be my 'local'. Keep me posted - and I am sorry it has not worked out to date. Success and failure are closely linked - am I am sure the next venture will succeed. Keep trying and don't lose heart. God bless.
Charles van Oppen
Dear Tony & Salena,
Well done for 'having a go'.
So sorry that it is has come to this; but, as you say, there are some terrific memories and a wealth of goodwill has been created.
John
Dear Tony,
Sorry to hear the sad news about the club - my girlfriend and I had a wonderful evening and enjoyed the music and ambience enormously.
Please pass on my best wishes to Salena and all the others involved with the club.
Hopefully it won't be too long before other events are arranged.
Best of luck
Mark
I am deeply sorry to hear this, I hope to hear from you guys in the near
future,
good luck
joseph
Dear Tony and Salena,
I was very sorry to hear the news from Dave Richmond that the club is closing. I know how hard you worked to provide a high standard of music and dining; it was just a shame that the audience did not come in greater numbers.
I know we'll be in contact very soon - in the meantime have a great trip to Bangkok, and a good summer.
Best wishes
Sandy
Very sorry to hear that your having to close - please do keep me on your
contact list. I hope to hear of a new venture soon.
Kindest regards
Ruby
