[1] It has played host to Norah Jones, Amy Winehouse, Jamie Cullum[2] and Walter Smith III[3] Although the current building was built in 1878, the site was previously occupied by the Dispensary for Diseases of the Ear.

Mr Curtis divided opinion at the time, being known as a "great aurist" and a "quack" in equal measure, as illustrated by the story of his "treatment" of Robert Peel.

In May 1975, the venue presented their first American jazz star, the saxophonist Bud Freeman, and other early visitors included Buddy Tate, Bob Wilber, Al Grey, Benny Carter, Ruby Braff, and Snub Mosley, who recorded an album Live At Pizza Express at the club in 1978.

[4] From 1980, the club had its own house band made up of top UK mainstream players including Digby Fairweather, Danny Moss and Tommy Whittle, known as the PizzaExpress All Stars.

When Peter Boizot sold the PizzaExpress company in 1993,[6] the jazz club survived the transition, and over the next two decades presented the first UK performances of Diana Krall, Norah Jones, Kurt Elling, Brad Mehldau and e.s.t.