Operating as a bottle club to avoid licensing restrictions on drinking and dancing,[4] the Shim Sham was described as "London's miniature Harlem", highlighting its influence and the lively, speakeasy-style atmosphere it provided.
[5] Jazz musicians who appeared at the club included George 'Happy' Blake, Benny Carter, Nat Gonella, Ivor Mairants, Fats Waller and Garland Wilson, who was leader of the resident band by late 1936.
[6][7] Among those who frequented the club were Edwina Mountbatten, Italian boxer Primo Carnera, journalist and politician Tom Driberg and composer Constant Lambert.
[9] By attracting a mixed-race audience and allowing for an open and relaxed atmosphere where Black, Jewish and LGBTQ+ patrons could socialise freely, these clubs stood out in an era of racial and social segregation.
[12] Although the exact date of the Shim Sham Club's closure is unknown, its legacy in London's cultural history was considerable.