Café de Paris

The Café de Paris was a nightclub in the West End of London, active from 1924–41 and 1948–2020. It was located on Coventry Street, which runs between Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus. In the 1930s it became one of the leading theatre clubs in London. On 8 March 1941, during The Blitz bombing campaign of the Second World War, the club was hit by a German bomb. The explosion killed at least 34 people, injured at least 80, and caused extensive damage to the building. The deceased included Kathleen Dunsmuir, daughter of James Dunsmuir, Governor of British Columbia. The club remained closed until 1948, when it reopened. The club regained its popularity in the 1950s and operated successfully for decades. It closed permanently in December 2020, due to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. The venue was re-opened in February 2023 under a new name, Lío London.