Jaques Samuel Pianos

I use the Jaques Samuel studios rather than the shop, but they’re by far and away the cheapest in London. Unfortunately for a reason. The studios are largely tiny (1 and 2 are okay, but I think it’s 3 that just about has room for an upright piano — not good for booking if you need to rehearse with someone else). However, since the Academy, RCM and Guildhall are all short on practice space, cheap rehearsal studios are a godsend, so it’s churlish to moan too much. Average prices are around £8 for an hour, but I get teacher’s rates, so don’t quote me on that. Booking by phone will be faintly disturbing as the staff always seem rather distracted, but on arrival, they have a rather hi-​tech electronic system, proving that their disorganisation is all on the surface.
I refer to the downstairs area as the piano nursery. I’ve never seen so many pianos off all possible permutations of keyboard extension and pedal quantity in one place. The pianos are pricey, but then again, they have a good reputation for quality. The range goes from standard, not terribly fancy home and school uprights, to professional concert grands.