Countrymusic.co.uk recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Helen and Rob, two of the founders of Lil Nashville—the newest honky tonk bar in the UK, nestled in the heart of West London. They shared their inspiring journey of setting up Lil Nashville in Chiswick, transforming it from a dream into a reality.
Helen and Rob initially considered opening in Oxford, but struggled to find a suitable venue. “We were thinking of opening in Oxford, but it’s incredibly hard to get a good venue there. So we thought where should we go?” Rob shared. When they stumbled upon the current location in Chiswick, West London, with its high ceilings and steel beams, they knew they had found the perfect spot. “Oh my gosh, with these high ceilings, steel beams, this is a honky tonk already. So we decided at that point this is going to be the start of our dreams,” he added.
Helen expressed her excitement about being in London, a city known for its vibrant concert scene and strong country music community. “It’s great being in London. There are a lot of concerts that happen here and there’s a big community of country music fans,” she said.
Both founders have a deep-rooted love for country music. Helen’s passion for the genre began during childhood trips to the United States, where country music dominated the radio. “I’ve loved country music since I was little because we went on a lot of road trips in the States and that’s all we’d hear on the radio. So I fell in love with it from a young age,” Helen reminisced. Rob, on the other hand, initially enjoyed folk music but found a shared love for country music with Helen, creating a happy place for both of them. “Country music became a thing that me and Helen did together. It’s a happy place—a place that we go to get away from things,” Rob explained.
Their journey from pop-up events to the opening of Lil Nashville was a learning experience. Helen emphasized the importance of live music, aiming to recreate the atmosphere of a Nashville Broadway bar with continuous performances. “Live music is key. Our concept is trying to emulate what you’d find in a Nashville Broadway bar where there is just one musician after another,” Helen said. Rob added that pop-up events, held last year in a nightclub in Camden, helped them learn the ropes. “My background is in construction and Helen’s is in marketing so we felt we needed to learn our trade before we launched the bar.” Rob added “We didn’t anticipate we’d be catering for 500 people a night from the very first event!”
Food also plays a significant role at Lil Nashville. “We’ve got to look after the Chiswick people. There’s locals here we want to come in. They may not be country fans but they like acoustic music and the food’s got to be good,” Rob explained. Helen shared that their head chef is from Kansas, offering classic Southern food including Nashville hot chicken, smash burgers, tacos, and authentic barbeque. Other tasty treats include panko crust mac & cheese, corn ribs, hotdogs, burgers and key lime pie.
The bar plans to showcase five artists a week, continuing to discover new talent and support them through a hall of fame for every artist who has played at Lil Nashville. Helen encouraged artists to reach out via email if they’re interested in performing.
Rob detailed the opening hours and live music schedule, with Lil Nashville open from Wednesday to Sunday with live music Friday and Saturday nights. Sunday will feature stripped-back acoustic sessions over a lazy Sunday lunch, creating a relaxing atmosphere to end the week on a high note.. Rob also highlighted their special “Nash Bash” events (the first is on February 15th, 2025), which feature seven hours of live country music, food, line dancing, and a country DJ. “It’s a party atmosphere—300 people and that’s going to be once a month,” Rob said.
Helen and Rob’s passion and dedication to creating a happy place for country music lovers are evident in every aspect of Lil Nashville. It’s a place where live music, good food, and a welcoming community come together, making it a must-visit destination for country music fans when in London.
Lil Nashville
Lil Nashville Honky Tonk Bar and Restaurant is a fresh new addition to London’s Chiswick area. It is set to capture the authentic spirit and atmosphere of Nashville’s iconic honky-tonk scene. Follow them on social media or visit the website to get the latest news.
Location: 11 Barley Mow Passage, Chiswick, London, W4 4PH
