Stylemum / 08 May 2025 / Categories: City, Services, People, Musicians

RAK Studios St John’s Wood Celebrity Spotting

Do you know who is in your neighbourhood?

The likelihood of the PS community needing a professional recording studio is probably slim however I am sharing this business in my neighbourhood for another reason because it’s an unexpected unassuming celebrity hotspot London. RAK studio attracts all kinds of famous faces from around the globe in the world of music. And not just popular music, this famous historic studio has seen Paul McCartney to Michael Jackson to Andrew Lloyd Webber to The London Symphony orchestra record here.

Notable favourites, British pop classics like Vienna by Ultravox and Down in the Tube station at midnight by the Jam were recorded here and when ever I walk past the big blue door; with no big “here we are” signage, the only distinguishing mark a blue Musical Heritage plague for Mickey Most the music producer from the 1970s famous for his role as a Simon Cowell like “Mr. Nasty” talent judge on the TV show New Faces.

I always wonder who might be inside whenever I walk by, which is whenever I walk to St John’s Wood High St which is two or three times a week.

I saw someone post a photo of a chance meeting with a celebrity on a flight to the USA and the joy and surprise the very unexpected encounter brought. Life is like that sometimes, you never know who might be coming around the corner, especially outside RAK studios.

I’ve seen, (not met) both Taylor Swift and Harry Styles out and about outside, probably going to or heading from the RAK townhouse, private accommodation for talent situated right next door and we are always bumping into musicians famous and not in the charity shops on the High St.

If you are on or around Charlbert St, in St John’s Wood where incidently there are a few unknown 4 hour parking spaces 2-3 minutes walk from the main shopping area, make sure you keep your eyes open.

This studio houses the vintage deck The Neve Console from the famed Abbey Road studios which attracts so much talent to this iconic recording studio we are so fortunate to have right in our doorstep.

Proving sometimes when you are talking global business appeal with the best talent in the world old, quiet and understated is better, irreplaceable and more priceless than shiny, flashy and new.

I haven’t been inside. I’ve never seen the blue door open, but if it happens to when I am passing I’ll definitely seize the opportunity to have a peak inside.

RAK a word not an acronym came from the practice of rackjobbing, effectively selling records in unusual places like supermarkets or petrol stations. Mickie Most British record producer and the founder of RAK Studios, named his record label and later the studio after this practice observed in America in the 1960.