Signed by the Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas (PSD), who oversees Cultural Affairs, a collaboration protocol between the municipality and Hot Clube de Portugal (HCP) has been unanimously approved during a private meeting of the municipal executive.
The issue at hand is the closure of HCP to the public since January 2023, following a decision by the Lisbon City Council after an inspection revealed structural weaknesses in the building at No. 48 Praça da Alegria, putting the safety of users at risk.
According to the mayor, the closure of HCP, founded in 1948, signifies “a significant loss” for the city’s cultural dynamism because “its programming is unique, unmatched by any other cultural venue in Lisbon, serving as a reference point for jazz music enthusiasts and similar genres, both nationally and internationally.”
To provide this jazz club with a new space to continue its activities, the city council approved in February 2024 the granting of a surface right over municipal building No. 47 to 49 at Praça da Alegria. The beneficiary is tasked with carrying out all necessary refurbishments and adaptations to the allocated property.
This surface right was established for “a term of 50 years, with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 90 years,” valued at 545,000 euros, to be paid by HCP in annual installments, the first being around 7,000 euros, with subsequent payments “updated annually according to the annual non-residential rent update coefficient,” as stated by the city council.
Within this framework, HCP is responsible for rehabilitating the property in two phases: initially reinforcing the structure to make the ground floor usable, allowing it to open and generate revenue for funding the second phase, which involves restoring and rehabilitating the rest of the building.
The newly approved protocol outlines the terms and conditions of collaboration between the municipality and the jazz club, “aimed at the rehabilitation works (1st phase) of the building located at No. 47 to 49 Praça da Alegria,” designated for HCP’s premises and the pursuit of its statutory objectives.
Considering the “utmost importance” of contributing to the building’s rehabilitation process, the city council will support HCP with a transfer of 239,500 euros, with 191,600 euros disbursed this year and 47,900 euros in 2026.
Furthermore, the mayor mentioned that the municipality is prepared to assist with future interventions needed for the building’s comprehensive rehabilitation, ensuring full functionality for all its purposes, “for the continuation of the club’s activities and the establishment of a museum center,” aimed at showcasing its collection and revealing the history of this jazz club.
With over 75 years of history, HCP is the oldest active European jazz club, having been located at Praça da Alegria since its inception, initially at No. 39, which burned down in 2009, and subsequently relocating to No. 48.
Currently, the Lisbon City Council executive consists of 17 members, including seven elected from the “Novos Tempos” coalition (PSD/CDS-PP/MPT/PPM/Aliança), who are the only ones with assigned portfolios and govern without an absolute majority, three from PS, two from PCP, three from Cidadãos Por Lisboa (elected by the PS/Livre coalition), one from Livre, and one from BE.
