Tuesday 1 May 2018

Soho

I'm not at liberty to divulge where I took this photograph*
With recent talks regarding a possible Anglo-Scottish Blogger Summit currently residing in the long grass, it was good to get together with the original Blogfather for a few scoops.

Picking up where we left off last October, Mondo and I decided that Soho would be the next leg on our A-Z tour of the capital. And so it was that we began our jaunt around the West End in The Ship on Wardour Street. The Ship was always the meeting point, many moons ago, before the hop, skip and a jump to the Marquee Club two doors down. The only physical surviving memory of London's finest rock venue these days being a ridiculously high blue plaque on the side of No. 90.

The White Album was recorded here
Still open nightly
After blowing the froth off a couple, we then embarked upon the well trodden path around Dean Street, Greek Street, Berwick Street, Soho Square & the myriad of side streets that link them up (rabbit holes all). The area bordering W1 & WC2 is of course still mesmeric and manages to retain a charm that won't go away, despite creeping gentrification and sanitisation -  the Italian coffee shops and clip joints may well have faded  away but I can report the traditional London boozer is still thriving!

Marquee RIP
Highlights included meeting Suggs in the French House and a cracking late afternoon drink in Trisha's, a modern day Winchester Club tucked away where only those in the know can find it. A spot of banter with Tom Parker Bowles ("Oi! Parker Bowles! No!") in the Groucho Club* while we were still kinda sober, before bookending the day back at The Ship; anchored, you could say.

I set the coordinates for home via the new all singing, all dancing Tottenham Court Road Hub and despite falling asleep on the tube, the train and in the taxi, still made it back unscathed. All in a day's work.

Thanks for another great day Mondo. Where are we going next?


11 comments:

  1. Looks like a day well spent.

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    1. TS - Shall I book you in for our next jolly up?

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  2. How about the Kingdom of Fitzrovia next (Jah Wobble's album of the same name is worth a blast)..

    BTW did you remember to keep the singles close by, or are they in the Left Luggage office along with false limbs, brollies and suchlike?

    And apart from the White Album, these lot also tracked at Trident...

    Marc Bolan / Tyrannosaurus Rex / T-RexUnicorn (1969), T. Rex(1970), Electric Warrior(1971)

    David Bowie Space Oddity (1969), The Man Who Sold the World(1970), Hunky Dory (1971), The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972), Aladdin Sane (1973), Pin Ups(1973)
    Free Fire and Water (1970)

    Elton JohnElton John (1970), Tumbleweed Connection (1970), 17-11-70, Honky Château(1972), Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player(1973), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973), Rock of the Westies (1975)

    Mott the HoopleAll the Young Dudes (1973)

    QueenQueen (1973), Queen II(1974), Sheer Heart Attack(1974)

    Lou Reed Transformer (1972)

    The Rolling Stones"Midnight Rambler" (1969), Let It Bleed
    (1969)

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    Replies
    1. M - Oh yes, like me they survived the journey - thank you again. Yep, Fitzrovia sounds good: July/August? Looking fwd to it already.

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  3. Tat looks like a lot of fun.

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  4. Certainly does look like a lot of fun - I love visiting such places but would probably fall asleep with all the daytime drinking! Out of practice.

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  5. That's my worry too Alyson, but I'd match them coffee for coffee!

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