Goodnight, London

The Corner of Greek and Romilly Streets

2008-09-21T20:38:00.000-07:00

Occupying the turquoise building above is Y Ming, a restaurant serving traditional Northern Chinese cuisine.

The Spice of Life

2008-09-20T11:58:00.000-07:00

It is thought that there has been a tavern on the site of The Spice of Life since around 1750, although its present incarnation was built in 1898.

It was known then as The Cantons, and this name can still be seen in the building's stonework as well as on the flags held by the rooftop gargoyles overlooking Cambridge Circus.

The tavern underwent a few name changes over the next 80 years, becoming The George and 13 Cantons, The Scots Hoose, and then finally The Spice of Life, apparently a reference to a line in the Willam Cowper poem ‘Task'; “…variety's the very spice of life / that gave it all it's flavour…”.

As well as being a listed building, The Spice of Life also has an esteemed musical heritage.

In the 1960's and 1970's The Scots Hoose (as it was called then) was a popular venue for folk musicians, and saw many great acts of the time, such as Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Cat Stevens, Bert Jansch, The Strawbs and Sandy Denny performing here.

Then in the heyday of punk in the late 70's The Spice of Life became a regular haunt for many punk musicians and followers, including The Sex Pistols.

In the late 90's a thriving Jazz Club started up at The Spice, and has attracted many top acts, such as Jamie Cullum, Soweto Kinch and Jim Mullen.

-- The Spice of Life

Pizza and Beer

2008-09-16T20:47:00.000-07:00

The two healthiest and tastiest items known to man. As found on Old Compton Street. A Melanie Italian Restaurant and Molly Mogg's Pub.

The Three Greyhounds

2008-09-14T19:43:00.000-07:00

The Three Greyhounds is a small pub on Old Compton Street near the entrance to soho.

Greek Street

2008-08-17T15:32:00.000-07:00

Originally called Hogs Lane, it became known as Greek Street some time in the late 1600s. It was more than like named Greek Street for the Greek Church built around the same time as the name change.

Soho Books - Licensed Sex Shop

2008-08-15T15:42:00.000-07:00

The first Soho Books was established on Brewer Street in 1993 and since then the group has grown from a single store to an independent chain with cult status in London.

The unique stores combine outstanding bookshops with licensed sex shops in a friendly, bright and welcoming environment.

On the ground floor of each store can be found an extensive range of book titles with a list of fields to match any store in the capital: advertising, art, architecture, children's storeies, cooking, design, erotica, health, history, photography and travel, to name just a few.

Whether it is fiction or fashion you are looking for, there are exclusive imports and one-off titles which would grace even the most particular of coffee tables. The stores also stock rare fashion and design magazines, as well as a great selection of art and gift cards.

--Soho Books

LVPO and the Golven Lion

2008-08-10T15:34:00.000-07:00

Visible are the LVPO and the Golden Lion, on the corner of Dean and Somilly Streets. Notice the Budweiser on the awning of LVPO. I didn't get a chance to step inside of this particular pub, but I'm guessing it's the Budweiser of the Austrian variety and not the American one.

The World's Longest Running Musical

2008-06-22T17:21:00.001-07:00

In 2006 when Cats was dethroned, the CBC said that

Les Misérables has surpassed Cats as the longest running musical in the world this weekend, as it marks the 21st anniversary of its debut in London's West End.
The musical, which is based on an 1862 novel by Victor Hugo and set in post-Napoleonic France, has played in 38 countries, been seen by 54 million people worldwide and has been translated into 21 languages.

Les Misérables opened on Oct. 8, 1985, at the Barbican theatre in London and continues to draw crowds at its current locale, the Queen's in the city's West End.

Cats star Elaine Paige was appearing on stage Saturday night to hand over the title to the rival show. Until then, Cats held the record for running continuously for 21 years until May 11, 2002.

Original cast members of Les Misérables were also on hand.

The O Bar

2008-06-08T20:17:00.001-07:00

The O Bar has been a Soho landmark for over 10 years and due to it's central location has become one of the most popular meeting places for friends, colleagues and romantic dates in Soho. Situated on the corner of Brewer and Wardour Street, The O Bar is bang in the heart of London's vibrant Soho.

The O Bar
83-85 Wardour St
London, W1D 6QE, United Kingdom
+44 20 74373490
Get directions

Compton's Of Soho

2008-05-21T19:20:00.000-07:00

A reviewer on Fluid Foundation states that Compton's (pictured towards the right) is...

A traditional pub with 20 years history as a gay venue. Set in the heart of Soho slap bang in the centre of Old Compton street. Comptons is popular throughout the year, particulary in the summer when people stand out on the street with a pint in their hand or watch the view out of the large open upstairs windows. Downstairs can be quite cruisey whereas upstairs provides a light, pretty much music free environment with pleanty of seating.

More Of Shaftesbury Avenue

2008-05-14T20:02:00.001-07:00

This images was taken near the intersection of Wardour Street and Shaftesbury Avenue

Shaftesbury Avenue

2008-05-01T19:43:00.000-07:00

The End (Or Beginning) Of Old Compton Street

2008-04-24T20:04:00.001-07:00

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Dean Street

2008-04-21T18:32:00.000-07:00

Glancing down Dean Street in Soho.

Looking Down Frith Street

2008-04-13T14:39:00.000-07:00

This is next to the spot at which I captured the corner of Frith and Old Compton Streets in the last post.

The Corner of Frith And Old Compton Streets

2008-04-09T16:19:00.000-07:00

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Euston Road And the Jam Cam

2008-04-03T20:41:00.001-07:00

This is on Euston Road, not far from Great Portland Street. If you would like to see real time traffic updates, check out the BBC's Jam Cam.

The Wellcome Library

2008-04-02T20:36:00.001-07:00

The library is the building in the left of the photo. Their web site let us know that

Part of Wellcome Collection, a major new £30 million public venue developed by the Wellcome Trust, the Library has over 750 000 books and journals, an extensive range of manuscripts, archives and films, and more than 250 000 pictures. We are one of the world's major resources for the study of medical history and we also provide access to a growing collection of contemporary biomedical information resources relating to consumer health, popular science, biomedical ethics and the public understanding of science. ... In 2005 the Wellcome Library was awarded 'Designated' status by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. This means that its collections have been recognised as being outstanding as an historical, evidential and cultural resource of national and international importance in the field of the history of medicine.

The Wellcome Library is located on Euston Road.

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The Wellington Arch

2008-04-01T17:23:00.000-07:00

This particular arch (one of many in London it seems) is located in Hyde Park. Wikipedia tells us that

The arch, and Marble Arch close by, were both planned in 1825 by George IV to commemorate Britain's victories in the Napoleonic Wars. The Wellington Arch was also conceived as an outer gateway to Constitution Hill and therefore a grand entrance into central London from the west.

The Wellington Arch was built between 1826-1830 to a design by Decimus Burton. Much of the intended exterior ornamentation was omitted as a cost-saving exercise after the King's overspending on the refurbishment of Buckingham Palace, which was underway at the same time. The arch originally stood almost directly opposite Apsley House, a short distance from, and at a right-angles to, its present location.

In 1846 the Arch was selected as a suitable location for a statue of Sir Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, soldier and Prime Minister. The statue by Matthew Cotes Wyatt which eventually crowned the arch was 8.5m high, the largest equestrian figure ever made. It was so enormous that it generated considerable controversy at the time.

In 1882-3, the arch was moved a short distance to its present location on Hyde Park Corner to facilitate a road widening scheme. It is today in the centre of a large traffic island.

The Cheers Bar In Piccadilly Circus

2008-03-26T16:31:00.000-07:00

Before I had stumbled past this place, I had no idea that the tv show (or license holders) sold rights in the name. According to wikipedia

Cheers was perhaps the first major non-science fiction TV series to have an important licensing campaign since I Love Lucy. The show lent itself naturally to the development of "Cheers" bar-related merchandise, culminating in the development of a chain of "Cheers" themed pubs. Paramount's licensing group, led by Tom McGrath, developed the "Cheers" pub concept initially in partnership with Host Marriott which placed "Cheers" themed pubs in 24+ airports around the world. A full-scale Cheers reproduction was built in Piccadilly Circus in London and Boston boasts of the original Cheers bar

The official web site says that

Cheers, London was inspired by the popular U.S. comedy series, and incorporates bar, restaurant and merchandise store. It is the only officially licensed Cheers bar and restaurant in Europe.

The End of Regent Street

2008-03-22T13:37:00.000-07:00

Although it's not technically the end of the street, it's pretty close. This is near where Regent Street intersects Picadilly Circus.

One More Of Regent Street

2008-03-20T10:23:00.000-07:00

From the Regent Street web site:

In 1811 Regent Street was designed by the architect John Nash as a compliment to the Prince Regent. He sought to link Carlton House, the home of the Prince Regent, with Regent's Park where the future king was planning to build a new palace.

and..

Few structural or physical changes have been made since the 1920s. Yet there are now many famous fashion and department stores and exciting new international arrivals such as Apple Store, Aquascutum and Lacoste. The street is now home to three large hotels and the food quarter in Heddon Street. Many businesses are located in the offices above and behind the shops.

The Brooks Brothers Building

2008-03-17T21:04:00.001-07:00

The Regent Street web site tells us that

Established in 1818, Brooks Brothers has an unrivaled history. The first ready-to-wear fashion emporium in America, the company prides itself on having shaped the American style of dress through 'fashion innovation, fine quality,personal service and exceptional value in our products'.

The company has dressed every U.S. President since Abraham Lincoln, plus a wealth of style icons from Clarke Gable, Fred Astaire and Gianni Agnelli to Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich. Not one to shy away from the limelight of Hollywood, Brooks Brothers even dressed the likes of Ben Affleck in Pearl Harbour, Will Smith in Ali, and none of other than the fabulolusly stylish Katherine Hepburn.

The Corner of Beak St. and Regent St.

2008-03-16T14:53:00.000-07:00

This beautiful building is home to Massimo Dutti. Their (exceedingly confusing) web site tells us that

Massimo Dutti was founded in 1985 as a company whose main activity was the sale of fashionable men's clothing. ... 10 years later it extended into other areas such as women's fashion.

It has 390 stores in 29 countries.

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Great Marlborough Street and Regent Street

2008-03-13T21:48:00.000-07:00

The street that Marlboro cigarettes were named after. They were named so because the site of the original factory used to be on this street.

Wikipedia says that

The construction of Great Marlborough Street began in the early 18th century. A tablet formerly attached to a house at the corner of Great Marlborough Street and Foubert's Passage (now Place) was inscribed "Marlborough Street 1704", the name being in honour of the commander of the English Army, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. Initially the street was a fashionable address. Out of a hundred peers summoned before the King in 1716, five lived in Great Marlborough Street. In the 19th century the street became mainly commercial and remains so today. Most of the present buildings are replacements dating from the Victorian Era or later.

Great Marlborough Street is the location of the Tudor wing of Liberty's department store, a few foreign language bookshops, offices and the back entrance to Marks and Spencer's Oxford Street branch. The European Headquarters of Sony Playstation and London Studios are also located on the street as was the London College of Music until that institution removed to Ealing in west London in 1991.

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