*”Rupert Court”-Soho W1 – London’s “Historic & Notorious Alleys & Passages”–Pt 2 –

This is the first ‘Shoes’ blog for 2022 – I would have liked to have got out and about much earlier, but because of health issues, and also coming down with bloody Covid, that had me out-of-the-game for 2 weeks – this week was the first time I was able to get out on-the-road.

This blog is Part 2 of the Shoes theme “London’s Historic & Notorious Alleys & Passages” – and it is all about a small alleyway tucked away in deepest Soho – “Rupert Court”

“Rupert Court” is just a short narrow alleyway/passage that connects Rupert Street with Wardour Street in London’s Soho district.

Although only ‘short’ – Rupert Court is perfectly formed, in terms of its history, as its fair to say that this alley has definitely seen a bit of life throughout its history.

Rupert Court was originally laid out in the late 17th Century – and it was named after Prince Rupert, a cousin of King Charles I.

Records from 1720 see Rupert Street and its Rupert Court were described as being well built desirable streets.

On the corner of the Rupert Street end of Rupert Court there stands “The Blue Posts” –  a very famous historic London pub.

The Blue Posts pub  opened in 1729, so has been standing there for over 300 years.

It is believed that its got its name from  the ‘blue posts’ that were erected outside the pub, that were used to hold and park up ‘sedan chairs’  – the main form of transport throughout London’s streets at that period in time, for the wealthy and well to do.

Although the pub building has been extensively altered and redeveloped throughout the past century – the pub’s location and design, still captures its place in history.

The Rupert Court alley sits right alongside The Blue Posts pub – and comes out the other end into Wardour Street – the location being right bang in the middle of Soho’s China Town district.

During the 1960’s sex-trade establishments were prolific throughout Soho’s main streets and backstreet alleys and passages – that’s what the area was famous for – that’s what the majority of ‘visitors’ went there for – that and the illegal gambling dens and seedy drinking clubs etc.

Rupert Court was no exception to this backdrop and had its strip clubs / adult magazines / massage parlous and drinking & gambling dens.

There is a (now) famous photo from the early 1960’s, of the Beatles posing in Rupert Court. Interestingly, they weren’t there for the strip club or to visit an illegal gambling/drinking den – they were there because, on the corner of the Wardour Street end of the Rupert Court, there once stood ‘Garners Steakhouse’, an eatery often frequented by their manager Brian Epstein, who used to treat his ‘boys’ to a nice steak meal now and again.

Today – Soho is a much more respectable and dare I say, cleaner place than it was throughout the 1950’s & 1960’s – and even when I worked there from 1974 to 1978 – and Rupert Court is obviously far more respectable today, than it once was.

Before leaving my beloved Soho and venturing back home – as is customary when ever I visit Soho – I had to pay a visit to no.183 Wardour Street – the building that used to be the Barclays Bank branch I worked at for 4 years between 1974 & 1978. The branch closed years ago, and since then the building has been home to a number of different types of restaurant – (I think the last one was a Lebanese eatery). Anyway – the building has clearly been closed down and abandoned for some time – probably way before the Covid pandemic arrived – which is sad really, as the building holds a special place in my heart, with such happy memories of a time when “the air was clean, and sex was dirty” as my dear old Dad used to say 🙂

So – that’s ‘Rupert Court’ for you – Part 2 of the London Shoes theme “London’s “Historic & Notorious Alleys & Passages”.

Hope you enjoyed this little story and its accompanying photos.

(Apologies for carrying so much ‘timber’ – its not over indulgence, its purely medication driven)

Me – at the Wardour Street entrance/exit to ‘Rupert Court’ – Soho-London W1

The Wardour Street end of the famous ‘Rupert Court’ – W1

The Rupert Street end of ‘Rupert Court’ – Soho-W1

Looking towards the Rupert Street end of Rupert Court – from the Wardour Street end.

An photo of the Beatles taken in Rupert Court – taken in the early 1960’s. (photo sourced from another website)

A photo of Rupert Court, taken in current times – from roughly the same spot as the Beatles one in the early 60’s, was take from.

Another old photo of Rupert Court from the early 1960’s – when Rupert Court would have been deemed as just one of Soho’s sleazy back streets. (photo sourced from another website)

Me – down in Rupert Court

Rupert Court looking out towards its Wardour Street end.

The Rupert Street entrance to Rupert Court – alongside the historic 300yr old “Blue Posts” pub

An old 1970’s photo of the Rupert Street entrance to Rupert Court – alongside the historic “Blue Posts” pub. (photo sourced from another website)

Me- at the Wardour Street end of Rupert Court – that leads directly into the middle of London’s “China Town” district.

Me – outside the Wardour Street end of Rupert Court – bang in the middle of Soho’s ‘China Town’ district.

Rupert Street – that runs right the way through the Soho district – and where the Rupert Court alley connects Rupert Street to Wardour Street. Once considered a very seedy part of London – but much ‘cleaner’ in todays world.

Another old photo of the Beatles from the early 1960’s – in what was one Rupert Street Market. (photo sourced from another website)

Wardour Street – where Rupert Court alley connects Wardour Street to Rupert Street.

Every time I find myself in London’s Soho district – I have to do a photo of me against the backdrop of the old Barclays Bank -183 Wardour Street branch building – where I worked from 1974 to 1978 (almost 50 years ago!!!)  – a place and a time in my life, from which I have such happy memories 🙂