The topic of this Shoes blog is quite simply, a street in Soho.
There are a lot more famous, colourful, and notorious streets in Soho – but this particular street has an interesting and varied history, particularly in terms of its past residents – additionally, it’s also currently the site of what’s known as a ‘pop-up shop’ that’s associated with one of the world’s greatest entertainers.
So – the title of this blog is: –
“Greek Street – London W1 – it’s history & it’s Elton John Eyewear pop-up shop”.
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Greek Street is located at the eastern side of London’s Soho district – its nearest tube station being Tottenham Court Road.
I personally know it well as its not far from Wardour Street where I worked for 4 years with Barclays Bank (1974 – 1978).
Anyway – Greek Street was laid out in the early part of the 1700’s and was named after Greek refugees who came to Britain in the 17th Century, fleeing the Ottoman rule in their homeland.
Some of the houses in Greek Street date back to the 1700 and 1800’s – some of the oldest properties in Soho.
No.1 Greek Street
A good way to understand the history of Greek Street, is to take a closer look at some of its houses and their previous owners/occupiers – this is what ‘Shoes’ research discovered.
No.1 Greek Street:
Is the old ‘House of Barnabas’ that was originally built in 1679 – and is today a Grade 1 Listed early Georgian period property.
No.1 Greek Street
Many charitable organisations have operating from it – and hit as been used as temporary accommodation for London’s homeless.
Its building and garden influenced Charles Dickens when describing the accommodation of the character Dr. Manette in his classic ‘Tale of Two Cities’ novel.
In the early 1800’s the no.1 Greek Street building was the HQ of the Westminster Commissioners for Works for Sewers – and its offices were where the legendary Sir Jospeh Bazalgette worked on the design of the London Sewage System – that has been in situ for so long.
No.2 Greek Street:
No.7 Greek Street
Was once the famous ‘Gay Hussar’ Hungarian restaurant – which opened in 1953 and only closed in 2018.
No.7 Greek Street:
Known today as Bar Hercules but was once the popular ‘Pillars of Hercules’ pub. Records show that a pub has been operating from the site as far back as 1733. The present building dates back to 1910 – and it was once a famous hang-out for London’s literary types.
No.9 Greek Street: – Was once the Turks Head pub – where the legendary ‘The ‘Ancient Grand Lodge of England’ Freemasonry lodge was formed in 1751.
No.12 Greek Street
No.12 Greek Street:
Has a history steeped in fine quality Wedgwood pottery.
Although based in London from 1769, it was only in 1774 that Josiah Wedgwood moved to Soho, where he opened a new warehouse, enameling room and showroom at no’s 12-13 Greek Street. It is from this property that Wedgwood worked on Royal Commissions from Britain and Russia to knock out top quality stuff.
Wedgwood moved out of Greek Street in the late 1790’s – and today the property and its courtyard is a high-end Club and restaurant.
No. 16 Greek Street:
Was once the site of the famous ‘Le Beat Route Club’ that operated there throughout the 1980’s.
No. 18 Greek Street
No.18 Greek Street:
Was where the London nightclub The
Establishment opened in 1961.
It was part owned by Peter Cook and became famous as a base for satirists and people connected to political publications such as Private Eye.
No. 29 Greek Street
The Establishment was also well known for promoting jazz music and it is where Peter Cook’s comedy partner Dudley Moore would often perform with his Dudley Moore Trio.
No.29 Greek Street:
The ‘Coach & Horses’ pub is located at no. 29, at the corner with Romilly Street. There has been a public house of that name on the site since the 1720’s.
The fortnightly editorial lunch of Private Eye is held in the Coach and Horses.
No.47 Greek Street:
No.49 Greek Street
No. 47 is known for having provided temporary lodgings for Giancomo Casanova famed Venetian adventurer and author, in 1764.
No.49 Greek Street:
The basement of no. 49 Greek Street, was the home of the legendary folk music club ‘Les Cousins’ – where the likes of folk legends:- Al Stewart/ Davey Graham / Bert Jancsh / John Renbourn / Sandy Denny/ John Martyn / Alexis Korner / the Strawbs / Roy Harper & Ian Anderson all once played.
As with all streets where houses have been in situ for a couple of decades – there are plenty more stories connected to other buildings in Greek Street – but the ones Shoes has covered-off within the above, are probably the better known past residents.
No,59 Greek Street – Elton John Eyewear pop-up
However – history is still being made in Greek Street these days – because at no.59 the British and global superstar legend ‘Sir Elton John’ has opened his very own “Elton John Eyewear” pop-up shop.
The store opened in May 2023 – and offers a full range of Elton ‘specs’ ranging from £115 for the cheapest pair – to several hundred pounds more for the more exclusive designs.
The store also offers Elton John t-
shirts, vinyl records, and loads of other ‘Elton’ related merchandise and memorabilia.
Also, on display in the shop is one of Elton’s piano’s – plus, for the first time ever anywhere outside of New York City, you can see his iconic Donald Duck outfit. Elton’s Donald Duck suit is probably one of the most remembered of Elton’s outrageous stage costumes – when it was worn for a 1980 concert in New York’s Central Park.
I decided not to spend £100 + on a
pair of Elton specs – but what I did do was fork out for one of his ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ Final Tour t-shirts. It cost me £30 but I felt it was a historic bit of merch – although I would have much preferred to have gone to one of the O2 gigs – I was hoping that some kind person might have treated me to a ticket – but it just wasn’t to be!!
So – having spent a couple of hours ambling up and down Greek Street, getting the photos that I wanted – and then having spent some time mooching around Elton’s pop-up shop – I decided to head off to Mayfair to seek out a particular interesting little pub.
Records show that the ’Coach & Horses’ pub in Bruton Street dates all the way back to the late 1700’s. It has been rebuilt a couple of times since then, and the current mock Tudor building was constructed in the 1930’s.
There were at one time, over 50 ‘Coach & Horses’ pubs in London – a bit obvious really, as there were a lot of coaches and horses about, back in the day.
This lovely old pub appears very small and narrow from the outside – but it’s really deceiving – as there’s loads of room inside.
The pub is full of rustic beams/stained glass windows/wooden paneled walls – creating a real ‘ye olde worlde’ type vibe about the place – making it very popular with the tourists.
Anyway – after a good few hours under beautifully blue London skies – the Coach & Horses pub in Mayfair was the ideal place to take the weight off me plates, cool down and sink a couple of refreshing ‘cheeky’ cold Guinness’s.
So – that’s the Greek Street blog for ya – hope you enjoyed it, and its accompanying photos.
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See below the full Gallery of photos taken to support the Greek Street blog
Anyway – Soho’s ‘Greek Street’ was laid out in the early part of the 1700’s and was named after Greek refugees who came to Britain in the 17th Century, fleeing the Ottoman rule in their homeland.
A view of Greek Street – June 2023
The very same view of Greek Street as previous photo – but from 1910.
No.1 Greek Street – was once the ‘House of Barnabas’ that was originally built in 1679 – and is today a Grade 1 Listed early Georgian period property.
In the early 1800’s the no.1 Greek Street building was the HQ of the Westminster Commissioners for Works for Sewers – and its offices were where the legendary Sir Jospeh Bazalgette worked on the design of the London Sewage System
No.29 Greek Street: – The Coach and Horses pub is located at no. 29, at the corner with Romilly Street. There has been a public house of that name on the site since the 1720s. The fortnightly editorial lunch of Private Eye is held in the Coach and Horses.
No.12 Greek Street: – Has a history steeped in fine quality Wedgwood pottery. In 1774 Josiah Wedgwood moved to Soho, where he opened a new warehouse, enameling room and showroom at no’s 12-13 Greek Street.
It is from this 12 Greek street property that Wedgwood worked on Royal Commissions from Britain and Russia to produce top quality stuff.
No.7 Greek Street: – Known today as Bar Hercules but was once the popular ‘Pillars of Hercules’ pub.
Records show that a pub has been operating from the site as far back as 1733. The present building dates back to 1910 – and it was once a famous hang-out for London’s literary types
Me – ambling down Greek Street-Soho-W1
No.2 Greek Street: – Was once the famous ‘Gay Hussar’ Hungarian restaurant
The site of the old Gay Hussar restaurant today – the Gay Hussar opened in 1953 and only closed in 2018.
No.49 Greek Street: – in the 1950’s. The basement of no. 49 was once the home of the legendary folk music club ‘Les Cousins’ – where the likes of folk legends:- Al Stewart/Davey Graham/Bert Jansch/ John Renbourn/Sandy Denny/ John Martyn/ Alexis Korner/ The Strawbs/ Roy Harper & Ian Anderson all once played
No.49 Greek Street as it is today – a far cry from its Folk Club past.
A view of Greek Street – from the early 1900’s.
No.18 Greek Street: – Was where the London nightclub The Establishment opened in 1961. It was part owned by Peter Cook and became famous as a base for satirists and people connected to political publications such as Private Eye.
The Establishment at no.18 Greek Street – was also well known for promoting jazz music and it is where Peter Cook’s comedy partner Dudley Moore would often perform with his Dudley Moore Trio.
No.47 Greek Street: – is known for having provided temporary lodgings for Giacomo Casanova, famed Venetian adventurer and author, in 1764.
Me – outside no. 16 Greek Street: – It was once the site of the famous ‘Le Beat Route Club’ that operated there throughout the 1980’s.
A 1970’s view of Greek Street
The same view as above – from 2023
A view of Greek Street as it is today
Me – ambling down Greek Street
History is still being made in Greek Street these days – because at no.59 the British and global superstar legend ‘Sir Elton John’ has opened his very own “Elton John Eyewear” pop-up shop.
Me – outside the Elton John Eyewear pop-up shop at 59 Greek Street
Greek Street’s ‘Elton John Eyewear’ pop-up shop opened in May 2023 – and offers a full range of Elton ‘specs’ ranging from £115 for the cheapest pair – to several hundred pounds more for the more exclusive designs.
Me – outside the Elton John Eyewear pop-up shop at 59 Greek Street
In side the Elton John Eyewear pop-up shop at 59 Greek Street
Also, on display in the shop is one of Elton’s piano’s – plus, for the first time ever anywhere outside of New York City, you can see his iconic Donald Duck outfit.
Me – inside the Elton John Eyewear pop-up shop at 59 Greek Street
Merchandise on sale inside the Elton John Eyewear pop-up shop at 59 Greek Street
Me – mooching about inside the Elton John Eyewear pop-up shop at 59 Greek Street
I decided not to spend £100 + on a pair of Elton specs – but what I did do was buy one of his ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ Final Tour t-shirts. It cost me £30 but I felt it was a historic bit of merch
I decided not to spend £100 + on a pair of Elton specs – but what I did do was buy one of his ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ Final Tour t-shirts. It cost me £30 but I felt it was a historic bit of merch
Elton’s Donald Duck suit is probably one of the most remembered of Elton’s outrageous stage costumes – when it was worn for a 1980 concert in New York’s Central Park.
Records show that the ’Coach & Horses’ pub in Bruton Street dates all the way back to the late 1700’s.
The Coach & Horses pub in Bruton Street-Mayfair, has been rebuilt a couple of times since then, and the current mock Tudor building was constructed in the 1930’s.
Me – outside the famous Coach & Horses pub – Bruton Street-Mayfair
Inside the famous Coach & Horses pub – Bruton Street-Mayfair
Inside the famous Coach & Horses pub – Bruton Street-Mayfair
The Coach & Horses pub in Mayfair was the ideal place to take the weight off me old plates, cool down and sink a couple of refreshing ‘cheeky’ cold Guinness’s.
Bob Dylan and Paul Simon were both on the London folk scene in the early/mid 60s, I wonder if either (or both) of them played at Les Cousins?
London Shoes – replied:
Rodger – I have just done a little bit of research and it would appear that during his first visit to the UK, Paul Simon used to frequent the Les Cousins Folk Club (cant confirm he played there though). However – legend has it that he was in the audience one night and was so impressed by a Martin Carthy version of a Pete Seger song – that when he returned home to the States – he recorded a version of it with Art Gunfunkel – the song in question was ‘Scarborough Fair’ 😊👍
Fascinating!
The Elton John pop up shop caught my attention Geoff. I looked into it a bit more and see 10% of sales go to his AIDS foundation.We saw him at an open air concert at Harewood castle a few years ago. It was fantastic- despite the need for waterproofs for part of it. 💦🤣
You’ll have to hope someone is going to surprise you with Glastonbury tickets for Sunday 🤓
Interesting read Geoff😊
Wow so interesting!
As ever, a mind of information…..as well as the obligatory pint!😜
“The Pillars” was a sad loss. l only went in there 4 or 5 times – it was handy for the nearby Borderline for pre gig drinks. My wife and friends used it regularly for a while because a DJ they knew had a weekly spot in there. But yes – it was a good pub with good beer.
That’s what I love about London. So much interesting history around every corner. Can’t wait to see where you go next Geoff.
I’ve got 2 or 3 crackers coming up Bev…(well – I liked doing them, anyway!!)
Your enthusiasm shines through in every blog. It’s good you are doing something you really enjoy.
Thank you for that feedback Bev – really appreciate it
Cheers….GEOFF
Your blogs never fail absolutely brilliant.
In my youth I knew Greek Street where I think was the Star restaurant and Spag bol was 2/6p. Then went to 44 Gérard St for some trad Jazz.
Hi Peter,
Thank you once again for your kind encouraging comments.
If you were once a ‘Trad Jazz’ fan – then watch out for my forthcoming blog, all about the legendary ‘Eel Pie Island’ – which I’m hoping tp punblish within the next couple of weeks.
It’s gonna be a goodie.
Cheers…..GEOFF