“Soho is a place where all the things they say happen, do” – Colin Macinnes
The 2 i’s Coffee Bar in Old Compton Street
Other coffee bars soon sprung up around Soho, often providing live music, and these included the Top Ten in Berwick Street and the Heaven and Hell bar in Old Compton Street. The most famous of all, however, and next door to the Heaven and Hell, was the 2 i’s at number 59.
Almost over night young people, who now for the first time were starting to be known as ‘teen-agers’ had somewhere to go they could call their own. The coffee shops were unlicensed and there was nothing to stop teenagers coming to Soho to listen to music, live, or on the jukebox. If you were young, Soho was suddenly the place to be.
Gina Lollobrigida in 1953
The Moka coffee bar in 1953, seemingly offering a free electric shave
Skiffle band playing on an old bomb site in Soho 1956
‘teen-agers’ in Soho 1956
Soho Square 1956
Lonnie Donegan September 1956
The Two i’s was bought in 1955 by an Australia wrestler called Paul Lincoln (Dr Death when in the ring – and one of the sport’s first masked wrestlers,
cleverly enabling him to fight twice on the same bill, and thus doubling his fee). The name of the bar came from the two brothers called Irani he had bought it from.
The 2 i’s wasn’t a particularly busy place initially and it was quickly losing money, but this all changed when Lincoln started to put on skiffle groups that were becoming popular with teenagers, especially after Lonnie Donegan’s Rock Island Line had become a hit. Skiffle was suited totally to the new coffee shops due to the minimal, cheap and un-amplified instruments the bands used and thus able to fit into the tiniest, sweatiest cellar.
Tommy Steele 25th February 1957
Tommy Steele at the Bread Basker 1957
Tommy Steele performing in Soho 1957. How young he was is written all over his face.
Clutching their guitars, teenagers, from all over the country, started coming to the 2 I’s, or even Soho in general, to try and find fame and fortune. Cliff Richard and the Shadows (initially the Drifters) all met by being regulars at the cafe. Bruce Welch of the Shadows once said:
“The Two I’s was the place to be discovered. If it was good enough for Tommy Steele it was good enough for us.”
Larry Parnes, considering himself an ‘impresario’ and known to many as ‘Mr Parnes, Shillings and Pence’, started to manage other singers and after the success of Steele insisted on creating cartoonish pseudonyms, thus Reg Smith became Marty Wilde, Ronald Wycherley became Billy Fury and Clive Powell became Georgie Fame. Joe Brown, however rejected his Parnes’ name of Elmer Twitch (not surprisingly) and solely, it seems, had a music career with the name with which he was born.
Billy Fury and Larry Parnes
Joe Brown
Mr Parnes Shillings and Pence
Clive Powell aka Georgie Fame
Reg Smith aka Marty Wilde and a young Kim Wilde
Roy Taylor aka Vince Eager
Larry Parnes wasn’t known as the ‘beat svengali’ for nothing, and his relationship with his proteges was ‘fatherly’ at the very least. Vince Eager at one point was wondering why he hadn’t received any record royalties. “You’re not entitled to any,” Larry Parnes told him. “But it says in my contract that I am,” Eager protested. “It also says I have power of attorney over you, and I’ve decided you’re not getting any,” Parnes replied.
Parnes’ power in the music business swiftly declined with the rise of the Beatles (he rejected them as a backing group for Billy Fury at one point) and, always happier with family entertainment, he went on to produce theatre shows. However the mid to late fifties was an incredibly exciting and creative time for British music and the attraction of rock ‘n’ roll brought talented (and, to be fair, not so talented) teenagers from all over the country to try their hand at a new musical fashion.
It seemed, at last, that anyone from any backgrould could make it. Only Punk, perhaps, echoed the musical ‘can do’ atmosphere of this period, just two decades later.
Frith Street in 1956, known as Froth Street in the heyday of the coffee bars
Leon Bell and the Bell Cats and some hand-jiving kittens
Doing what teenagers do best, hanging around. In Soho
The skiffle group City Ramblers in 1955
Bill Kent entertaining the ladies at the 2 I’s coffee bar
It’s now over fifty years since the heyday of the 2 I’s coffee bar in Old Compton Street. A lot of the Soho cafes, like everywhere else, are either closing down or becoming part of the ubiquitous Starbucks chain. Starbucks, of course, branched out last year and started their own record label featuring cutting edge artists such as Carly Simon and James Taylor.
The ubiquitous coffee chain also signed Paul McCartney, who fifty years ago was inspired by the skiffle boom created by the Soho Coffee shops to join John Lennon’s skiffle band The Quarrymen. And we all know what happened to them.
The Quarrymen in 1958
A long way from the Moka coffee bar and Gina Lollobrigida
The 2i’s today, November ’09
Great blog and comments. My membership card for the 2is was numbered 007. Also great times at Ken Collyers club.
Lived in Camberwell at the time and also remember Rock around the Clock being shown at the Troc Elephant & Castle, when the police put the dogs into the cinema.
Hi
Thanks
My mum was one of the teenagers who sang at the 2i’s several times. She was with a band called The Emeralds in the early 60′s. her name was Val Rogers, but they called her Kathy. Good times I hear
I was in a South Wales band called The Midnighters in the very early 1960s. We travelled to London to play at the 2is. The basement was about as big as the lounge in my house where I’m writing this now! How we ever fitted on that tiny stage I can’t imagine – nor where we managed to park the van! It was hot, sweaty, but for us four kids very exciting, and a fab memory I still have fifty years later!
Does anyone know where on Berwick St the Top Ten Club was? I gather it was near the D’Arblay St crossroads but under which shop?
The Top Ten was under the Indian restaurant just around the corner from D’arbly street. I played there in 1960 with a band called Black Rythem.
Great blog, many thanks.
Hello,
I’d be really interested in using some of the images from your blog, could you possibly get in touch?
Thanks
Amy
Great blog! so many memories for me, one night down the 2i’s I fainted in the crush & was carried up to the kitchen some guys started to mug me on the floor & then some of my band members came in & rescued me. It was such a great place to be meat many fiends in the industry, Joe Meek especially.
This was all pre “SE” though lol.
I played guitar at the two I´s for several months beginning of the 60´s with an amateur group and knew Tom Littlewood well. An amazing experience then and a super memory now.
What memories! The ‘scratch’ bands in the basement, no health and safety issues back then!
My ‘time’ was 1962 + before my band set out for The Reeperbahn, along with many others. We were known (in the Midlands) as Carl Fenn & the Mysteries but – with Jim Sullivan’s blessing (honest Brian!) The KrewKats, know largely in Europe more than England where the Brians and Tony Belcher/ Jim were better known.
Some of the names I associate with the bar that Tom Littlewood ran are:- Little Roy (drums), Rikki Barnes (tenor sax), Jackie Lynton (vocals) Ian Hines (keyboards) Albert Lee (guitar – need I add that!) and many others. Let’s see who can add to the list?
Happy days muzos . . . .
[...] 3. Soho in the 1950s always sounds fairly thrilling. Actually, Soho anytime pre-1990s sounds brill. You can relive a bit of mid-century London life TOMORROW and on Sunday 18 August with Back in the Day Walks, who will guide you around ‘jazz clubs, coffee bars and drinking dens’ for the princely sum of £10. Find out more here. [Pic: Nickel in the Machine] [...]
This 76 year old remembers those days fondly and spent many a night in this club
Hello everyone.
My parents used to go to The Flamingo and The 2 Is just before I was born, so they’re a part of my family history.
I’m now involved in making a film about the Two Puddings in Stratford, which was also big at that time. I’m wondering if any of you also went there and, if so, do you have any memories you’d like to share?
My late father Peter Kemp played here in I believe a resident band for quite some time, I only have one photo of them backing Paul Gadd.
Does the current bar have any photos etc displayed of that time
I believe at the time of Lord Such?
Wonderful photographs reminding me of my youth. Spent most of my time in the Skiffle Centre in Greek Street, but wandered in and out of the Two I’s as well. I suppose my own career, which really started in 1965, was greatly influenced by the clubs, pubs, and coffee bars of the 1950′s.
A Vietnamese restaurant called The House Of Ho now incorporates 59 Old Compton St. Restoration works have uncovered wall illustrations on the rh side as you walk in, on the ground floor. This wall is being restored and preserved and anyone with photo’s could help the restoration process. The wall is red and the illustrations are of instruments and a person playing guitar. I can supply a photo of what’s left on request.
Hi, great article! My mum worked at the 2 i’s, she’s the one behind the bar in your photo with Bill Kent. Her name is Tosca, but she was known by her middle name, Maria, at the 2 i’s.
When I look back on my teenage years I had the best of it and it was all great fun and it is lovely to see so many photos of the old I’s turning up. I treasure the ones I have most of them from Rick Richard bless his soul. FB has been a great adventure for me I have found a lot of old pals from those days BUT I am looking for Danni Kaplan and was wondering if anyone knows where she is. She was engaged at one time to Sammy Samwell would love to reconnect with her – I know she married and went to Canada. ME?? I now live in Australia. Love this blog. .
wonderful memories of a very special time in my life, magical days and nights spent with very good friends, listening to the likes of Cliff Richard etc., singing and generally having fun, and boy did we have fun – the very best time of my life.
ME I now live in Jersey, whereas my friend above lives In Australia, good day eh Phil
The band I was with Les Hobeaux, took over the residency at the 2i’s from The Vipers, in 1957,Paul Lincoln was our manager,he also managed Terry Dene,The Most Brothers Wee Willie Harris..Les Hobeaux were there for about six months,great times …
Great article. Unfortunately I was born in ’62 so I missed out on this. However, I did move to London in ’85 and was part of the developing Soho gay scene. One of our best pubs (still there) is Comptons which was next to the old 2 i’s. Also used to love the Pollo bar which was down the other end , great cheap pasta, and of course Patisserie Valerie.
Also fascinated by the number of gay characters on the scene in the 50′s when it being gay was still illegal. I think we all know some famous names still alive (which I’ll avoid naming on here) but I’m sure some of you can help with some names of those now gone.
Hi Colin contact me for old times sake,
Rake care ***Raye (drums)
I actually played there with our group, The Rebels several times. Remember the packed basement and we played for free hoping to be discovered. Of course so did dozens of other kids. No luck, but it was magical, a London that has long gone, now I doubt whether there are any true Londoners left.
you forgot to mention the COTE D.AZUR friith st and rge METRO IN NEW CO
MPTON ST
GREAT DAYS THEN ON TO THE MANDRAKE
Thanks so much for the photo of my dad….He was the Leon Bell of the Bell Cats. This is the first time I have seen it. I know that he was interviewed by Pete Murray on 6-5 Special, but I was not allowed to stay up and watch it. He also got reviews for the hand jive in the Melody Maker. Has anyone got an old Melody Maker with his photo. Please let me know
Kind regards
Tony
Thanks so much for the photo of my dad….Just noticed that he’s also in the Tommy Steel photo……what a surprise!
Kind regards
Tony
I played with a group called The Metropolitains at the 2is in the late 50s
alongside The Worried Men whose lead singer was Terry Nelams [Adam Faith]
good old days!
I have written a short fictional romance story based on the 2 I’s coffee bar, titled.. A Memory Resides in Soho, found as my pinned tweet on twitter account @From_Rons_Desk
I had a flat, almost opposite the TOP TEN CLUB, Berwick Street, Soho, where I had my band “THE BLUE NOTES” I was brought up in SOHO in 1932, left for Brighton 1964. Plus I won the first of my 3 Drum Marathons 1959, at the
TOP TEN CLUB.
Check my website.
Yours *** Raye Du-val.
Thanks for this great site. I was always in the i’s and all the other places – sang down there with a group called the Africans! Stood in for ‘Shane Fenton’ at the Roaring 20′s with the Fentones when he needed a break and did a couple of sets at the Scene in Ham Yard and Discotheque with Ginger Baker who was my good mate at the time. Boots was the bass guitarist but memory escapes me on the others in the line-up! We all used to eat at the Court Cafe at the top end of Old Compton Street in the alley that went through to Windmill Street I think it was
John Williams used to sit on his own writing music while we ate! Lots of good memories x
The 2i’s has once again changed hands and is now a branch of “Poppies” fish & chip restaurant. They have opened up the basement once more to patrons. They have old photos on the walls and a new neon “2i’s” sign. The damaged mural on the ground floor is still there and was not restored by the previous owners, House of Ho, as was promised. They seem to be making a good job of keeping the spirit of the 2i’s alive.
i note all these famous names in this very interesting blog but i see no mention of a band called the night beat that payed at the two eyes late 63 to 64 as well as the latin quarter as well as two other well known clubs in berwick st.does anyone remember us? as we did a lot of traveling to gigs booked for us by tom littlewood as well as backing bridget bond a few times on the road in the north and scotland.
Hello, some wonderful memories on here. If anyone is still reading this thread and remembers future Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant working the door at The 2i’s in the late 1950s, could you please make yourself known.
I’m writing an oral history of Soho for Paradise Road publishers. Please get in touch as I’d like to interview people who went to the 2is or other places in Soho. Lilian
Hello.What interesting comments. I am trying to compile a history of the 2′s but know little of what went on there after 1962. Does anyone have memories of going there in the mid 1960′s please?
All replies will be greatfully acknowledged. Thanks. Best wishes, Roger Arthur
What amazing photos, i am trying to trace friends of Margaret McCrow who used to go here in the late 50s, if anyone ever knew her that would be great to hear from you, she is my mother and i am trying to trace my father
Nice reading about the old days. My band was The Jets..and I was asked to take first rock band to Hamburg. Tony Sheridan came in demented the day before we left..he was due on Wee Willie Harris tour to US bases in Germany, but too late getting passport, so I said he could come with us…in Hamburg, after contract ended he stayed, The Beatles played with him..and when he recorded for Polydor, he asked them to back him. So, My Bonnie was heard by Eppie…they were made. If I had not felt sorry for him missing the US base tour, no Tony in Hamburg, so no Beatles on Polydor, they had been turned down by other labels!
Also, I became Top Ten manager and house organist, I booked Carl Fenn Combo, added myself and Rikky Barnes, and we became The Top Ten All stars…
GOD BLESS all
Iain
I remember my dad Iain Hines taking me to the 2 i’s coffee bar when I was a small boy. Loved being with him when he was in a studio or working on new albums. He wrote and produced an amazing album called ‘The Marvel World of Icarus’. Still one of the best rock albums on this planet. He often went to the 2 i’s coffee bar took me with him.
I worked t the 2i’s for about two years (I slept in the basement for a time as I had nowhere to live)and was a bouncer for cliff richard at the trocadero in Elephant and castle. The shadows and I used to ramble in Soho pawned my watch one day so that we could eat.. Say HI Bruce and Hank.
does anyone remember les and nora bristow, I think Les managed willie at one time .
My husband would love to hear any information about Keith Kelly who played with the John Barry Seven here , any contact would be appreciated
2i’s used to advertise in NME for bands to play there for Hamburg gigs. Went there in late 1964 with Birmingham band Megatones. Basement was packed.
I was just a lonely young merchant seaman when someone suggested I would find friends at the Two I’s.
Not sure what year, late fifties/early sixties. I actually “worked” there, no pay, but a fantastic experience. Sat at the bottom of the stairs and sold Cokes. Remember that Lionel Bart used to be there a lot. The first black guy I ever spent time with a lovely man known as “Cuddles”. Met a lot of people who went in to big things, Adam Faith was one.
I’m 80 now and it is one of fondest memories.