Soho's 2i Club

This is where the legendary coffee bar/gig club used to be.

Location: 59 Old Compton Street, London, W1D 6HP

Description: This is where the legendary coffee bar gave the world such stars as Tommy Steele, Adam Faith and Cliff Richard and the Drifters/Shadows. Marc Bolan helped his mother on the market stall nearby and was also a customer.

The 2is, was owned by professional wrestler Paul Lincoln, and was a musical melting pot: country, blues, jazz, skiffle, calypso and rock.

2is regular Joe Moretti moved to London in 1958 to play guitar for Vince Eager and Gene Vincent: In 1958 the 2is was the fuse for the explosion that was to come in the world of UK Rock and Rollit was just a little cafe with an old battered piano in the basement in Old Compton street. But it had a soul and a buzz

Adam Faith also recalled: a ground floor cafe, with linoleum floors and Formica tables it was downstairs, at night, under the street, that the real action took placethe record industry, fuelled by the skiffle craze, began to explode. But everyone expected it to be a nine-day wonder. The old-timer agents would sit around in their old-timer agent restaurants, shaking their heads, muttering 'It'll all be over in a week or two'

Sharon Osbourne's brother was a bouncer here.

Tours: Marc Bolan and T-Rex Tour

Themes: Music Music Theme