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SALON NO.108: The Lost Clubs of Rock and Roll London

The Sound of Soho

7.00pm Thursday 23rd November 2023

The Horse Hospital
Colonade
London 
WC1N 1JD

Admission: Tickets £8.00/ £10.00 in advance only HERE

"Bright lights, Soho, Wardour Street.."

So sang David Bowie in “The London Boys”. He was just one of the artists drawn to the neighbourhood where rock’n’roll was first launched in the UK – at the 2I’s coffee bar on Old Compton Street. It was the start of Soho as the boom, boom, beating heart of the music scene, address of agents, record labels, recording studios and countless live venues, including the Wag, Ronnie Scott’s, Les Cousins, The Vortex, Le Beat Route, the Establishment, The Astoria and, most famous of all, the legendary club The Marquee. 

ROBERT SELLERS and NICK PENDLETON will be taking us back through the The Marquee's musical heritage with guest spots from the Rolling Stones, The Who, Bowie, Pink Floyd, The Police, U2 and Guns N’Roses, among many, many others.

Meanwhile, author PETER WATTS author of a new book on Denmark Street, London’s Tin Pan Alley (once home to songwriters, music publishers, recording studios, the Sex Pistols and Hipgnosis,the designers of world famous album covers), takes us on a tour of some of the lost clubs, rock'n'roll dives and hangouts of 50s, 60s and 70s London - The Flamingo, The Two Is, The 12 Bar, The Scene and more. 

It was here that some of the world's most influential jazz, rock and pop artists played, partied and set out on the road to fame and fortune.

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ROBERT SELLERS is the author of books on entertainment and popular culture including authorised biographies of Oliver Reed, Ernie Wise and Kenny Everett, the best-selling Hellraisers: The Life and Inebriated Times of Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O’Toole and Oliver Reed, and histories of Radio 1, Ealing Studios and Handmade Films. He is co-author of Marquee: The Story of the World’s Greatest Music Venue.

NICK PENDLETON is the only child of Marquee founders Harold and Barbara Pendleton. School holidays were spent in the offices above the club. Today, he chairs Entec Sound & Light, the music production company developed by his parents. He is the other author of Marquee: The Story of the World’s Greatest Music Venue.

PETER WATTS is a journalist who has worked at the Sunday Times and Time Out, where he edited the Big Smoke news section. He mostly writes on London and music, and his work has appeared in The Independent, The Independent on Sunday, The Times, The Observer, Uncut,Prospect and New Statesman. He’s the author of Up In Smoke: The Failed Dreams of Battersea Power Station and an upcoming history of Denmark Street.




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Our home, THE HORSE HOSPITAL, is a unique Grade II listed not for profit, independent arts venue within the only existing unspoilt example of a two-floor, purpose-built stable with public access in London. 

Built in 1797 by James Burton. the shell is constructed with London Stocks whilst the interior features a mock cobbled re-inforced concrete floor and ramps with slats to prevent the horses from slipping. Each floor has 5 cast iron pillars and several original iron tethering rings.