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Greek Street

January 01, 1970

For the comic book of the same name, see Greek Street (comics). For the film, see Greek Street (film).

Greek Street is a street in Soho, London, leading south from Soho Square to Shaftesbury Avenue. The street is famous for its restaurants and cosmopolitan nature.

Greek Street
Shown within Greater London
Former name(s)Hogs Lane
Length0.2 mi (0.32 km)[1]
LocationSoho, London
Postal codeW1
Nearest Tube station Leicester Square
Coordinates51°30′50″N 0°07′51″W / 51.5139°N 0.1308°W / 51.5139; -0.1308
north endSoho Square
south end A401

History edit

 
Hogarth's 'Noon' from Four Times of the Day, showing the church in the background

It is thought to take its name from a Greek church that was built in 1677 in adjacent Crown Street, now part of the west side of Charing Cross Road. The church is depicted in William Hogarth's 'Noon' from Four Times of the Day.[2]

Although the street has several houses from the 18th century and earlier, it is mainly 19th-century in appearance.

No. 1 Greek Street is the House of St Barnabas, built in 1746. It became the offices of the Westminster Commissioner for Works for Sewers in 1811. This is where Chief Engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette started to work on the construction of the London sewerage system. By 1862 the house had been taken over by The House of Charity, which was established in 1846 to provide temporary accommodation for homeless people. Charles Dickens used the house and gardens as a model for the London lodgings of Dr Manette and Lucy in A Tale of Two Cities.[3][4]

There has been a public house known as Pillars of Hercules at no. 7 since 1733. The current pub building sports some artwork by Invader and was long favoured by many figures in the London literary scene, including Martin Amis, Ian Hamilton, Julian Barnes and Ian McEwan. Indeed, Clive James named his second book of literary criticism (At the Pillars of Hercules) after it.

In the mid-eighteenth century, no. 9 was the location of the Turk's Head Tavern, where a well-known lodge of Freemasons met. The Ancient Grand Lodge of England was organized there on 17 July 1751.[5]

The Coach and Horses pub (also known as Norman's), famous for the rudeness of its former landlord Norman Balon, is at no. 29, at the corner with Romilly Street. The fortnightly editorial lunch of Private Eye is held in the Coach and Horses. There has been a public house of that name on the site since the 1720s.

No. 47 is known for having provided temporary lodgings for Giacomo Casanova, famed Venetian adventurer and author, in 1764.

No. 49, on the west side of Greek Street, was the home of the legendary folk music club Les Cousins.

No. 58 was a temporary lodging for Thomas De Quincey in 1802, as described in Part I of Confessions of an English Opium-Eater.

The noted Victorian sheet music lithographer Alfred Concanen was living at no. 66 with his wife and children in 1861.

In the southern part of the street (past Old Compton Street), no. 28 is the site of Maison Bertaux, a renowned French pâtisserie, founded in 1871. Owned by sisters Michele and Tania Wade, it is known as the headquarters of the artist Martin Firrell. The upstairs tea room shows work by comedian and artist Noel Fielding and members of Icelandic band Sigur Rós, among others. It is also the home of the Maison Bertaux Theatre Club, which performs within the tiny confines of the shop.[6]

The street is the setting for the 1930 film Greek Street, directed by Sinclair Hill and starring Sari Maritza and William Freshman.

In the 1971 film Villain, the crime lord Vic Dakin (Richard Burton) recommends Greek Street as a venue of prostitution. "Try the Manhattan Club in Greek Street... lot of 'sunburnt' girls there... for twenty quid they'll do anything... enjoy yourself!"

"Hot Neon", a song featured in the 1976 British TV series Rock Follies, begins: "She writhes in her bed/ In her sweltering room/ In Greek Street/ She tosses and moans/ And her glistening sweat/ Stains the silk sheets/ She is dreaming of…/ Hot neon".

Former occupants edit

 
Trade-card for chocolate maker William White at No. 8

In the present day edit

Greek Street is known for its selection of restaurants and cafes, which currently include a Hungarian restaurant (The Gay Hussar at No. 2), an oriental organic vegetarian restaurant, a Thai restaurant, a pizzeria, a traditional Chinese restaurant, an Italian restaurant and a Moroccan and Lebanese restaurant. There is also a gallery, a whisky shop, several bars and some offices.[8] At number 48 is L'Escargot, a Michelin-starred restaurant. There are also several "walk-ups" (providers of legal prostitution) along the street.[citation needed]

The street crosses Manette Street, Bateman Street, Old Compton Street and Romilly Street.

Current occupants edit

  • No. 1: House of St Barnabas
  • No. 2: The Gay Hussar
  • No. 3: Milroy's of Soho
  • No. 5: Louche
  • No. 6: Gamma Gamma
  • No. 7: Pillars of Hercules (now Bar Hercules under new ownership)
  • No. 9: Jazz After Dark
  • No. 10: 10 Greek Street
  • No. 11: BiBimBap
  • Nos. 12–13: Miabella
  • No. 13A: Bar San Valentino (Valentino Cafe)
  • No. 15: Westend Films
  • No. 17: Be At One Cocktail Bar
  • No. 18: Zebrano
  • No. 20: Endor Productions
  • Nos. 23–24: Maison Touareg Restaurant
  • No. 25: The Three Greyhounds (Public House)
  • No. 26: Pop-up Shop (varying short-term occupants)
  • No. 28: Maison Bertaux
  • No. 29: Coach and Horses
  • No. 34: Viet Pho
  • Nos. 35–36: Yming
  • No. 48: L'Escargot
  • No. 49: Club49
  • No. 50: Union Private Members Club
  • No. 51: Trattoria Da Aldo
  • No. 53: Thirst Bar
  • No. 54: Chin Chin Club
  • No. 55: Lick
  • No. 57: The New Evaristo Club
  • No. 58: Balls and Company

References edit

  1. ^ "Driving directions to Greek St". Google Maps. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  2. ^ Sheppard, F. H. W. "Survey of London Volumes 33 and 34". English Heritage. - although some sources claim the church is St Giles in the Fields
  3. ^ The Informal Education Homepage 16 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ House of St Barnabas
  5. ^ Coil, Henry Wilson: "Ancient Grand Lodge of England," pg. 237. Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia, publ. 1961, 1996, Macoy Publ. Co., Richmond, Va.
  6. ^ WCitie Destinations Guide
  7. ^ a b "Greek Street Area: Portland Estate, Greek Street". British History Online.
  8. ^ "Soho and Chinatown, London - map, shops, bars, restaurants". Street Sensation.

External links edit

  • No 1 Greek Street in the Survey of London
  • Greek Street in the Survey of London
  • Greek Street in Flickr


January 01, 1970
greek, street, comic, book, same, name, comics, film, film, street, soho, london, leading, south, from, soho, square, shaftesbury, avenue, street, famous, restaurants, cosmopolitan, nature, shown, within, greater, londonformer, name, hogs, lanelength0, locatio. For the comic book of the same name see Greek Street comics For the film see Greek Street film Greek Street is a street in Soho London leading south from Soho Square to Shaftesbury Avenue The street is famous for its restaurants and cosmopolitan nature Greek StreetShown within Greater LondonFormer name s Hogs LaneLength0 2 mi 0 32 km 1 LocationSoho LondonPostal codeW1Nearest Tube stationLeicester SquareCoordinates51 30 50 N 0 07 51 W 51 5139 N 0 1308 W 51 5139 0 1308north endSoho Squaresouth endA401 Contents 1 History 1 1 Former occupants 2 In the present day 2 1 Current occupants 3 References 4 External linksHistory edit nbsp Hogarth s Noon from Four Times of the Day showing the church in the background It is thought to take its name from a Greek church that was built in 1677 in adjacent Crown Street now part of the west side of Charing Cross Road The church is depicted in William Hogarth s Noon from Four Times of the Day 2 Although the street has several houses from the 18th century and earlier it is mainly 19th century in appearance No 1 Greek Street is the House of St Barnabas built in 1746 It became the offices of the Westminster Commissioner for Works for Sewers in 1811 This is where Chief Engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette started to work on the construction of the London sewerage system By 1862 the house had been taken over by The House of Charity which was established in 1846 to provide temporary accommodation for homeless people Charles Dickens used the house and gardens as a model for the London lodgings of Dr Manette and Lucy in A Tale of Two Cities 3 4 There has been a public house known as Pillars of Hercules at no 7 since 1733 The current pub building sports some artwork by Invader and was long favoured by many figures in the London literary scene including Martin Amis Ian Hamilton Julian Barnes and Ian McEwan Indeed Clive James named his second book of literary criticism At the Pillars of Hercules after it In the mid eighteenth century no 9 was the location of the Turk s Head Tavern where a well known lodge of Freemasons met The Ancient Grand Lodge of England was organized there on 17 July 1751 5 The Coach and Horses pub also known as Norman s famous for the rudeness of its former landlord Norman Balon is at no 29 at the corner with Romilly Street The fortnightly editorial lunch of Private Eye is held in the Coach and Horses There has been a public house of that name on the site since the 1720s No 47 is known for having provided temporary lodgings for Giacomo Casanova famed Venetian adventurer and author in 1764 No 49 on the west side of Greek Street was the home of the legendary folk music club Les Cousins No 58 was a temporary lodging for Thomas De Quincey in 1802 as described in Part I of Confessions of an English Opium Eater The noted Victorian sheet music lithographer Alfred Concanen was living at no 66 with his wife and children in 1861 In the southern part of the street past Old Compton Street no 28 is the site of Maison Bertaux a renowned French patisserie founded in 1871 Owned by sisters Michele and Tania Wade it is known as the headquarters of the artist Martin Firrell The upstairs tea room shows work by comedian and artist Noel Fielding and members of Icelandic band Sigur Ros among others It is also the home of the Maison Bertaux Theatre Club which performs within the tiny confines of the shop 6 The street is the setting for the 1930 film Greek Street directed by Sinclair Hill and starring Sari Maritza and William Freshman In the 1971 film Villain the crime lord Vic Dakin Richard Burton recommends Greek Street as a venue of prostitution Try the Manhattan Club in Greek Street lot of sunburnt girls there for twenty quid they ll do anything enjoy yourself Hot Neon a song featured in the 1976 British TV series Rock Follies begins She writhes in her bed In her sweltering room In Greek Street She tosses and moans And her glistening sweat Stains the silk sheets She is dreaming of Hot neon Former occupants edit nbsp Trade card for chocolate maker William White at No 8 No 9 Turk s Head Tavern Nos 12 13 Josiah Wedgwood as pottery warehouse and showroom 7 No 16 Le Beat Route club in the 1980s No 17 Crab Tree Club No 18 The Establishment Club No 20 Hopkins Purvis amp Sons colour merchants 7 No 40 Soho House No 47 Giacomo Casanova No 49 Les Cousins No 58 Thomas De Quincey No 66 Alfred ConcanenIn the present day editGreek Street is known for its selection of restaurants and cafes which currently include a Hungarian restaurant The Gay Hussar at No 2 an oriental organic vegetarian restaurant a Thai restaurant a pizzeria a traditional Chinese restaurant an Italian restaurant and a Moroccan and Lebanese restaurant There is also a gallery a whisky shop several bars and some offices 8 At number 48 is L Escargot a Michelin starred restaurant There are also several walk ups providers of legal prostitution along the street citation needed The street crosses Manette Street Bateman Street Old Compton Street and Romilly Street Current occupants edit No 1 House of St Barnabas No 2 The Gay Hussar No 3 Milroy s of Soho No 5 Louche No 6 Gamma Gamma No 7 Pillars of Hercules now Bar Hercules under new ownership No 9 Jazz After Dark No 10 10 Greek Street No 11 BiBimBap Nos 12 13 Miabella No 13A Bar San Valentino Valentino Cafe No 15 Westend Films No 17 Be At One Cocktail Bar No 18 Zebrano No 20 Endor Productions Nos 23 24 Maison Touareg Restaurant No 25 The Three Greyhounds Public House No 26 Pop up Shop varying short term occupants No 28 Maison Bertaux No 29 Coach and Horses No 34 Viet Pho Nos 35 36 Yming No 48 L Escargot No 49 Club49 No 50 Union Private Members Club No 51 Trattoria Da Aldo No 53 Thirst Bar No 54 Chin Chin Club No 55 Lick No 57 The New Evaristo Club No 58 Balls and CompanyReferences edit Driving directions to Greek St Google Maps Retrieved 7 October 2013 Sheppard F H W Survey of London Volumes 33 and 34 English Heritage although some sources claim the church is St Giles in the Fields The Informal Education Homepage Archived 16 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine House of St Barnabas Coil Henry Wilson Ancient Grand Lodge of England pg 237 Coil s Masonic Encyclopedia publ 1961 1996 Macoy Publ Co Richmond Va WCitie Destinations Guide a b Greek Street Area Portland Estate Greek Street British History Online Soho and Chinatown London map shops bars restaurants Street Sensation External links editNo 1 Greek Street in the Survey of London Greek Street in the Survey of London Greek Street in Flickr Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Greek Street amp oldid 1187315861, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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