Ian David Archibald Board (16 December 1929 – 26 June 1994) was an English nightclub owner who ran The Colony Room Club in Dean Street in London's Soho district, from 1981 to 1994, having taken it over from Muriel Belcher who founded the private drinking club in 1948.[1]
The Colony Room Club was located at 41 Dean Street, at the far right
Board grew up in a poor family in Exeter, and his mother died when he was four years old.[1] He liked neither his father nor his stepmother, and as a teenager ran away to London.[1] On arrival, he went to Speakers' Corner and picked up a man, and lived with him for some weeks.[1] He later worked as a commis waiter in Soho's Greek Street.[1]
Careeredit
Board served behind the bar at the Colony Room Club for 46 years, initially as Belcher's barman, and after she died as its proprietor.[2]
He assiduously cultivated the custom of artists including Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, Michael Andrews, and Barry Flanagan.[1] One night, he ejected Bacon from the premises with the words, "Get out! Call yourself a painter. You can't fucking paint. Take your boring friends with you and don't bother coming back."[1]
Board was known for carrying on Belcher's tradition of obscene language, with tirades to drunken customers such as "Look at you, you great lump, just take a look at yourself. You're a sad and pathetic sight. For fuck's sake pull yourself together..."[1]
Board was gay, and the club under Belcher, herself a lesbian, had always been a safe space to be openly homosexual.[3] However, it was never exclusively so, and as Board said, "I don't mind those poofs, as long as they keep their distance."[3]
Aged 60, Board stopped drinking brandy for breakfast, but continued to drink vodka at home in the morning, and from noon to 11 pm would consume vodka and brandy at the club.[1]
Michael Wojas worked there as a barman and "Board's sidekick" for 13 years, and was bequeathed the club by Board at his 1994 death.[4]
^ abcdefghijHowse, Christopher (27 June 1994). "Obituary: Ian Board". The Independent. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
^Jennings, Clive (9 May 2018). "Drink-Up Pay-Up F-Off: Tales from the Colony – London's Lost Bohemia". artlyst. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
^ abBennett, Oliver (16 January 1999). "Licor-ish allsorts". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
^Willetts, Paul (11 June 2010). "Michael Wojas obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
^Self, Will (13 September 2008). "The Colony Room, Soho". will-self.com. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
January 01, 1970
board, david, archibald, board, december, 1929, june, 1994, english, nightclub, owner, colony, room, club, dean, street, london, soho, district, from, 1981, 1994, having, taken, over, from, muriel, belcher, founded, private, drinking, club, 1948, colony, room,. Ian David Archibald Board 16 December 1929 26 June 1994 was an English nightclub owner who ran The Colony Room Club in Dean Street in London s Soho district from 1981 to 1994 having taken it over from Muriel Belcher who founded the private drinking club in 1948 1 The Colony Room Club was located at 41 Dean Street at the far right Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 ReferencesEarly life editBoard grew up in a poor family in Exeter and his mother died when he was four years old 1 He liked neither his father nor his stepmother and as a teenager ran away to London 1 On arrival he went to Speakers Corner and picked up a man and lived with him for some weeks 1 He later worked as a commis waiter in Soho s Greek Street 1 Career editBoard served behind the bar at the Colony Room Club for 46 years initially as Belcher s barman and after she died as its proprietor 2 He assiduously cultivated the custom of artists including Francis Bacon Lucian Freud Michael Andrews and Barry Flanagan 1 One night he ejected Bacon from the premises with the words Get out Call yourself a painter You can t fucking paint Take your boring friends with you and don t bother coming back 1 Board was known for carrying on Belcher s tradition of obscene language with tirades to drunken customers such as Look at you you great lump just take a look at yourself You re a sad and pathetic sight For fuck s sake pull yourself together 1 Board was gay and the club under Belcher herself a lesbian had always been a safe space to be openly homosexual 3 However it was never exclusively so and as Board said I don t mind those poofs as long as they keep their distance 3 Aged 60 Board stopped drinking brandy for breakfast but continued to drink vodka at home in the morning and from noon to 11 pm would consume vodka and brandy at the club 1 Michael Wojas worked there as a barman and Board s sidekick for 13 years and was bequeathed the club by Board at his 1994 death 4 Personal life editBoard died from cirrhosis 5 on 26 June 1994 1 References edit a b c d e f g h i j Howse Christopher 27 June 1994 Obituary Ian Board The Independent Retrieved 17 June 2021 Jennings Clive 9 May 2018 Drink Up Pay Up F Off Tales from the Colony London s Lost Bohemia artlyst Retrieved 18 June 2021 a b Bennett Oliver 16 January 1999 Licor ish allsorts The Guardian Retrieved 19 June 2021 Willetts Paul 11 June 2010 Michael Wojas obituary The Guardian Retrieved 18 June 2021 Self Will 13 September 2008 The Colony Room Soho will self com Retrieved 18 June 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ian Board amp oldid 1225057721, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
