Whats this?
There's more to our wallpaper icons than meets the eye.
In fact, each one is taken from a fun and fascinating thing you may not know about Soho...
Fact #28
MR LOVER LOVER
Casanova stayed at 47 Greek Street in 1764.
Fact #27
THIS ISN’T JUST
ANY GYM
M&S; opened their first permanent store on Manchester’s
Stretford Road in 1894.
Fact #26
SNOW JOKE
Dr. Jon Snow’s heroic work helped control a cholera
outbreak in Soho.
Fact #25
SHAKE IT UP
BABY, NOW
The Beatles’ tailor Dougie Millings had his first shop on
Old Compton Street.
Fact #24
QUITE A CATCH
The name ‘Soho’ comes from an old hunting cry.
Fact #23
BEST FOOT FORWARD
The mock Tudor cottage in Soho Square covers a
ventilation shaft for an electrical transformer station.
Fact #22
PERSONAL BEST
A nine year-old Mozart gave public afternoon
performances from his temporary residence
in Frith Street.
Fact #21
BEST IN TOWN
In 1898 Soho was the violin-making centre
of Great Britain, with all the best violin
dealers found on Wardour Street.
Fact #20
SOCIABLE TYPES
The Ancient Order of Druids first met at The King’s Arms
on Poland Street.
Fact #19
SHAKE THINGS UP
London’s first disco, La Poubelle, opened in Soho’s
Poland Street in 1959.
Fact #18
STREETS OF LOVE
The Rolling Stones’ first ever performance was in July 1962
at the Marquee Club on Wardour Street.
Fact #17
NEW YEAR,
NEW LOOK
The first ever person to appear on television was office
boy William Taynton, approached on Frith Street for
John Logie Baird’s 1925 experiment.
Fact #16
GLAD TIDINGS
WE BRING
The House of St. Barnabas in Soho has a penny chute in the
railings that accepts donations for the charity.
Fact #15
JUST THE JOB
In 1925, Dean Street Townhouse was the infamous
Gargoyle Club – French Painter Henri Matisse designed
the decor of its ballroom.
Fact #14
LOOKING TASTY
‘La Terrazza’ on Romilly Street introduced Italian cuisine
to swinging London.
Fact #13
GET SOCIAL
Marx and Engels devised the communist manifesto at
meetings in the Red Lion pub on Great Windmill Street
Fact #12
TOO SEXY FOR OUR SHIRTS
The Sex Pistols lived above 6 Denmark Street during
the 1970s, where they also recorded their first demos
Fact #11
GETTING ENOUGH?
Casanova stayed at 47 Greek Street in 1764
Fact #10
GET THE KETTLE ON
The Algerian Coffee co. on Old Compton Street has been there
since
1887 and sells one tonne of coffee every week
Fact #9
ROYAL TREATMENT
Princess Di used to be a regular at our Earls Court gym
Fact #8
LOOKING GOOD, SOHO
The ‘2 Is’ coffee bar on Old Compton Street saw Britain’s first
rock n’ rollers perform.
Fact #7
KINKY BOOTS
The Kinks namecheck Wardour Street in ‘Lola’ and
Carnaby Street in ‘Dedicated Follower of Fashion’.
Fact #6
WE NEVER CLOSED
The famous boast of The Windmill Theatre on Great Windmill Street,
where burlesque shows defied Blitz bombs.
Fact #5
LOVIN’ THIS CLUB
Dean Street’s Groucho Club was named after Groucho Marx’s quip:
‘I wouldn’t join a club that would have me as a member’.
Fact #4
SNOW FIT, SNOW FRIENDLY
Dr. Jon Snow’s heroic work helped control a cholera outbreak in Soho.
Fact #3
Doctor Doctor
In Robert Louis Stevenson's famous story, good Dr. Jekyll's dastardly alter ego Mr. Hyde...hides out in Soho.
Fact #2
Looking Fab
The Beatles’ tailor Dougie Millings had his first shop on Old Compton Street
Fact #1
HUNTIN’ SHOOTIN’ FISHIN’
The name ‘Soho’ comes from an old hunting cry
