Handout picture showing fans gathered in the basement of the "Two I's" Coffee Bar in Soho to watch the drum marathon by Rory Blackwell. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday September 18, 2006. Cliff Richard joined a host of other singers and musicians as they commemorate what used to be 2i's Coffee Bar, a coffee shop and music venue in the 1950's, on Old Compton Street in Soho, central London. The site, which now houses Boulevard Bar & Dining Room, was having a plaque unveiled as it is credited with being the birthplace of British rock and roll. Westminster City Council has mounted one of its Green Plaques in honour of the 2i's Coffee Bar and its unique contribution to the history of British popular music. PRESS ASSOCIATION PHOTO. Photo credit should read: Topham Picturepoint / PA
My friend, David, and I used to come up from our homes in Kent and spend time at the 2i's. We also frequented the "Heaven & Hell" coffee bar and listened to smooth jazz at "The Flamingo" where Ronnie Scott, Tubby Hayes, Tony Kinsey, Bill LeSage used to play. This was before Ronnie opened his own club.
19th Jul 2012
I remember going to the 2i's in the 50's and also Cy Lauries Jazz Club in Windmill St - good old days!
19th Jul 2012
I also used to come up from Kent to the 2i's, Heaven and Hell, the Flamingo and dont forget the first ever Gaggia coffee machine at the Kaliderscope cafe in Wardour Street. How about the White Bear Inn.
20th Jul 2012
In the 50's and early 60's we remember the 2i's Heaven & Hell, Flamingo, Florida Club, Whisky aGogo Club in Leicester Sq. We also went to The Coffin Club in Meard St off Wardour St. There was a basement Club im Litchfield St called Bunges where all the jazz musicians would turn up for a late night drink after their gigs around London. Acker Bilt was a regular and I remember meeting Champion Jack Dupree a real character and a very 'individual' pianist!
20th Jul 2012
Back in 1958 I use to work at the 2i´s during the day serving behind the counter and some nights I would play bass in the basement. When I think about the size of that basement I wonder at the amount of people Tom Littlewood squeezed in there. At the end of the cellar we would have to open the the small windows that were high in the basement but were street level in Old Compton Street to get some air down there. Exciting times with many famous people coming to listen to the rock music played.
23rd Jul 2012
My friend Doreen and I used to go to the 2i's and Heaven and Hell, and the Kaleidoscope back in the mid '50's - she worked at the AA on Picaddilly and I worked at a firm on Shaftesbury Avenue. I cannot remember the name of our favourite lunch place on Picaddilly, we would sit at a lunch counter in front of a long window, and watch the world go by, while I drank a hot milk with a dash of coffee!
20th Mar 2013
My friends & I lived in Bow & we used to visit the 2i's, Coffee An', Whisky a Go Go, Marquee, The Scotch Club,The Box (Oxford St) etc., in the 60's. We were only just 16/17 then. We absolutely loved the atmosphere, the fashion & everything that was going on then. You could see pop stars & meet them easily then. We even managed to cut some hair from Pete Townsend & Keith Moon in a pub before they played.The pub owner lent us the scissors. I still have the locks now.
8 comments
My friend, David, and I used to come up from our homes in Kent and spend time at the 2i's. We also frequented the "Heaven & Hell" coffee bar and listened to smooth jazz at "The Flamingo" where Ronnie Scott, Tubby Hayes, Tony Kinsey, Bill LeSage used to play. This was before Ronnie opened his own club.
19th Jul 2012
I remember going to the 2i's in the 50's and also Cy Lauries Jazz Club in Windmill St - good old days!
19th Jul 2012
I also used to come up from Kent to the 2i's, Heaven and Hell, the Flamingo and dont forget the first ever Gaggia coffee machine at the Kaliderscope cafe in Wardour Street. How about the White Bear Inn.
20th Jul 2012
In the 50's and early 60's we remember the 2i's Heaven & Hell, Flamingo, Florida Club, Whisky aGogo Club in Leicester Sq. We also went to The Coffin Club in Meard St off Wardour St. There was a basement Club im Litchfield St called Bunges where all the jazz musicians would turn up for a late night drink after their gigs around London. Acker Bilt was a regular and I remember meeting Champion Jack Dupree a real character and a very 'individual' pianist!
20th Jul 2012
Back in 1958 I use to work at the 2i´s during the day serving behind the counter and some nights I would play bass in the basement. When I think about the size of that basement I wonder at the amount of people Tom Littlewood squeezed in there. At the end of the cellar we would have to open the the small windows that were high in the basement but were street level in Old Compton Street to get some air down there. Exciting times with many famous people coming to listen to the rock music played.
23rd Jul 2012
My friend Doreen and I used to go to the 2i's and Heaven and Hell, and the Kaleidoscope back in the mid '50's - she worked at the AA on Picaddilly and I worked at a firm on Shaftesbury Avenue. I cannot remember the name of our favourite lunch place on Picaddilly, we would sit at a lunch counter in front of a long window, and watch the world go by, while I drank a hot milk with a dash of coffee!
20th Mar 2013
My friends & I lived in Bow & we used to visit the 2i's, Coffee An', Whisky a Go Go, Marquee, The Scotch Club,The Box (Oxford St) etc., in the 60's. We were only just 16/17 then. We absolutely loved the atmosphere, the fashion & everything that was going on then. You could see pop stars & meet them easily then. We even managed to cut some hair from Pete Townsend & Keith Moon in a pub before they played.The pub owner lent us the scissors. I still have the locks now.
20th Mar 2013