The death of old Soho: How cultural hotspot is battling 'becoming just another ... trends now
It was once the seedy underbelly of the capital that served as a mecca for tortured artists, mafia bosses and hedonists alike.
But decades later, London's Soho district, once overflowing with bars and late-night music venues, is at risk of becoming 'just another Shoreditch' as it battles a surging wave of Nimbyism from a 'small minority' of wealthy residents.
Few would welcome the return of the 1960s underworld and the reign of the notorious Kray Twins (who ran The Hide-A-Way club on Gerrard Street) - but for most locals there is an undeniable yearning for the charm of yesteryear.
It comes as yet another iconic venue - Trisha's - was revealed to be facing closure this week following complaints by a millionaire neighbour over noise and alleged 'drug use'.
Some 15 years ago you might have seen Amy Winehouse's beehive bobbing about in the smoking area of the speakeasy, which has existed on Greek Street for more than 80 years.
Legendary music producer Mark Ronson and the late Peaches Geldof were also pictured walking through its iconic blue door - now black - following in the footsteps of Led Zeppelin and the late Anthony Bourdain.
Some 15 years ago you might have seen Amy Winehouse's beehive bobbing about in the smoking area of the speakeasy Trisha's, which has existed on Greek Street for more than 80 years (Pictured: Winehouse at Jazz After Dark in Soho in 2008)
The late Peaches Geldof leaves Trisha's back in 2008, while right, legendary music producer Mark Ronson
The closure of Trisha's, considered the last surviving connection to the 'old school Soho', could be seen by many as the final death knell for the area's once unique nightlife.
Reminiscing about its historic past, a bartender told Dazed magazine in 2020 how long-time owner Trisha Bergonzi once told Jimmy Page to 'f*** off' when he asked her to make him a cheese toastie on a packed-out Friday night.
Tracy Kawalik recalled: 'The following Monday, the band's manager came back in and reminded Trish what had happened. She had no clue who they were and apologised immediately, to which their manager said: ''Jimmy was made up. No one's ever told him to f*** off in Soho before'''.
It's one of thousands of anecdotes over the years that could have only come out of Soho.
In decades past, you could have easily bumped into Bernard and Lucien Freud in the iconic Coach and Horses pub, or the Rolling Stones at the Bricklayer's Arms.
A record shop on the corner of Broadwick Street and Duck Lane is where the band is believed to have first rehearsed - before their debut gig in 1962 at the Marquee Club on Oxford Street.
Reggie Kray with actress Barbara Windsor and her then husband Ronnie Knight, an associate of the Krays, at the twins' El Morocco nightclub, in Soho, London, April 1965
David Bowie at the Wag Club in London's Soho for a one-off screening at the MTV Awards
Fortunately, these venues - bar the Marquee Club - have survived the onslaught of gentrification that has decimated the area's nightlife since the end of the 1990s.
Much of this has been blamed on so-called yuppies who are accused of moving into the area - known for its nightlife - before complaining to the council about noise and late-night openings, causing licences to be revoked.
George Hudson, who manages and lives above Soho's Piano Bar, admitted there is a genuine concern that the neighbourhood will become 'another Shoreditch'.
The east London neighbourhood is a case study in how gentrification often prices out the very communities that made an area so creative and individual in the first place.
George said there are a 'small minority' of residents who are blocking new night time venues from opening in Soho, particularly ones who moved in during Covid.
The club owner is currently in the process of trying to open a new live music venue on Carnaby street.
He told MailOnline today: 'We've had consultations and some residents were complaining saying ''oh it was much quieter during Covid lockdown'' and you think well yes of course it was.'
The New Evaristo Club, affectionately known as Trisha's in honour of its longtime Italian matriarch, has been a mainstay of the area for more than 80 years and counts Amy Winehouse and Jimmy Page as former patrons. (Pictured: The late Anthony Bourdain (right) with Marco Pierre White at Trisha's in Soho)
Rolling Stones perform onstage at the Angus pub in Soho, London, England, 1963. Visible are Mick Jagger (left) and Charlie Watts (1941 - 2021), on drums
He said the older venues are 'withering away' and that residents' complaints are making it more and more difficult to open later.
The iconic Ronnie Scott's, where Lady Gaga has been known to give impromptu performances, has recently stopped putting on its late-night shows.
George added: 'Soho is seeing a slow decline that will never come back if it is not dealt with soon, it's quite critical actually.'
David Taylor, co-founder of Balans, a much-loved restaurant which has been on Old Compton Street since 1987, agreed.
He told MailOnline today: 'The nightlife has taken a real hit, that's what made Soho the fun place, now it's more of a dining destination and far too controlled.
He added: 'We need more vision from the council, there are a handful of voting residents that have a lot of sway.'
David insisted there is still a lot of love for Soho, however, adding that 'it will always be our home and an iconic part of London.'
He continued: 'The 70s and 80s were totally romanticised. It was a pretty dark place with gangs and a lot of corruption. Soho has always been pretty Bohemian and an edgy place.
'The late 80s breathed life into Soho with the birth of the nightlife scene, it was totally transformed.
'The 90s were the golden days and that's when we saw Soho in its prime. The food scene was buzzing, come 2023 it still is, but it just looks different.'
Christmas Lights pictured in Carnaby Street in December 1967, compared with the same view of the same road having been pedestrianised today
Members of the public walk along Carnaby Street, Soho, which is today lined with Swatch, Cooper and Ray Ban shops. The road has also been pedestrianised
He added: 'There is still a real love and appetite for Soho, alfresco dining during the pandemic cemented this, The Soho Estate initiated the scheme, it's a shame it wasn't allowed to continue post pandemic and we couldn't maintain the spirit for more outdoor seating and less traffic.'
Venues that service the LGBTQ+ community have arguably been the most impacted in recent years. The closure of Madame Jojo's in 2014 over a 'serious incident of disorder' was a massive blow.
The bar, first opened as a burlesque club in 1960, had become a go-to safe haven for the capital's queer population. It followed the closure of legendary haunt Astoria in 2009. The club, opened in 1976, was torn down to make way for the Elizabeth Line.
Londoner James Gullis, who has been visiting Soho for decades, told MailOnline: 'The gradual sanitisation of Soho in London leaves behind a melancholic void.
'It highlights the unfortunate erosion of the very essence that made Soho a beacon of individuality and unfiltered experiences.
'In today's society, where conformity often reigns, places like Soho serve as essential reminders of the power of diversity and the importance of embracing the unconventional.'
He added: 'We must advocate for the preservation of such spaces, as they serve as timeless reminders of our collective need for unapologetic self-expression and the celebration of our authentic selves.'
Shoppers and market traders at Berwick Street Market, Soho, looking towards Peter Street in 1961, alongside the modern day view
Soho Street and Brewer Street are seen containing an 'over 18 only cinema', today it is a Prowler - the flagship outlet of the UK's largest gay lifestyle superstore
St Anne's Court lined with signs for clubs and shops, with the corner of the Rose and Crown pub in Dean Street, in the foreground. The exterior of the building has now been transformed
But John James, who runs property firm Soho
