The 2i's Coffee Bar

ABOUT

The 2i's was a coffee bar with a basement music room at 59 Old Compton Street in Soho. It ran from 1956 to 1970, the years given on the green plaque Westminster City Council put up in 2006. The site is now part of Poppies Fish & Chips.

SIGNIFICANCE

Tommy Steele was one of the first singers found at the 2i's, in 1956, and the BBC broadcast Six-Five Special from its basement in November 1957. In April 1958 Harry Webb, later Cliff Richard, asked to sing there, and that summer Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch, who had come down from Newcastle, met him there.

MUSIC & CHARACTER

SOURCES

Details compiled from public sources. Run this venue? Get in touch to confirm or correct the listing.

1. https://londonist.com/2006/09/2is (news article)Supports: The plaque was unveiled on 18 September 2006; Cliff Richard spoke and helped unveil it.
2. https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/a-cellarful-of-noise (news article)Supports: Tommy Steele was among the first performers discovered at the 2i's, in 1956, with the Vipers as his impromptu backing band there.
3. https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/the-2is-and-the-birth-of-british-rock (news article)Supports: In November 1957 the BBC broadcast Six-Five Special from the 2i's basement.
4. https://www.westminster.gov.uk/sites/default/files/green_plaque_full_list.pdf (official website)Supports: A City of Westminster green plaque at 59 Old Compton Street marks the site and dates the coffee bar 1956-1970.