The Flamingo Club

ABOUT

The Flamingo was a basement jazz and rhythm and blues club at 33-37 Wardour Street in Soho. Jeff Kruger founded it near Leicester Square in 1952 and moved it to Wardour Street in 1957, where the Gunnell brothers ran weekend all-nighters. The premises are now an O'Neill's pub.

SIGNIFICANCE

Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames were the club's biggest draw from 1962. In January 1963 Melody Maker advertised the Rolling Stones on the Flamingo's Monday nights, and Jimi Hendrix made an early UK appearance there.

MUSIC & CHARACTER

SOURCES

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

1. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/jeff-kruger-businessman-who-opened-the-flamingo-club-which-was-at-the-epicentre-of-the-british-jazz-and-rnb-scene-9428501.html (news article)Supports: Jeff Kruger opened the Flamingo in September 1952 in the basement of the Mapleton Hotel in Leicester Square and moved it to 33/37 Wardour Street in 1957.
2. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/jun/18/guardianobituaries.obituaries (news article)Supports: The Gunnell brothers ran Friday and Saturday all-nighters at Wardour Street; Georgie Fame's Blue Flames became the club's biggest draw from 1962.
3. https://www.westminsterextra.co.uk/article/plaque-honours-jeffrey-kruger-pioneer-of-sohos-flamingo-club (news article)Supports: A plaque unveiled at 33-37 Wardour Street in 2017, arranged by Kruger's daughter, marks the club as 'the home of jazz & rhythm & blues', 1957-1967.
4. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Melody-Maker/60s/63/Melody-Maker-1963-01-19.pdf (news article)Supports: In January 1963 the Flamingo billed the Rolling Stones on Monday nights, alongside Georgie Fame (Sunday afternoons) and Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated (Thursdays).