The Speakeasy Club

ABOUT

The Speakeasy Club, known as the Speak, was a late-night club in the basement of 48 Margaret Street, Fitzrovia, open from 1966 to 1978. It was themed on American Prohibition-era bars, with a coffin as the reception desk, and musicians and record-industry staff went there after hours. The address is now BEAT London, a private members' club.

SIGNIFICANCE

King Crimson played their first gig there on 9 April 1969. In 1967 a party at the club brought The Beatles together with three of The Monkees, and The Who referred to the club on The Who Sell Out the same year. In the early hours of 12 March 1977, two days after signing to A&M, members of the Sex Pistols were involved in a scuffle there with Old Grey Whistle Test presenter Bob Harris, and A&M ended their contract days later.

MUSIC & CHARACTER

SOURCES

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

1. https://archive.org/details/beatles-monthly-50 (news article)Supports: The Beatles' own monthly magazine reported a party at the Speakeasy in 1967 at which The Beatles met Micky Dolenz, Mike Nesmith and Peter Tork of The Monkees; Eric Clapton, Keith Moon and Procol Harum were among the guests.
2. https://fitzrovianews.com/2016/03/14/speakeasy-where-the-who-could-drink-easy-pull-easy/ (news article)Supports: Laurie O'Leary, a childhood friend of the Kray twins, was hired in 1968 to help run the club, which was in the basement of 48 Margaret Street.
3. https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3175141/1/DX180707_1.pdf (book)Supports: In the early hours of 12 March 1977, two days after the Sex Pistols signed to A&M outside Buckingham Palace, members of the band were involved in a scuffle with Old Grey Whistle Test presenter Bob Harris at the Speakeasy; A&M then ended the contract.
4. https://vanda-production-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/2016/11/10/10/12/57/11547859-6aae-4cb4-a477-b2d15a1a3738/revs_walking_map.pdf (official website)Supports: The Speakeasy at 48 Margaret Street was themed on American Prohibition-era speakeasies and was used by record-industry staff looking for new British rock bands from 1966 to 1978; The Who referred to it on The Who Sell Out, and The Beatles threw a party for The Monkees there in 1967.
5. https://www.dgmlive.com/in-depth/epitaph-sleeve-notes-from-the-boxed-set (official website)Supports: King Crimson played their first gig at the Speakeasy on 9 April 1969.
6. https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/dancers-at-the-speakeasy-a-london-nightclub-near-oxford-news-photo/3436755 (news article)Supports: In 1967 the club's entrance hall was decorated like a funeral parlour, with a coffin as the reception desk.