Soho so good.
From a village to a market, factories and sex shops to the bouji entertainment district we now know and love, Soho has gone through many changes over the years.
We take a saunter down Soho’s famous Greek Street.
Some of Soho’s oldest properties can be found on Greek Street, dating back to the 1600s. The name of the street is thought to have come from London’s first Greek Orthodox Church, which was built on nearby Hog Lane following an influx of Greeks in the 17th century.
The oldest building on the block
The House of Charity, more recently known as the House of St Barnabas, was built in 1679 and is today a Grade I listed property.
It originally served as a private residence, before being turned into a commercial building and the HQ… for London’s sewers.
The building became home to the House of Charity in 1846, an ideal of practical Christianity and was a place where anyone could get help or aid without shame.
In the 20th century the building became the House of St Barnabas, a private members club, which closed in 2023.
Some of Greek Street’s oldest taverns and stores still live on today, albeit in different forms or with different names. The Gay Hussar is now Noble Rot, the Pillars of Hercules pub is still serving pints as Simmons, meanwhile the St. James’s & Soho Club is now an art gallery.
Other fun spots on Greek Street include the famous French eatery L’Escargot at No. 48, Josiah Wedgwood’s memorial plaque in Jasperware at No. 12 and the former Establishment Club at No. 18, made famous in the 60s as a home to political satirists.
The real wine house
Greek Street has a vibe like nowhere else that surprises and delights those who visit.
There is a strong musical influence, with famous Amy Winehouse hangout Jazz After Dark at No. 9.
The famous boozer
The Coach & Horses pub is located at No. 29, at the corner with Romilly Street. Soho used to be overrun with Coach & Horses pubs, but then again, there were a lot of coaches… and horses. The hostelries provided welcome respite for the traders and visitors to Greek Street.
There has been a public house called the Coach & Horses on this site since the 1720s. Today it’s home to journalists and political thinkers.
The editorial lunch of Private Eye is held in the Coach and Horses every two weeks.