The Colony Room Club in the 1980's

[@stephenbudd3771]

I remember going to the Colony to see The Magic Numbers play… I’m a founder member of The Groucho so we were looked down on by the Colony hard core…. They were drinking all day. I ran Good Earth Studios on the corner of Dean Street from 84-88… the best Soho days…

[@GoldenRatio2]

This is gold. Absolute bloody gold. Many thanks for the upload.

[@chaseruksw]

Updated... thanks

[@chaseruksw]

Ian Board was always friendly to me, mind you I was just starting uni but I can see that he probably became more Alco and sharper as got older as the film shows. I had dinner with him as a guest of Francis B. After closing the club in an Italian nearby ... Romilly St. A beautiful young black girl sitting at the next table with an older guy started singing to him looking into his eyes one hand on his " killing me softly" alcapella, soft then rising melancholy, Crystal clear and pitch perfect, gradually the restaurant noises ceased, people paused looked, in the opening lines she caught everybody's attention. The waiters stood still hands folded, eventually the whole room listened in total silence breathing in the atmosphere. I felt a chill of excitement anticipation ... it was a transitory magical moment of time. "I heard he sang a good song I heard he had a style So I came to see him a And listen for a while And there he was this young guy A stranger to my eyes Strumming my pain with his fingers Singing my life with his words Killing me softly with his song Killing me softly with his song Telling my whole life with his words Killing me softly with his song" I tried to find a youtube version that matched my memory but only Sinatra came close in mood. However if you can imagine a young Floella Benjamin singing. It won't be far off. Bacon had this strange habit of gathering his collar around his neck area raising his head in an arch way and glance disdainfully around those with him. Francis had plain spag with oil, garlic n parmesan, I was sat next to him. I dearly wanted him to sketch something on a napkin for a keep sake but didn't dare ask. Instead I said everyone is ordering everything on the menu btw a great night for the restaurant. But you are having something very basic. it reminded him of his early days in Paris. He was there as a poor art student but quickly found rich older patrons. He was always tipsy rocking slightly unstable never spoke much except to hurl insults at his guests for whom he was paying the bill. Ponces every F***ing one of you ... I enjoyed my expensive spicy king prawns in a succulent tomatoe sauce, buttery crisp saute potatoes v much, drank to excess fruity red wine which magically appeared constantly and kept my head down. Lectures next day with head spinning. Life a lot less exciting now, well maybe not. I don't remember anyone there apart from Denial Farson the presenter who had gotten very. Fat. Lucian F and a lady who owned a restaurant by the Maida Vale canal ... I was given a job for the summer as kitchen porter. It was really good, the rotund chef from Balham always made excellent staff meals. There was also Freddy Murials' accountant, short fat geezer made very good. He lived part of the time with his parents in Essex, shared a mews house in Belgravia ... a stone's throw from the Pig n Whistle with his bf Scots Sammy. Fred also had a beautiful 3 bed cottage near Bury St Edmunds where he gave gr8 weekend parties. Once we went to Robert Carriers place ... Robert always sent over a drink when ever I saw him after that but strangely never said much. Whenever Fred tried to get amorous... I would say "Oh isn't Sammy calling you" lol Btw thanks (S&K) for some gr8 comments. It has inspired me to write a humorous book .. I had my @metoo moment when I asked for a grant from the finance officer to start a social club, a 16 stone prop, jumped on me and wrestled me to the ground 16st v 9.5st. I lived as part of a poly family with the genius founder of David Clulow optics. Dated a famous Hollywood producer who took me to the dome restaurant on sunset. It was like a movie scene, as we walked thru tables stood up air kisses, Two handed handshakes and familial greetings. Became an Apple guru on desktop publishing and ended up working in the city ... where else lol

[@aalexjohna]

They all took turns at your arsehole.

[@steakkidneypie767]

Brilliant

[@chaseruksw]

@@aalexjohna no I am 100% natural top

[@chaseruksw]

@@aalexjohna Francis liked east end rough trade and Ian asexual

[@chaseruksw]

@@steakkidneypie767 updated and thanks

[@chas6778]

I myself was a member from the early days until 1985. As well as Geoffrey Barnard, Peter Sellars, Bert kwock (Cato) Francis Bacon, Michael Elphick and a host of minor celebs drank there, Ian Board lived close to me in Russell Sq, London WC1. Ah they were ths days,

[@derekedge6975]

You mean Jeffrey Bernard?

[@chaseruksw]

Ahhh Ian lived Clare Court ... I went to a party there after the nightclub. Everyone smoked pot and were ages older than me. I was bored and ate most of the walnuts in a bowl, a lady friend came over and admonished me ... leave some for others .. in reality they preferred the weed n drink.. I opened the window to let the warm night air in lay back and enjoyed Richard Harris half sing MacArthur Park, waves of pot drifting over me. Again a night to remember... later I actually went to Los Felez . MP

[@patstocker3658]

@@chaseruksw how fortunate for you to have had the experience meeting Harris and to have heard him mumbling McArthurs Park. It’s one of my most favourite songs . I once saw Richard Harris at a gambling club. Anyway the thing I wanted to say was I was working at the USAF base in West Ruislip, which is where they kept THE nuclear defence plans for the west , in the event of a nuclear strike by the Soviets . High security. I had a sergeant who escorted me everywhere , even to to loo. It was also the day Wilson devalued the pound. Soooo my money was not going to be accepted. I managed to scrounge a few dollars and took myself- and escort off to the officers mess . To say I was peed off would be an understatement. Just as we were leaving someone put on McArthurs Park. 71/2 minutes long . I made the sergeant wait until it ended. Sweet revenge , it lifted my spirit and mood. As I say lucky you. Cheers

[@chaseruksw]

@@patstocker3658 I agree it's on my playlist even though it's a odd song there is a timelessness to it, I have heard many versions but few convey the theatrical desperate tones that only an accomplished actor like Harris can emote. I do think tho we are in a select group who appreciate the oddball lyrics lol

[@jeremyhaines4481]

This is very interesting and pure gold.

[@swearydad]

Excellent. No non-smokers allowed.

[@debraoneill1930]

Lovely to see and hear my Uncle Ian

[@pigknickers2975]

I went there for a drink once, all I remember it was a tiny room, great atmosphere though.

[@BohemianBritain]

So wish we'd been here. But I shall put this on the London Literary Pub Crawl website.

[@aliasad6595]

It was the best place to drink at in London. A great loss.

[@madamedellaporte4214]

Oh, there were others as well.

[@paulphilipempey1]

Great quote in relation to Soho: "It isn't what it used to be, but it never ever was what it was!"

[@illuminant1129]

Indeed. Very true 👍

[@chaseruksw]

Murial always sat at one end of the bar a drink in one hand, a cigarette in the other swearing and encouraging the atmosphere, she was always kindly to me, a stray. I believe she had a gf called Carmel whom I never met. After a typically boozy night Ian invited about 10 people over to his flat in Kings X, Clare Court. It was a typical small one bed. Tiny kitchen and he had a very fat cat which he fed pollock. I have never ever eaten that fish since. In the bathroom I remember the walls were covered in music album covers. Anyway I sat down by the window. Which was open letting in the warm evening air. Everyone was busy drinking n chatting .... I reached up and found a bowl of walnuts and started eating them. Before I knew it most were gone and a lady stormed over and said, "don't you think you should leave some for other guests". I just said ohhh. She retreated. Please ... Everyone was only interested in booze and hash. Then in the very early hours some one put on MacArthur Park with Richard Harris crooning half talking the lyrics. Hash drifted over me, warm air moved in from the window, I was lost in the moment of misspent youth.

[@DerekC10001]

Carmel not Carmen.

[@chaseruksw]

@@DerekC10001 thanks Derek... i never saw her but she was mentioned. Why don't you add your recollections... regards james

[@DerekC10001]

@@chaseruksw You can read all about it in this new book: www.amazon.co.uk/Tales-Colony-Room-Sohos-Bohemia-ebook/dp/B07Y3FVF9N/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=francis+bacon+and+the+colony&qid=1591956105&sr=8-1

[@chaseruksw]

@@DerekC10001 thanks D

[@chaseruksw]

@@DerekC10001 I just took a look at the cover. Yes that's the Muriel I knew and Ian before he became so ... !! That pic must be circa early 70's

[@vouvray59]

1980s. No apostrophe needed.

[@mistofoles]

In his auto-biography, Tom Baker claimed that Ian Board's nose was oft the topic of conversation among regulars of the Colony Room...I never noticed before, but I see what Tom meant now...Ian's nose looks like an aubergine !

[@madamedellaporte4214]

It got bigger and mauve. Brandy.

[@nataliesmith6489]

Wow,wish I could of been there,such a feeling of being able to be yourself

[@outtour7518]

Is there anywhere like this in London today?

[@mistofoles]

Tom Baker was a regular patron there in the 70s.

[@debraoneill8273]

Can someone tell me how Uncle Ian broke his shoulder. Thank you. Have a book coming about the Colony Room, looks like a good read.

[@derekedge6975]

Would that book be by Sophie Parkin?

[@anthonymitchell8893]

young aggressive scottish rent boy in a squat in kings cross

[@davidgrahamscott]

A good posting!!

[@mistofoles]

I think the barman was called Michael. He was involved in a bit of a debacle over proprietershp when Ian died.

[@triflebizarre]

There was nobody to take over his position. He had no choice but to sell up after the lease expired. His name was Michael Wojas. He was an extraordinarily kind man. RIP.

[@LisaMarie-xp4ym]

Happen to have his death mask on my sofa waiting for a show…

[@bigjohnknew]

Ian (rip) strikes me as someone who was partial to a fair amount of roughish trade and without knowing anything about this man I am going to go out on a limb here and take a punt that he died as a result of complications relating to excessive alcohol consumption e.g cirrhosis of the liver. Edit: I was correct

[@xlenau]

Is this taken from something longer? May I ask from what if that is the case?

[@DerekC10001]

It's from a BBC programme called "Just Another Day" (1985), John Pitman talks to people who live and work in Soho. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00s1mq1/Just_Another_Day_Series_2_Soho/

[@xlenau]

DerekC10001 Thank you.

[@BohemianBritain]

Yes, thanks.

[@nickpalmer3076]

Wish I could have gone there.

[@DerekC10001]

A new book about the Colony was published a few weeks ago (May 2020)."Tales from the Colony Room: Soho's Lost Bohemia". It attempts to give an idea of the atmosphere of the place: www.amazon.co.uk/Tales-Colony-Room-Sohos-Bohemia/dp/1783528168/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1590480334&sr=8-1

[@nickpalmer3076]

Derek thank you so much . I will look this up. Funny enough a friend messaged me today he went there and said Muriel Belcher was an extradionary woman..

[@nickpalmer3076]

Just ordered the book from Amazon . Thank you.

[@anthonymitchell8893]

@@nickpalmer3076 my dad would have given her a good back hander for sure a big cheese in her own domain no where else

[@michaelmcmahon7073]

Does anyone know what the cost for membership was? And was it exclusive to those within the arts? Really fascinates me ..

[@DerekC10001]

It was, I think, around £50 a year and no it wasn't limited to those in the "arts".

[@michaelmcmahon7073]

was this at the concept of the club? Did you meet Muriel ?

[@tomkent4656]

And the price of drinks were double those of nearby pubs!

[@chaseruksw]

@@michaelmcmahon7073 because of licensing rules it operated outside of regs as a private club for hard drinkers outside pub hours n late nights

[@LisaMarie-xp4ym]

Yup £50

[@mistofoles]

Apparently, if Muriel Belcher referred to you as "Cunty", it was a term of affection !

[@LisaMarie-xp4ym]

‘The Gargoyle… ‘“You mean Blacks Ian.”

[@AlexanderVerney-Elliott-ep7dw]

Will Self rightly wrote of Ian Board in The Guardian (6 September, 2018): "I must state for the record that Board was a nasty piece of work, with a vicious tongue and little of the wit Howse ascribes to him, unless you consider peppering your discourse with “c..t” in all its possible variations - nounal, adjectival, verbal, conjunctive - to be hilarious. His predecessor at the Colony was Muriel Belcher, the original Queen of Soho, but while Board also aspired (on grounds of sexuality, at least) to the same title, the truth was that like most chronic alcoholics he was an embittered and resentful creep. He was a pander and a pimp as well. Howse seems to have been blinded - perhaps by his spiritual inclinations - to the truly dark side of Soho. I was privy to major drug deals that were set up in the Colony, as well as other genuinely criminal enterprises, rather than merely farcical ones." Ian Board was sexist and misogynistic, bitter and twisted; an evil queen despised and detested by both Francis Bacon and Muriel Belcher.

[@madamedellaporte4214]

When I was there for a stint, two famous band members had coke lined on their members and asked if anybody wanted some.

[@anthonymitchell8893]

@@madamedellaporte4214 nothing special happened all the time the o e you mention is Freddie and Elton im very conventional so had to decline the offer

[@messiahgodstar7609]

Hi

[@mistofoles]

How did he break his shoulder?

[@jsidwell05]

He dropped his handbag, no doubt!

[@eppiehemsley6556]

Pissed and fell over is the likely explanation.

[@alastairgreen2077]

1980s

[@vincentmcgrath4179]

Very depressing looking place, I used to know the lady in the hat had completely forgotten her. Wolf self is a bundle of laughs, we can all see what the guy was like

[@AlexanderVerney-Elliott-ep7dw]

I met Ian Board when he had his arm in a sling as seen here in 1983. Board was wa an evil old queen who used to rob Muriel blund! Bacon hated him!

[@DerekC10001]

This individual has been described by a number of Colony Room Club members as a fantasist and who's comments should be ignored.

[@MontyCantsin5]

@@DerekC10001: Alex Russell, a fantasist? Surely not...

[@salvadormarley2360]

@@DerekC10001 Who, Board or Alexander?

[@alfielb8040]

@@DerekC10001 what a bizarre history Alex V-E has. The son of Ken Russell and assistant con-artist www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/crime-court/tony-cochran-conman-psychoanalyst-from-camden-must-never-be-able-to-commit-crime-again-1-4626685

[@carlfriedman7127]

Yoiks.. Tallyho.. Soho. Not convinced.

[@123paul]

Full of real third raters.

[@AlexanderVerney-Elliott-ep7dw]

The Colony Room was certainly a very interesting place up until around 1970; but with the sad death of Muriel Belcher in 1979, The Colony Room died as well, and yet no one noticed, and we ended-up having 'low-grade' Colony Room 'members' such as all the following totally-insignificant non-entities like: Damien Hirst, Sebastian Horsley, Sarah Lucas, Gavin Turk, Kate Moss, Michael Clark, Tracey Emin, Victor Lewis-Smith, John Maybury, Christine Keeler, John McVicar and Darren Coffield - who has very embarrassingly exhibited his awfully dull jigsaw-cut-and-paste paintings along-side extremely badly faked 'Francis Bacon Italian Drawings' mass-produced by the fraudster-conman Cristiano Lovatelli Ravarino and shamefully and disgracefully endorsed, even promoted, by Edward Lucie Smith and who was so obviously only doing it for the money because there could be no other possible logical reason for such a 'Renowned Art Critic' to 'legitimate' such obviously (overly) bad fakes as these 'spastisch-kinder' Cristiano Kitsch coloured-crayon baby Bacon scribbles).

[@bobpeckham7637]

A smelly bunch of toffs and would be "Artsy -crafty" toffs lording it over us workers and proletarians ! These reactionaries have now been cleaned out and the peoples revolution sallies forth under the splendid sparkling banner of Marx our hero ! Long live the workers revolutionary socialist "Shining path" party of freedom and liberation from the consumerist nightmare of profiteering robber- baron reactionaries!

[@andydixon2980]

I would have pretended to be gay just to get in.

[@deadsouls72]

1:17 - Christopher Hitchens?

[@huub1989]

Yes, Unmistakable hair.

[@MontyCantsin5]

Doesn’t look like Christopher Hitchens at all.