The 2 I’s Coffee Bar was a coffee bar in the basement at 59 Old Compton Street, Soho, London, England, between 1956 and 1970. It was owned by Paul Lincoln, a wrestler and wrestling promoter. Coffeehouse in Damascus This article is about an establishment where coffee is sold and consumed. ... Old Compton Street street-sign Old Compton Street is located in Soho, London, England. ... Soho is an area of central Londons West End, in the borough of the City of Westminster. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

The coffee bar had live music and several stars were discovered or performed at the coffee bar, including Cliff Richard, Hank Marvin, Tommy Steele, Carlo Little, Joe Brown, Wally Whyton, Paul Gadd (later to be known as Gary Glitter), Ritchie Blackmore, Alex Wharton, Mickie Most and Big Jim Sullivan. This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... Hank B. Marvin (born Brian Robson Rankin, 28 October 1941, Newcastle upon Tyne, England) is the lead guitarist of the (mainly) instrumental group The Shadows, formed initially as a backing band for Cliff Richard. ... Image:TommySteele1. ... Carl ONeil Little, better known as Carlo Little, (born 17 December 1938, Wembley, Middlesex, died of lung cancer on 6 August 2005 in Jarrow, Tyne and Wear) was an influential rock and roll drummer based on the London club scene in the 1960s. ... Joe Brown (born Joseph Roger Brown on 13 May 1941, in Swarby, Lincolnshire) was a popular British entertainer of the 1960s and beyond. ... Wakky Whyton (1929-1997) British musician and radio personality. ... Paul Francis Gadd aka Gary Glitter (born May 8, 1944) is an English rock and pop singer and songwriter best-known artistically for a collection of 1970s glam rock hits including Rock and Roll parts 1 & 2, I Love You Love Me Love, Im the Leader of the Gang... Richard Hugh Blackmore, (born 14 April 1945) is an English guitarist. ... Alex Wharton (born 1939) later also known as Alex Murray formed a singing duo with Micky Most when they both worked in the famous 2Is coffee bar in Londons Soho. ... Mickie Most, born Michael Peter Hayes- (June 20, 1938- May 30, 2003), successful record producer notably with a string of Number 1 hit singles with his own RAK Recordslabel and acts such as The Animals, Hermans Hermits, Donovan, and Suzi Quatro. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ...

On 18 September 2006, a Green Plaque was unveiled at the site of the 2 I's coffee bar to commemorate its existence. Today it is the Boulevard Bar and Dining Room; the basement is simply a lobby area.

References

• 2 I's Coffee Bar UK Studios by Joe Moretti
• Confessors of a Sixties Drummer by Carlo Little

External links

• Reportage Special: 2is legendary 50s Soho coffee bar — photographs.