I realise that this is a Birmingham forum but I feel that the 2i’s coffee bar in Soho, London can not go unmentioned – unless it has already been featured.
For a short time, from 1956, it was probably the most famous music venue in Britain. It had a basement with live music that inspired teenagers throughout the Country. Initially, the resident group was the Vipers skiffle group, my favourites because I always thought they were more authentic than Lonnie Donegan. Also, several recording stars were discovered here i.e. Tommy Steele, Cliff Richard, Hank Marvin, Adam Faith, Joe Brown and many more.
One Friday night in January 1961, a small group of us from the Midland Jazz Club travelled to the Lyceum Ballroom in London to go to an all night jazz ball. The following morning, we went to the 2i’s coffee bar but were quite disappointed to find it almost empty with no atmosphere. probably because all the rock’n’rollers were still in bed, and by this time, I think the 2i’s had lost its popularity. It closed in 1970