Our history
Greek Street is often seen as the Gateway to Soho.
London’s famous Greek Street is considered to be one of the main entry points to Soho, given its short walk from Tottenham Court Road station and proximity to Charing Cross Road.
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.
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 just across the street from 56 Greek Street.
Meanwhile, our place 56 Greek Street was originally a residence. By the late 1800s, the building was home to coffee rooms and a restaurant, before becoming a tailors and later offices. We began restoring it to the beautiful venue it now is, in 2019.
Today, our meeting and event venue captures that very essence with fine fabrics, stunning art and impeccable lighting which creates a unique ambiance. Flexible, contemporary and comfortable, our inspiring stack of spaces offer plenty of room to work, meet and get creative. We also accommodate script reads, filming, auditions and launches for the entertainment industry and retail.
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.
