Behind this unassuming door at 10 Great Newport Street, once was the glorious Studio 51, famous for its Ken Colyer Club.
Originally a studio and rehearsal space in the basement of these premises, in 1951 the place started hosting jazz nights several nights a week. After Ken Colyer’s return from his New Orleans trip, a club in his name started on Monday nights from 1954 and soon expanded to four nights, whereas modern jazz was dropped.
It’s here where, when Rhythm and Blues took over in the ‘60s, Eric Clapton played his first gig with The Yardbirds and where The Beatles gifted The Rolling Stones with their first big hit, I Wanna Be Your Man. The Stones had a residency here in 1963. The venue closed down in 1972.
The building is now called The Colyer and hosts 14 luxury apartments.
Address: 10 Great Newport St, London WC2H
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