Punk (and reggae) history right here!
Formerly used as a warehouse to serve the Covent Garden wholesale fruit and vegetable market, in 1970 this place was converted to a late-night bar called the Chaguaramas Club. At that time it was owned by record producer Tony Ashfield, who had several hits with 1970s reggae star John Holt.
The Roxy was started, later, by Andrew Czezowski, Susan Carrington and Barry Jones in December 1976. The first show, on the 14th of December, was Generation X, a band Czezowski managed. The second on the following night was The Heartbreakers. The third, on 21 December, featured Siouxsie and the Banshees and Generation X. However, it was The Clash and The Heartbreakers that headlined the official gala opening on the 1st of January 1977 – which was filmed by Julien Temple and finally screened on BBC Four on 1 January 2015 as The Clash: New Year’s Day ’77.
Don Letts was the resident DJ at the club and he was instrumental in encouraging punk rockers to embrace reggae.
Today the site is the flagship store for the swimwear brand Speedo, but there’s a memorial plaque to remember and celebrate its punk days.
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