Hi Sohopeople, I used to work in Soho many years ago and lived down the road in Bloomsbury. I'm enjoying your site, especially the photos which bring back good memories :)

Hello! Thanks for your comment! Do you think Soho has changed much in your opinion? With so many places closing, like the Astoria and the Raymond Review Bar, some friends of mine feel the area could stand to become too generic?

I have an overactive nostalgia gland at the best of times so on a recent trip to Soho (up from the wilds of Devon) with my ten year old daughter I was swimming in memories.  Equally though I was disappointed at how the big name stores had overtaken parts of Covent Garden and the 'dirty' end of Oxford Street.  Where have all the small traders gone?  The seediness of Soho has been partially swept away too, taking with it some of its character I feel.  But that's just soppy old me.

My biggest sadness is the death of the WAG club in Wardour Street - how could they?!

As an old haunter of Soho I miss just about everything from the old days. The sleaze was certainly part of the atmosphere but not the charm. But I'll always retain a fond memory of the Blue Moon. My base was Les Enfants Terribles at 93 Dean St which I see was demolished recently. All the cheap restaurants from the end of Old Compton St have gone so only Paul's is left - a sole survivor of, for us old-timers, better days. The 2 I's was the first to go and the rot really set in when the Marquee went I suppose. But then I lament the closing of the Scene too! And of course the rebuilding of glasshouse st meant the demise of the salt-beef bar - hmmm such a delight! The Kilt in Greek St went (wasn't the building listed?) when Barclays wanted to expand in Soho Sq and even foyles has lost it's quaint billing system! Patisserie Valerie is there but not in spirit and perhaps I'm the only one to not like the overgrown Bar Italia? It used to be a great place to squeeze into for a cuppa and off again! The coffee bars and discothèques gave swinging London real meaning - not that I remember them all but Le Macabre has been mentioned here, Les Enfants of course, La Poubelle II (not I in Poland St nor III in Greek St) in Carlisle St, St Moritz and many more. I remember the opening of Pizza Express in Dean St and the wonder of Italian pizza - no jazz then of course. Tiles came and went leaving lasting memories for all. Carnaby St was most known for the LEB and the tobacconist and Libertys sold ot-pourri sachets in their own prints. Ronny Scott moved and died - cheers Ronny! And the ballerinas lost their hostel. The Bistingo came grew and went and the western shop lasted but a brief moment. The Amalfi too expanded and lost it's soul - the Wimpy Bar became Ed's and the Pollo Bar was demolished. The Italian maffia was replaced by the Maltese maffia but the strippers stayed the same - possibly the prostitutes too. The French house was always a joke 'cos the French wouldn't darken it's doorstep! Always a kinda creepy pub I thought. Floris who made the most divine bread and cakes went? They used to bake real baguettes! The Whiskey à Gogo and Flamingo are no more, but then nor is the Dumpling Inn which I think was the first restaurant establishing chinatown followed by Lee Ho Fook? Here I may be corrected. Fitzrovia must be included as Charlotte St was always a part of Soho . in my head anyway and we regret with loving memories the passing of the Little Acropolis - where I learnt to love souvlakia - much better than Paul's but then his cuisine must be Cypriot I suppose - but it was soooo cheap! An afternoon dansing at Les Enfants, dinner at Paul's, a drink at the Chairmen and back to Les Enfants for an evening of coffee and au pairs ending at the Kilt, Le Bataclan or both. Sweet youth!

I was a little gutted to hear that Starbucks are set to open a new branch in Soho - it always concerns me when I see these big brands creeping into Soho. These big brand coffee shops could never replace the likes of Bar Italia, lets just hope it stays that way