The Bag O'Nails, live music club and meeting place for musicians in Soho, London, England
The Bag O'Nails was a nightclub located at 9 Kingly Street in Soho, London, opening in 1966 and remaining active into the early 1970s. The venue was intimate in size but energetic, hosting live bands almost every night and attracting both established and emerging artists.
The club opened in 1966 with Tony Knight's Chessmen and quickly became a stage for both rising and established bands, notably hosting Jimi Hendrix's first London performance in November 1966. Under management by Colin Richardson and Rik Gunnell, the venue cycled through numerous acts across rhythm and blues, rock, and soul, shaping the musical landscape of the era.
The venue served as a gathering point where musicians from different backgrounds met and collaborated during the 1960s. Stories of chance encounters between artists highlight how the space functioned as a social hub beyond just live performances.
The site is located in Soho and is now occupied by a different business, though traces of its past remain visible in the building structure. Visitors can walk past the location and imagine the music and energy that filled the space during the 1960s.
Paul McCartney met Linda Eastman, who became his wife, at the club in May 1967, a chance encounter that shaped his personal life and later work. Similarly, Justin Hayward from The Moody Blues met his future spouse there, showing how the venue intertwined personal moments with musical history.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
