The Troubadour Earl's Court

The Story

Founded in 1954 by Michael and Sheila van Bloemen as part of London's second wave of bohemian coffee houses, it is now one of the city's oldest independent venues. In December 1962, Bob Dylan played his first London gig here under the pseudonym Blind Boy Grunt, where he met British folklorist Martin Carthy. Carthy's version of Scarborough Fair inspired Dylan, and later Paul Simon, who played here in June 1964 and absorbed Carthy's fingerpicking technique that would shape the sound of Simon & Garfunkel. Jimi Hendrix played here in jam sessions in the late 60s shortly after arriving in London. Charlie Watts, Joni Mitchell, Elton John, Morrissey, Elvis Costello and Led Zeppelin have all passed through here. Adele and Ed Sheeran came decades later. Private Eye was founded here in 1961. In 1968, the Black Panthers used the Troubadour as a meeting point after the Paris protests. Still active at the same address with a cafe, restaurant, secret garden, and hotel rooms.

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