The Birth of British Rock

Britain's answer to Elvis, the pop singer Cliff Richard, unveiled one of London's famous blue plaques outside the Boulevard Bar and Dining Room in Old Compton Street in Soho yesterday. It marks the fact that it was downstairs here, in what is now on the way to the toilets, that Britain's rock 'n' roll scene was born.

Cliff Richard along with other 1950s pop stars such as Adam Faith, Tommy Steele and Cliff's future backing band, The Shadows, all played in the 2 i's when it was the place to be in the London music scene. People from the Liverpool rock world, like the early manager of The Beatles, Allan Williams, would travel 200 miles to London's 2 i's to hang out, find out what was happening and make contacts.

'In the early days of rock 'n' roll in this country,' said Robert Davis of Westminster Council at the opening ceremony, 'before The Beatles had even formed, pretty much every act that made it big cut their teeth at the 2 i's.'

Cliff himself said: 'When I look at the old photographs, I wonder how I ever got started - I was a greasy slob who couldn't sing.' Now he's Sir Cliff Richard, and his rock roots are duly marked in London. Next time you're in Soho, head for Old Compton Street and see where British rock 'n' roll was born.