Colony Room

The Colony Room was a private members' drinking club for artists and other creative people at 41 Dean Street, Soho, London. The club was founded and presided over by Muriel Belcher from its inception in 1948 until her death in 1979. The artist Francis Bacon was a founder and lifelong member, and the club attracted Soho's alcoholic, artistic elite, including George Melly, Peter O'Toole, and Lucian Freud. After Belcher's death, the club attracted a new generation of young British artists including Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin; it finally closed its doors in 2008.

In 1948 Muriel Belcher managed to secure a 3-to-11pm drinking license for The Colony Room as a private members club, whereas public houses had to close at 2.30pm. The artist Francis Bacon was a founding member, walking in the day after it opened. He was 'adopted' by Belcher who called him "Daughter", and gave him free drinks and £10 a week to bring in friends and rich patrons.

The club had a certain notoriety for its decor as well as its clientele; its bilious green walls were famous. In addition to its vile colour, the staircase that led to the establishment was described as foul-smelling and flanked by dustbins. Indeed, many members referred to it as “going up the dirty stairs.” The Room was operated by Belcher between opening and her death in 1979.

The Colony Room was located in a tiny first-floor room in Dean Street, and played an important role in Soho society as a drinking club for major British talent. Members included Peter O'Toole, Michael Andrews, Lucian Freud, John Deakin, Jeffrey Bernard and Henrietta Moraes, whose portrait by Bacon sold for £21.3 million in February 2012.In the 1990s, Lisa Stansfield, Tracey Emin, and Damien Hirst became members. Hirst explained the attraction of the club: "It's because artists like drinking".

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