Ciro's (London)

Ciro's, often written Ciros, was an exclusive nightclub in Orange Street, Leicester Square, London, "just behind the National Gallery".[1] It was famously closed during WWI for serving alcohol illegally. A fashionable club of the same name later opened[2] at the same location.[3]

History

Little has been found of the early days of the establishment. The producer Jack Haskell staged a cabaret there around 1912, and said that an evening's entertainment at Ciro's would cost at least £10/10.[4][lower-alpha 1]

The club came to public attention in 1916 when it lost its licence after a police raid at 11 pm on Sunday 19 November 1916. It was proved they were serving jugs of champagne (sold as "special ginger beer") after hours, and to non-members.[5] This was in the depths of the War, when butter was rationed and petrol unobtainable. A workers' newspaper commented:

... if that's the way to win the war, and denotes a burning enthusiasm, the Tory press is right; Australia hasn't been doing her best, for she has scarcely got past beer by the jugful.[6]

The two managers were each fined £125 (equivalent to £9,017 in 2021) and three directors were fined £25 (equivalent to £1,803 in 2021) each, with costs.[7]

By 1921 a club of that name had opened in London, and was frequented by the fashionable and well-to-do.[8]

Notes and references
  1. If Haskell was referring to 1916 prices, £10/10 would be equivalent to around £800 in 2021.
  1. "Champagne in Jugs". The World's News. No. 787. New South Wales, Australia. 13 January 1917. p. 6. Retrieved 8 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. "W.A. Newspapers v. Railways". The Daily News (Perth). Vol. XLIX, no. 17, 332. Western Australia. 22 November 1930. p. 8. Retrieved 8 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "From London Town". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 16111. Queensland, Australia. 19 July 1924. p. 13. Retrieved 8 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "The Bing Boys Are Here". The Sunday Times (Sydney). No. 1663. New South Wales, Australia. 2 December 1917. p. 17. Retrieved 8 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "London Night Club". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 13, 732. Queensland, Australia. 25 November 1916. p. 6. Retrieved 8 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "Topical Talk". The Australian Worker. Vol. 25, no. 50. New South Wales, Australia. 14 December 1916. p. 12. Retrieved 8 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Night Club Struck Off Register". The Age. No. 19, 268. Victoria, Australia. 22 December 1916. p. 7. Retrieved 8 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Plays & Players". The Weekly Times. No. 2, 684. Victoria, Australia. 15 January 1921. p. 35. Retrieved 8 June 2022 – via National Library of Australia.

51.510°N 0.130°W / 51.510; -0.130

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