Clubs in Snowhill
1955
I remember the two clubs, "Dead Ernests" and "The Television Club" but
clubs ( as distinct from pubs ) where gay people could gather were in
those days few and far between. A little way down the street that was
Snow Hill, on the right hand side, was a barbers shop and if you were
in the know, you could go there after the pubs closed at ten. Outwardly
the place would be in darkness having closed say about 5.30 pm. but a
discrete knock gained admittance, and at the far end of the shop part
of the counter was hinged back disclosing a steep flight of steps into
what I believe was part of an old sewer. A brick tunnel, maybe 35ft in
length, a more recent flat brick wall at one end, a flat floor of
wooden boards with a sort of "hollow " feeling, roughly 14ft across. It
was known as "The Jungle" It was oppressively hot, so smoky you could
barely see from one end to the other, music came from a big record
player, and one drank mostly coffee (Espresso) or the weakest of
shandy's. The company was mixed, but tolerant.
Contributed by: Ada