Sophie Parkin is the founder of Vout-O-Reenee's, a private member's club in London for the "surrealistically distinguished." She's also an author and an artist. Her books include "The Colony Room Club: A History of Bohemian Soho."
The Colony Room was one of Soho's most notorious drinking dens. It became the main hub of London bohemia in the post-war era.
Sophie Parkin owns www.vout-o-reenees.com and @TheStashGallery_London. Her new exhibition @147WomenDinnerParty is on in The Stash Gallery, London in February, Southend’s Beecroft Museum in March 2022, The Broomhill Estate, Devon in April 2022. Her podcast is called @ShadowSpies.
We discuss the storied history of the club, from its founder Muriel Belcher to its regulars: Francis Bacon and George Melly among them. We also discuss how she came to open her own club, where the spirit of The Colony Room lives on.
