Tucked away between the busy bars and shops and hoards of tourists around Covent Garden, you could be forgiven for missing one of London's best kept secrets. Brydges Place lies in the heart of the West End just off St Martin's Lane
At only 15 inches wide, it's regarded as the capital's narrowest street concealing one of the most exclusive Private Members' Clubs in the city. But despite its famous location, the majority of the thousands of theatregoers miss the street completely as it is simply so narrow. Brydges Place is right next to the Garrick Theatre, currently given away by the huge Ukrainian flag the building has attached to its frontage.
The historic theatre opened in 1889 and has played host to a number of must-see shows, currently hosting The Drifters' Girl. The beauty of the building is hard to overstate, but for Brydges Place its beauty is a tragedy - leaving it forgotten except for eagle-eyed tourists and locals who know of its existence.
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But the alley hides many secrets - about 30 feet along it widens temporarily, and plays host to a pub, a private members' club and a secret route to Garrick Theatre's royal box. A hole in the wall mid-way down the alley gives access to a carpark, and visitors to the box can access it directly, rather than having to enter the main doors like everyone else.
Local watering hole The Marquis backs onto the alley at the opposite end to the theatre, with a back door for an admittedly small group to be able to gather and drink, smoke and chat. The pub has artwork on its outer walls depicting what the pub perhaps used to look like, although it must be hard to appreciate it at night when the majority of customers will arrive!
The pub has also kept an old light in the alleyway - it's unclear exactly how old the lamp is, but as the pub was founded in the 18th century it is certainly an antique. A local business man pointed out the sign atop the lamp to our reporter, which reads "Ancient Light". The sign is there to protect the light from any accidental damage and prevent the pub's opposite neighbours from stringing anything across it.
But in between these two historic buildings lies a far, far more exclusive one. The Brydges Place Club is a private club which is conveniently hidden from the public's prying eyes.
The club was established in 1982 and is spread across five floors of its Georgian townhouse. The club describes itself as having: "a membership list of approximately 1,300 people from all areas of London's arts and literary community with a smattering of characters from the journalist and legal worlds".
Their website adds: "A discreet and unrivalled members/staff relationship is enjoyed by all and, since privacy is fiercely protected at all times, the atmosphere provides a real 'home from home' in the West End!"
A member of theatre staff working in the alley at the time told MyLondon the club was mainly for actors, and was extremely hard to get access to. He added that pub customers can often get in the way of their work if they need to pass through the alley, but said it was still "an amazing place".
He showed MyLondon a peace, or CND, sign which was only revealed in recent weeks after a tenant hosed down their exterior wall. There is no way of knowing when it dates from, but is likely to have been painted during the Cold War.
The alleyway is easily accessible from the street, but best photographed during the daytime - at night it gets a lot more busy.
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