'Sex, Drugstores and Rock & Roll' at Proud Chelsea

Has the Kings Road always been a cool place to hang out? When I was at school this street was the place to be seen and we're being persuaded it still is.

Proud Chelsea is currently exhibiting a small collection of photographs illustrating why the area is London’s hottest borough, ‘Sex, Drugstores and Rock & Roll’. This show parades pictures from the early 60s through the 70s and 80s, documenting the evolution of the Kings Road over these radical decades.

I went along to the private view last week to get a glimpse for myself. The gallery was absolutely packed, so it was quite tricky to see the images without being shoved out the way by another punter. I struggled through the crowd, notebook in one hand and a nice cold glass of bubbly in the other.

There is always a permanent collection of works downstairs, but I felt like I recognised some of those displayed upstairs too. It seems there were still several Beatles photos up from the last show; images that could craftily be classified within both exhibition themes. ‘Sex, Drugstores and Rock & Roll’ showcases the work of influential photographers including Philip Townsend, Terry O’Neill, Colin Jones, Harold Chapman and Janette Beckman. Above is shown the brilliant photo by Beckman of the Kings Road boys, sharp and cheeky with a real sense of the culture of the day.

The photos create a powerful group. They depict an amazing hubbub of creative activity; actresses, models, musicians, artists - each with a unique flair and style that seems so far from today’s Sloane ranger uniformed Kings Road. I particularly enjoyed seeing the natural images, those taken without an agenda... they have a real energy and joyful spontaneity about them. Also seeing the shop fronts and signs from back in the day - Vivienne Westwood’s famous ‘SEX’ shop in the 70s and other adorable little stores with signs like “mini skirts cleaned 2D per inch,” summing up the character of the 60s completely.

Exhibition runs until 8 March 2011, visit website here.

Graphic Bar in Soho

There are so many great places to drink and hang out in London, so to stand out from the crowd a bar needs to offer something a little bit different, a speciality or a unique twist. I heard about Graphic Bar last summer when a friend mentioned their rotating art displays. Not unlike Proud Galleries, Graphic exhibit the work of a promising artist every few months. They are currently showcasing Eine’s infamous ‘shutters’.

Ben Eine is a prolific street artist and has produced his pop-arty letters on shop shutters in Paris, Stockholm, Hastings and Newcastle as well as in London’s Shoreditch and Brick Lane. He first started to produce commercial graffiti through a partnership with legendary guerrilla artist, Banksy. Interestingly in 2010 David Cameron gave a gift of an Eine painting, ‘Twenty First Century City’ to President Obama. Graphic are lucky to have acquired his work for this short time, and it really compliments the space.

I was invited to Graphic for a dear friend’s birthday shindig. The venue is easy to get to, located in the centre of Golden Square in Soho, nearest tube is Piccadilly Circus. The place was jam packed when we went on a Friday evening, with visitors merrily spilling out onto the chilly streets. I squeezed my way through to the back of the place where my friends had arranged a designated area for us, still crowded but at least we could sit down.

Graphic specialises in gin, and has one of the most extensive collections in the UK. Luckily I had a gin expert by my side and so was chosen a Milly- appropriate drink. Once settled, I noticed the strange large white glasses that many of the girls were holding – moving closer for a better look, I realised that the glasses were in fact paint pots filled with most desirable gin cocktails. I went to choose one for myself. There are five options, named as different colours of paint; I decided on the white tin... a peachy flavoured concoction with lemonade, fresh lemon juice and most importantly Whitley Neill Gin. It was quite strong (gin is an acquired taste) but brilliantly mixed with an exotic variety of tastes.

This groovy little bar also offers tapas and main courses for those who arrive a bit peckish, though its real selling point is surely the inventive cocktail serving idea and array of rare gins.

Visit website here.