Downtown London’s little bit of Havana

James Leavey and Dominic Roskrow visit Floridita and La Casa del Habano in central London

It’s not hard to find 100 Wardour Street in the heart of Soho. You just walk down and look for the group of tourists taking pictures.

For this is the site of the legendary Marquee Club, the venue where everyone from the Sex Pistols and R.E.M. made their London debut, and within whose cramped confines scores of top acts adopted ridiculous pseudonyms and played ‘secret’ warm up gigs for major tours.

It was the hottest venue in town, and although it’s all but unrecognizable from the scuzzy days of old, it’s set to become the most talked about entertainment destination in London once again.

For it is here that the brand new centre for Cuban hedonism has opened its doors – and it’s a paradise for cigar lovers.

La Casa del Habano is actually four venues in one, and is a joint project bringing together some of Britain’s most hard-hitting entrepreneurs, including Terence Conran, who has his new restaurant here.

You’d think the threat of a British Government ban on smoking in public would put off any new business venture that depended on tobacco for its future livelihood, but La Casa might just be the blueprint for the future. For Conran’s restaurant is nonsmoking, but sits next to a cigar bar and shop to its side, and directly above a large live music and smoking venue underneath in the old club itself. Floridita and Habana del Casa is a magnificent new venture in Wardour Street between Havana Holdings and Conran Holdings.

The venue’s upmarket, stylish décor is what you’d expe.....

To read the rest of this article you can buy this issue or subscribe to Cigar Buyer to have every issue delivered direct to your door.

By Dominic Roskrow

Section : Spotlight

Page number : 12

Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 2 on 01/11/2004.

This article is 54 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements.



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	Downtown London’s little bit of Havana James Leavey and Dominic Roskrow visit Floridita and La Casa del Habano in central London It’s not hard to find 100 Wardour Street in the heart of Soho. You just walk down and look for the group of tourists taking pictures. For this is the site of the legendary Marquee Club, the venue where everyone from the Sex Pistols and R.E.M. made their London debut, and within whose cramped confines scores of top acts adopted ridiculous pseudonyms and played ‘secret’ warm up gigs for major tours. It was the hottest venue in town, and although it’s all but unrecognizable from the scuzzy days of old, it’s set to become the most talked about entertainment destination in London once again. For it is here that the brand new centre for Cuban hedonism has opened its doors – and it’s a paradise for cigar lovers. La Casa del Habano is actually four venues in one, and is a joint project bringing together some of Britain’s most hard-hitting entrepreneurs, including Terence Conran, who has his new restaurant here. You’d think the threat of a British Government ban on smoking in public would put off any new business venture that depended on tobacco for its future livelihood, but La Casa might just be the blueprint for the future. For Conran’s restaurant is nonsmoking, but sits next to a cigar bar and shop to its side, and directly above a large live music and smoking venue underneath in the old club itself. Floridita and Habana del Casa is a magnificent new venture in Wardour Street between Havana Holdings and Conran Holdings. The venue’s upmarket, stylish décor is what you’d expe..... To read the rest of this article you can buy this issue or subscribe to Cigar Buyer to have every issue delivered direct to your door. By Dominic Roskrow Section : Spotlight Page number : 12 Published in Cigar Buyer Issue 2 on 01/11/2004. Subscribe Buy this issue More from this issue Preview other issues This article is 54 months old and some information provided may be time sensitive. Please check all details of events, tours, opening times and other information before travelling or making arrangements. Copyright Cigar Buyer © 1999-2009. All rights reserved. To use or reproduce part or all of this article please contact us for details of how you can do so legally.