Best Before End

A drama series · Soho, London · 2008

Best Before End

The King of Soho is dead. New owners, same night shift.

Best before 15.09.08 Display until
Pavement tables full outside 34b and Balans Cafe on Old Compton Street. Brewer Street at night: young drinkers outside Escape, its door open on pink light and dry ice, and drag queens outside Madame Jojo's, the Soho Revue Bar banner above. Maoz, Exchange Videos and Ryness on Old Compton Street, a Soho Estates To Let board in the window above. Eros Movieland and the corner shop on Peter Street, Walker's Court opening beside them.
Old Compton Street · 34b and Balans Cafe

Summer 2008. Down to his last audition, a 29-year-old wannabe promises a showcase on a rooftop he's never set foot on. With his gobby flatmate and a desperate housewife talked into one night out, the three of them blag, sell and sleep their way into the world they've always wanted, where everyone has an expiry date.

Ab Fab by way of Showgirls by way of The Sopranos. Three series, one square mile.

The episodes The streets

The streets

The real streets, recreated as they were in summer 2008.

Old Compton Street / Dean Street: The corner café.
Old Compton Street / Dean StreetThe corner café
Walker's Court at night: the Soho Revue Bar doors open on dry ice, a doorman, men in suits smoking by the rope.
Walker's CourtThe Soho Revue Bar, open
Rupert Street: Sparkles and Twilights.
Rupert StreetSparkles and Twilights
Old Compton Street and Frith Street at night: the Aware corner, the street full of people.
Old Compton Street / Frith StreetThe Aware corner, Saturday night
Berwick Street: The market and Somerfield.
Berwick StreetThe market and Somerfield
Charing Cross Road: The Astoria.
Charing Cross RoadThe Astoria
Brewer Street at night: The Shadow Lounge, the violet S glowing under the black canopy, a glamorous crowd at the door.
Brewer StreetThe Shadow Lounge
Soho Square: the garden and the hut.
Soho SquareThe garden and the hut

The streets are recreations. Charing Cross Road and Berwick Street were recreated with reference to photographs from Wikimedia Commons.