The Soho Society
 | |
| Formation | 1970 |
|---|---|
| Type | Amenity society |
| Registration no. | Charity 1146589 Company 07899282 |
| Legal status | Active |
| Headquarters | Tower of St Anne's Church, Soho |
Patron | Martha Lane Fox |
Honorary President | Leslie Hardcastle |
Chair | Tim Lord |
| Secessions | Museum of Soho Soho Housing Association Soho Neighbourhood Forum |
| Budget | £23.8K (2018) |
| Revenue | £31.8K (2018) |
| Volunteers | 20 (2018) |
| Website | sohosociety.org.uk |
The Soho Society is a community association for the London district of Soho.
History
It was founded in 1972[1][2] in response to buildings being converted to offices.[3] It campaigned against the domination of the area by sex shops and was successful in gaining the status of conservation area for the district.[4] In 1978, it supported independent candidates for Westminster City Council to challenge the Conservative Party's control of the council, as they were thought to be encouraging and exploiting the sex industry.[5]
The society is a registered charity[6] and a recognised amenity society for the City of Westminster.[7] In 1976, it established the Soho Housing Association to manage 400 flats for residents of the area.[8]
In May 2026 its members voted to lobby against all new licensing applications, including renewals, that came before Westminster Council: the move led to criticism from the area's business community and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.[1][2]
References
- 1 2 Horton, Helena (30 May 2026). "Resident group's objections to bar and restaurant licences 'destroying Soho's reputation'". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- 1 2 Kelly, James W; Tennyson, Freddy (3 June 2026). "Soho licence opposition bad for London, says mayor". BBC News. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- ↑ Whittle, Natalie (22 September 2016). "Meet the people saving Soho's restaurants". Financial Times. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
- ↑ "Soho turns trendy as cleanup ousts vice and sleaze", Toronto Star: F.10, 14 May 1988
- ↑ Bill Thompson; Andy Williams (2013), "Thatcher's Sodom", The Myth of Moral Panics: Sex, Snuff, and Satan, Routledge, p. 158, ISBN 9781135083601
- ↑ The Soho Society, Charity Commission
- ↑ "Recognised Amenity Societies in Westminster" (PDF). Westminster City Council. 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- ↑ John Eade (2000), Placing London: From Imperial Capital to Global City, Berghahn Books, p. 70, ISBN 9781571818034
