The Best Pub in London – Anna May Wong’s Limehouse Local

I had cause to watch, once again, the fabulous 1928 silent movie Piccadilly the other day. London kitchen char turned cabaret dancer Shosho (Anna May Wong) takes London by storm in its coolest West End nightclub – breaking hearts English and Chinese. The film is amazing on so many levels – and a bit problematic now and again too given the times. However, the nightclub is wonderful and Anna May Wong’s costumes, particularly her coat are fantastic. In one scene she heads down to Limehouse to take her new West End boyfriend “slumming it” in London’s Chinese district with its marvellous multi-racial cast of characters who dance and drink the night away. It’s simply one of the best moments on film, scripted by the novelist Arnold Bennett. You can watch the whole clip here on Youtube where the coolest black guy in the East End gets in trouble for dancing with a rather pushy working girl amidst the multiracial goings on! Here’s some stills:

Shosho (Anna May Wong is unbelievably cool coat) picks up posh bloke in West End and takes him for night in her East End!

Limehouse – our Piccadilly….

Drinks all round…he downs in one while she just sips (damn that trick gets me every time!)

the dancefloor is packed and multiracial down Limehouse way

Here’s comes a working girl – note the Chinese Limehouse dudes having a Friday night pint!