Nightclub Queen
Kate Meyrick (nee Kate Evelyn Nason) was an entrepreneurial trailblazer who defied the laws of the land. Her clubs were infamous and defined the 'roaring twenties' in London. The 43 Club, her most famous venture, offers an insight into the vice of London in the inter-war years.
Meyrick was born into privilege in 1875, but became an orphan early in life. Her father was a well-respected medic who died by the time she was one. Her mother remarried and moved to Lancashire, but died six years later. Meyrick then went to live with her grandmother in Dublin. As a student at Alexandra College, Meyrick was an independent young woman and claimed she was the first woman to ride a bike in the Irish capital. She continued to break convention throughout her adult years. Meyrick moved to London after meeting and marrying Ferdinand Meyrick, with whom she had eight children. He was a medic like her father, and specialised in mental ailments. After their marriage resulted in separation - not divorce - Meyrick’s meteoric rise in Soho began.
In 1919, she bought a share in a venue with George Dalton Murray. Dalton’s was born. The Leicester Square venue became known for vice, frequented by returnees from the First World War seeking prostitutes. Meyrick flouted the regulations of the time, leading to police raiding her premises. Whenever she had to answer to the law, she claimed to be providing a social service to those damaged by war. Even so, Meyrick had to pay a fine and Dalton’s closed shortly afterwards.
In 1921, the infamous 43 Club opened. It was a thriving jazz venue, where gangsters mixed with the aristocracy. Drugs flowed through the venue as Meyrick continued flouting licensing laws. Police continued to raid the premises, yet always seemed to be one step behind. Meyrick only got a six-month sentence for selling liquor without a license in 1924. Among those who rose to her defence was King Ferdinand of Romania, who had frequented the night spot during a trip to London.
Meyrick was also the proprietor of The Silver Slipper and Manhattan night clubs. She was allegedly involved in a multiplicity of illegal activities, yet her greatest known crime was bribery. Sergeant George Goddard, a thorn in her side from the early 1920s, was ‘on the take.’ He had been accepting bribes, taking an estimated £100 a week from Meyrick for the best part of a decade. These dealings with Goddard saw her serve a 15-month sentence at Holloway Prison. When she was released, Soho had changed. Her illegalities were much harder to conduct. Before long, she was back in prison, where she caught pneumonia. In her last years, Meyrick penned her memoirs, The Secrets of the 43. It was duly censored.
Her life is a fascinating tale of female emancipation. Buried at Kensal Green Cemetery, her inconsolable and estranged husband attended the service. Accounts differ over what inspired Meyrick to engage in the life she led. Some say it was for her children's private education, others her love of the high life. Whatever it was, she was a pioneering woman and a character who warrants memorial.
Meyrick was born into privilege in 1875, but became an orphan early in life. Her father was a well-respected medic who died by the time she was one. Her mother remarried and moved to Lancashire, but died six years later. Meyrick then went to live with her grandmother in Dublin. As a student at Alexandra College, Meyrick was an independent young woman and claimed she was the first woman to ride a bike in the Irish capital. She continued to break convention throughout her adult years. Meyrick moved to London after meeting and marrying Ferdinand Meyrick, with whom she had eight children. He was a medic like her father, and specialised in mental ailments. After their marriage resulted in separation - not divorce - Meyrick’s meteoric rise in Soho began.
In 1919, she bought a share in a venue with George Dalton Murray. Dalton’s was born. The Leicester Square venue became known for vice, frequented by returnees from the First World War seeking prostitutes. Meyrick flouted the regulations of the time, leading to police raiding her premises. Whenever she had to answer to the law, she claimed to be providing a social service to those damaged by war. Even so, Meyrick had to pay a fine and Dalton’s closed shortly afterwards.
In 1921, the infamous 43 Club opened. It was a thriving jazz venue, where gangsters mixed with the aristocracy. Drugs flowed through the venue as Meyrick continued flouting licensing laws. Police continued to raid the premises, yet always seemed to be one step behind. Meyrick only got a six-month sentence for selling liquor without a license in 1924. Among those who rose to her defence was King Ferdinand of Romania, who had frequented the night spot during a trip to London.
Meyrick was also the proprietor of The Silver Slipper and Manhattan night clubs. She was allegedly involved in a multiplicity of illegal activities, yet her greatest known crime was bribery. Sergeant George Goddard, a thorn in her side from the early 1920s, was ‘on the take.’ He had been accepting bribes, taking an estimated £100 a week from Meyrick for the best part of a decade. These dealings with Goddard saw her serve a 15-month sentence at Holloway Prison. When she was released, Soho had changed. Her illegalities were much harder to conduct. Before long, she was back in prison, where she caught pneumonia. In her last years, Meyrick penned her memoirs, The Secrets of the 43. It was duly censored.
Her life is a fascinating tale of female emancipation. Buried at Kensal Green Cemetery, her inconsolable and estranged husband attended the service. Accounts differ over what inspired Meyrick to engage in the life she led. Some say it was for her children's private education, others her love of the high life. Whatever it was, she was a pioneering woman and a character who warrants memorial.
