Peter Stringfellow’s Final Curtain Call
The Legendary Club King Dies at 77
Peter Stringfellow*—the bloke who turned London’s nightlife into a glittery, high‑energy spectacle—checked out on Thursday after a battle with cancer that he kept under wraps. His publicist, Matt Glass, confirmed the loss in a hush‑up style befitting the man himself.
Early Days and Musical Beginnings
Launched his career in the 1960s by booking who‑a‑wait‑the‑Beatles, Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix.
Sourced gigs for up‑and‑coming acts in Sheffield’s modest venues—his hometown in `northern England` where his father was a steelworker.
The Rise of the Nude Nightclub Scene
In 1980, he opened his first club in Covent Garden, London—soon the hottest spot for adult entertainment.
Became the first club owner to secure a licence for fully nude dancers, unleashing a new era of exotic appeal.
Bought the Hippodrome, launching the first gay night in London—showcasing his penchant for the unconventional.
Fashion, Fame, and the “Gold Throne”
Known for long hair, a gold throne, and a crew of eye‑catching girls—creating a life‑style “playboy debauchery” that attracted headlines and scandals alike.
Despite cultivating a reputation as a hard‑core debauch, friends said he was kind, warm, and surprisingly feminist.
Political Stances and Controversy
Loyal Conservative, especially to Margaret Thatcher.
Threatened to quit politics over opposition to Brexit—his refusal underscored a bipartisan spirit.
Final Years
Treated lung cancer secretly in 2008, a story he never broke open.
Suffocated from a similar ailment recently, again kept
under wraps until the final announcement.
Family and Legacy
Survived by wife Bella and four children.
Once a touch‑point for the likes of Stephen Hawking, Marvin Gaye, Tom Jones, Prince, and Rod Stewart—the list reads like a blurred VIP roster.
Peter’s life proved one of the strange, flamboyant, and undeniably bold legacies the UK can claim in its nightlife history. He’ll be remembered not just as a nightclub pioneer, but as a dude who could keep his flaws in check while telling us that a throne, a gold chair, and an unapologetic attitude can indeed spin stories.
