Eve was a private members' nightclub at 189 Regent Street, central London. Founded in 1953, it had the world's first illuminated glass floor and, according to ''

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'', the "most daring show" in

London's West End The West End of London (commonly referred to as the West End) is a district of Central London, west of the City of London and north of the River Thames, in which many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government bui ...

, including topless girls and strippers. Members included kings, ambassadors, sultans and a bishop. It was popular with diplomats and senior civil servants, and was known for "its unique appeal of glamour, intrigue, sex, sophistication, daring floorshows and mystery". The Romanian-born co-owner and hostess, Helen O'Brien, worked as a spy for Britain's MI5.

Origin

Jimmy O'Brien had been a cloakroom attendant and later the manager of Murray's Cabaret Club in nearby Beak Street, where he met his future wife, the Romanian-born Elena Constantinescu (later Helen O'Brien), who worked there as a cigarette girl and dancer. Together, they opened Eve on St Valentine's Day in 1953. Although the address was 189 Regent Street, it was in the basement with the entrance down an alleyway in New Burlington Place. As the hostess of Eve, Helen introduced topless girls and strippers to the club's entertainment, performing on the world's "first-ever illuminated glass floor" in what the press dubbed the "most daring show" in London's West End. She also worked as a spy for Britain's MI5 and MI6.

Membership

As a members-only club charging a guinea a year, it did not have to comply with the usual licensing laws and served alcohol until 3am. Members included kings, ambassadors, sultans, and a bishop. Customers included

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, Frank Sinatra,

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, and

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. In 1954, Helen hosted

John Profumo John Dennis Profumo, CBE,( ; 30 January 1915 – 9 March 2006) was a British politician whose career ended in 1963 after a sexual relationship with the 19-year-old model Christine Keeler in 1961. The scandal, which became known as the Profumo a ...

's stag night at the club. It was popular with diplomats and senior civil servants and was a hotbed of intrigue.

Closure

Eve closed in 1991, and the O'Briens spent their retirement at a villa in the south of France.

References

{{Reflist 1953 establishments in England 1991 disestablishments in England 1950s in the City of Westminster Nightclubs in London Mayfair Entertainment companies established in 1953 Entertainment companies disestablished in 1991