The Save Soho campaign, spearheaded by musician Tim Arnold in late 2014, was a pivotal grassroots movement born from the shock of Madame Jojo’s sudden closure. It transformed a local licensing dispute into a national conversation about the “sanitisation” of London’s cultural heart.
As founder and leader of Save Soho, Arnold rallied a coalition of cultural figures — with Stephen Fry as chairman and Benedict Cumberbatch as co-founder — to fight for the soul of one of London’s most creatively significant neighbourhoods.
The campaign secured a landmark commitment from the owners of Madame Jojo’s that the building would be preserved as an entertainment venue rather than converted into a restaurant, protecting its status as a cultural space for future generations. Save Soho also successfully challenged Transport for London’s plans to close Soho Square to make way for a work depot in the construction of Crossrail 2 — a victory that kept one of central London’s most beloved green spaces open to the public. The full story of the campaign, and the community that made it possible, is documented in Arnold’s 2020 feature-length film ‘Soho Is…’
What began as a local act of resistance became a model for grassroots cultural advocacy in the UK, and established Arnold as one of the most recognisable voices in the fight against the displacement of arts and culture from city centres.
Save Soho was just one chapter in a lifelong commitment to independent creation. Explore Tim Arnold’s latest albums, films, and arts advocacy at www.timarnold.co.uk
