Lorenzo's family dynasty

Half a century ago, restaurants run by Lorenzo Marioni's family dominated Denman Street.

Apart from the New Piccadilly cafe, all that remains now is the Cucciolo, run by his aunt Anchele Musetti. Next door, his mother's restaurant, La Barca, is boarded up.

An Indian food concern has taken over the Vienna and the Estorial, once run by his father and his uncle Jimmy Musetti respectively.

Lorenzo must take the credit for the family being there in the first place. When his father was looking for premises, the vendor of a place in Denman Street offered Lorenzo his first fried fish and he wolfed it down. The vendor ended up choosing Lorenzo's family because the little boy appeared to like fish so much.

And, as this photo shows, Lorenzo has been part of the fabric of Soho for decades.

Taken in 1953, it shows him as a 10-year-old having his shoes polished by "Sailor" - a shoeshine man who had no legs.

Lorenzo would take a sandwich to Sailor, who would shine the boy's shoes for free.