Diary, bookings diary

The Italian restaurant Bianchi's in Frith Street, Soho, used this restaurant bookings diary for 1974. Bookings have been written in mainly by Elena Salvoni, who worked as maître d'hôtel (head waiter) at Bianchi's for 30 years. Beside the names are the size of the group and the time of the sitting.

Bianchi's opened in 1928. The restaurant attracted many media, television and celebrity diners as well as members of parliament, journalists and lawyers. Celebrities who visited in 1974 included the television journalists Bill Grundy and Michael Parkinson, and the ballet dancer Wayne Sleep.

This is one of a series of bookings diaries donated by Elena Salvoni. The restaurant's early diaries show that most diners booked for the lunch sitting; later the restaurant became more popular as an evening venue.