Aziraphale's bibles

Have you ever noticed how many bibles Aziraphale has just lying about? So. Many. Bibles. Oodles of bibles! In S1 we only saw two, one on top of the desk that he used for checking the number of the beast in Revelations; and the other one on the desk surface, right behind his angel mug when he sat to read The Book (not that book, the other book, the one with the true prophecies).

In S2, we see no less than five bibles on his desk alone and more around the bookshop.

The first one is on the left, right under the little "For the Young: Hymns for Church and Home, with Forms of Services" book, which incidentally opens to: "So shall no wicked thing draw near, To do us harm or cause us fear." (This angel has no shame).

Then there are three more in the desk's middle compartments. One, with a green cover, is on the left slot, right above the tray with pens (this one is a New Testament only). The other two, both with black covers, are right behind the mug, where the RadioTimes watermark is. They look identical but they could be two volumes of the same edition or two different editions. We can probably assume one of these is supposed to be the one from S1. The desk in S1 didn't have compartments, it had drawers so there were no books in that area.

The last one is the on on top of the desk, on the right. This would be the same he used in S1 (although the bible itself is different)

On his right side, sometimes he has an easel where he displays a large book. This is not a bible itself, but an illustrated book of biblical motifs. Sometimes it is closed and sometimes it is open. He normally has it on the Adam and Eve page (cheeky!) but in Ep 2 he opened it to the Book of Job page instead.

There is yet another one in the shelf that Gabriel Jim is organizing

And there is one more in the first backroom (the one with the computer where he talks with Gabriel and Sandalphon). It is on a little table by the door of the private backroom (the one where he confers with Crowley in)

But there is a set of bibles that are even more important to him than any of the other ones. Although the show never mentioned it, the book tells us that in addition to his passion for prophecy books, he also loves and collects misprinted bibles*:

"And he had a complete set of the Infamous Bibles, individually named from errors in typesetting. These Bibles included the Unrighteous Bible, so called from a printer’s error which caused it to proclaim, in I Corinthians, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall inherit the Kingdom of God?”; and the Wicked Bible, printed by Barker and Lucas in 1632, in which the word not was omitted from the seventh commandment, making it “Thou shalt commit Adultery.” There were the Discharge Bible, the Treacle Bible, the Standing Fishes Bible, the Charing Cross Bible and the rest. Aziraphale had them all. Even the very rarest, a Bible published in 1651 by the London publishing firm of Bilton and Scaggs."

This collection of bibles is hiding in plain sight and readily on hand. Just ask Jim!

The rest are right there on Aziraphale's desk. The tags are hard to read but I found, from right to left, The Treacle Bible, The Discharge Bible, The Unrighteous Bible, then three that I couldn't decipher, the Standing Fishes Bible and The Charing Cross Bible. One of those three is supposed to be the Buggre All This Bible, but none of the tags seemed to fit.

*All the bibles mentioned are real except for the Charing Cross Bible and the Buggre Alle This Bible which in the GO world was printed by Bilton and Scaggs, the publishing company that also printed The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch. I have a whole post about Bilton and Scaggs if interested. Now, looking back to S1, as part of his restoring the world, Adam replaced Aziraphale's misprinted bibles with Just William books. Let that sink in... Adam moved Aziraphale's bibles from their righteous place. No wonder Crowley realized it right away. These are Aziraphale's bibles for Go- for Sat- for Somebody's sake!

Fortunately by S2 everything was back to normal.

Bilton and Scaggs

Back when I was working in the map of Soho, I got to Bilton and Scaggs Hats and Caps. There is so much to say about this shop and its history, and it is so interesting that it warrants its own post, so here we are

Bilton and Scaggs Publishers was a London publishing firm in the 1600's, we don't really know when it was established though. They were not one of the eight great publishers of London, but they were doing well enough, after all, it was able to survive its three major publishing disasters (which occurred in rapid succession). Alas, it looks like Bilton and Scaggs, publishers went out of business somewhere in the 1890's and the milliner who set up shop there, kept the name. Nowadays, only Aziraphale knows the full story. What follows are details of their disasters. They are quite funny, unless you are Master Bilton or Master Scaggs of course :P

The first one was in 1651; when they accidentally printed the so called Buggre Alle This Bible. This very rare misprinted Bible had a few verses added to Genesis and a variation in Ezekiel. Of course our angel owns one copy. Genesis chapter 3 normally has 24 verses where the last one goes like this: "24. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." The three additional ones go like this:

25. And the Lord spake unto the Angel that guarded the eastern gate, saying Where is the flaming sword which was given unto thee? 26. And the Angel said, I had it here only a moment ago, I must have put it down some where, forget my own head next. 27. And the Lord did not ask him again.

"It appears that these verses were inserted during the proof stage. In those days it was common practice for printers to hang proof sheets to the wooden beams outside their shops, for the edification of the populace and some free proofreading, and since the whole print run was subsequently burned anyway, no one bothered to take up this matter with the nice Mr. A. Ziraphale, who ran the bookshop two doors along and was always so helpful with the translations, and whose handwriting was instantly recognizable." The other issue with this Bible was a little change in Ezekiel 48:5 and it is the change that gives the Bible its name:

2. And bye the border of Dan, fromme the east side to the west side, a portion for Afher. 3. And bye the border of Afher, fromme the east side even untoe the west side, a portion for Naphtali. 4. And bye the border of Naphtali, from the east side untoe the west side, a portion for Manaffeh. 5. Buggre Alle this for a Larke. I amme sick to mye Hart of typefettinge. Master Biltonn if no Gentelmann, and Master Scagges noe more than a tighte fisted Southwarke Knobbefticke. I telle you, onne a daye laike thif Ennywone with half an oz. of Sense shoulde bee oute in the Sunneshain, ane nott Stucke here alle the liuelong daie inn thif mowldey olde By-Our-Lady Workefhoppe. @ “Æ@;! 6. And bye the border of Ephraim, from the east fide even untoe the west fide, a portion for Reuben.

What we can conclude from here is that Aziraphale owned a bookshop in the 1650's that was in the same block as Bilton and Scaggs Publishers. From the deleted scenes in the script book we know he opened A. Z. Fell & Co. in 1800. But there is nothing saying he couldn't have owned a bookshop with a different name decades or centuries before. The bookshop tour special feature from the S1 DVD says he's had it for 350 years. Counting from 2020, that would put it at around 1670. But if we generalize to around 2000, that means the shop could have been there in the 1650's. This more or less matches this ask where it is explained that Aziraphale bought the land in 1630 and over the next 60 years (1690ish) he expanded and built the current bookshop.

Sorry for the tangent, back to Bilton and Scaggs.

The second publishing disaster occurred in 1653 when somehow they obtained one of the famed Shakespeare's "Lost Quartos" and subsequently lost it (the three Shakespeare plays never reissued in folio edition and now are totally lost to scholars and playgoers. Their names are "The Comedie of Robin Hoode, or, The Forest of Sherwoode", "The Trapping of the Mouse", and finally "Golde Diggers of 1589." In S2 Episode 6 we see all three folios inside the box Gabriel brought with him. I am sure if asked directly, Aziraphale will assure you that he has no idea how those pamphlets got into that box. It was completely empty only four days ago!

The third and final disaster happened in 1655 and involved a prophecy book that didn't sell a single copy and ended up being the first book remaindered in England: "The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, witch." Not even the sign "Locale Author" attached to the book helped sell it in the author's home town in Lancashire. At the end the publisher destroyed all the unsold copies. Aziraphale, however, seems to have found the 1655 catalog from Bilton and Scaggs that contained only the 1972 prophecy "Do not buy Betamax."

I do find interesting that although evidently Aziraphale had a close relationship with Master Bilton and Master Scaggs, he still failed to secure a copy of the prophecies. It was printed right there! Next to you! How did that happen? Where were you, Aziraphale??!!

Thank you @fuckyeahgoodomens, @nastasya--filippovna, @offwhitemage, @somethingawesomeandironic, @ineffably-queer-book-lover, @jotunn-scholar, @sarahthecoat, @jotunn-scholar for deciphering the missing words. @throwingpeopleouttawindows, fixed!

@santacoppelia, you made me think about that and I think Crowley has a permanent contract with Hell as an employee to gain souls for their master. And this antichrist gig was a side job that of course, he had no choice in taking. LOL

Updated! A few days ago the contract Crowley signs in S1 came up on discord. Being the crazy person that I am, I set on the quest of finding out what it actually says. I couldn't make out everything, especially at the end where Crowley's hand and the sparks obscure the lines but I made out most of it (transcript below the break).

One of the things I like the most is that the contract specifically says "Anthony Crowley of Mayfair, London." In the book, Hastur tells Crowley not to use that name: "No. Not A. J. Crowley. Your real name.” Crowley nodded mournfully, and drew a complex, wiggly sigil on the paper. It glowed redly in the gloom, just for a moment, and then faded."

Interesting things:

The contract is referred to as "the Agreement" - HA!

The contract is between Hastur and Ligur ("the Customer") and Crowley ("the Service Provider"). Not with Hell itself or with Satan.

The contract never actually says what "the Service" is nor does it say how much Crowley is supposed to be paid (so is it just delivering the baby to the convent, or all the upbringing too?)

There is a part that says Hastur and Ligur will pay the costs when the operation is done. But later on it also says that Crowley will not be reimbursed for his own expenses. Talk about being shortchanged!

Hastur and Ligur will NOT provide any help

Crowley must contribute to a retirement plan (Superannuation) for himself and his employees if he has any (how thoughtful)

And lastly, I learned the UK has Superannuations and it is not just an Australian thing! (go figure! the things GO teaches me)

So here you have it. A contract from Hell! literally If anyone can make out the words I couldn't or finds an error, please let me know and I'll update this one.

Full transcript:

[Line covered by clip and Ligur’s fingers] (the "Agreement")

BETWEEN

HASTUR AND LIGUR of HELL (the "Customer")

AND

ANTHONY J CROWLEY of MAYFAIR LONDON (the "Service Provider")

BACKGROUND a. The Costumer is of the opinion that the Service Provider has the necessary qualifications experience and abilities to provide services for the Customer. The Costumer will pay the Service Provider per project agreed. Each project has its own costs and the Service Provider agrees to inform the Customer what are the costs involved when setting the operation and the Costumer agrees to pay the total amount when the project is delivered. b. The Compensation will be payable upon completion of the Services. The Service Provider is responsible for paying any Superannuation Guarantee contributions that may be required in relation to the work performed by the Service Provider or by the employees of the Service Provider under this Agreement c. The above Compensation includes all applicable sales tax, and dues as required by law

Provision of Extras a. The Customer will not provide any resources, assistance or extra for use by the Service Provider in providing the Services Reimbursement of Expenses b. The Service Provider will not be reimbursed for expenses incurred by the Service Provider in connection with providing the Services of this Agreement. Independence of Services c. In providing the Sevices under the Agreement it is expressly agreed that the Service Provider is acting as an independent contractor and not as an employee. The Service Provider and the Customer acknowledge that the Agreement does not create a partnership or joint venture between them, and is exclusively a contract for service

Notes a. All suits, requests, demands or other communication required or permitted by the terms of this Agreement by [intelligible words] and delivered to the Parties of the Agreement as follows

ANTHONY J CROWLEY of MAYFAIR LONDON

HASTUR AND LIGUR of HELL

and each [Illegible words due to Crowley’s hand] notify the other.

[ILLEGIBLE WORD]

ANTHONY J CROWLEY

Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman at NADWCON 2011 (North American Discworld Convention) ❤

Neil: The single worst experience that we went through was, I think, the film. The first go round on the film, where it was bought by very nice people who convinced us they were very nice because we were absolute innocent. And I just remember going up for the first meeting with them.

And we were going up for the meeting, and Terry says, 'Here, come over here.'

I said, 'Okay.'

He said, 'Um, look, I'm not sure about these people, and you're not sure about these people. If this is our first meeting, if they're just completely barking, we should have a code word. And whoever says the code word, we both get up in unison and we leave'.

I said, 'Okay, so we need a code word that neither of us could conceivably say in normal conversation.'

And Terry says, 'Yes.'

I said, 'Okay, what about Biggles?' Now, biggles, for those of you who don't know, was a famous...

Terry, joking: A famous Cardinal. [Cardinal Biggles in Monthy Python].

Neil: He was. Of course.

Terry: They're young, that's the only one they know.

Neil: Captain W. E. Johns wrote books about Biggles, who was a World War I flying ace who, with his pals Ginger and Algy used to go out and shoot out the evil Germans. So, if any Germans are here, you're not evil, tt was just in this book. So. So, I say, 'What about biggles?'

And Terry is, 'Okay. Biggles it is.'

So we head up for the meeting, and we're sitting there around the table talking to what seemed to be terribly nice, sensible people. And then the executive walks in. And the executive in this case was a woman who looked like she had mugged somebody 20 years younger than her and stolen her hair. And she walked in and she didn't... She said like, 'Hi, Neil. Hi, Terry. It's lovely to meet you both. Now, I'm sure that the guys have been talking to you about your book, Good omens, and what we're thinking about now. Okay, let me just run some stuff past you. We figure the dynamics of this are the kid, Adam, whatever his name is, Newt, the witchfinder. We see him as, like, maybe being Tom Cruise, young, goodlooking, hunky, but he's looking for the witches. And the witch, Athaneema, I think her name was. Okay, so there's Newt and there's Athaneema'.

And I look at Terry, and I need to actually mime this - I think we should do this together.

.

Fun fact: Neil wrote the 'Athaneema' into the Good Omens series :).

Updated! A few days ago the contract Crowley signs in S1 came up on discord. Being the crazy person that I am, I set on the quest of finding out what it actually says. I couldn't make out everything, especially at the end where Crowley's hand and the sparks obscure the lines but I made out most of it (transcript below the break).

One of the things I like the most is that the contract specifically says "Anthony Crowley of Mayfair, London." In the book, Hastur tells Crowley not to use that name: "No. Not A. J. Crowley. Your real name.” Crowley nodded mournfully, and drew a complex, wiggly sigil on the paper. It glowed redly in the gloom, just for a moment, and then faded."

Interesting things:

The contract is referred to as "the Agreement" - HA!

The contract is between Hastur and Ligur ("the Customer") and Crowley ("the Service Provider"). Not with Hell itself or with Satan.

The contract never actually says what "the Service" is nor does it say how much Crowley is supposed to be paid (so is it just delivering the baby to the convent, or all the upbringing too?)

There is a part that says Hastur and Ligur will pay the costs when the operation is done. But later on it also says that Crowley will not be reimbursed for his own expenses. Talk about being shortchanged!

Hastur and Ligur will NOT provide any help

Crowley must contribute to a retirement plan (Superannuation) for himself and his employees if he has any (how thoughtful)

And lastly, I learned the UK has Superannuations and it is not just an Australian thing! (go figure! the things GO teaches me)

So here you have it. A contract from Hell! literally If anyone can make out the words I couldn't or finds an error, please let me know and I'll update this one.

Full transcript:

[Line covered by clip and Ligur’s fingers] (the "Agreement")

BETWEEN

HASTUR AND LIGUR of HELL (the "Customer")

AND

ANTHONY J CROWLEY of MAYFAIR LONDON (the "Service Provider")

BACKGROUND a. The Costumer is of the opinion that the Service Provider has the necessary qualifications experience and abilities to provide services for the Customer. The Costumer will pay the Service Provider per project agreed. Each project has its own costs and the Service Provider agrees to inform the Customer what are the costs involved when setting the operation and the Costumer agrees to pay the total amount when the project is delivered. b. The Compensation will be payable upon completion of the Services. The Service Provider is responsible for paying any Superannuation Guarantee contributions that may be required in relation to the work performed by the Service Provider or by the employees of the Service Provider under this Agreement c. The above Compensation includes all applicable sales tax, and dues as required by law

Provision of Extras a. The Customer will not provide any resources, assistance or extra for use by the Service Provider in providing the Services Reimbursement of Expenses b. The Service Provider will not be reimbursed for expenses incurred by the Service Provider in connection with providing the Services of this Agreement. Independence of Services c. In providing the Sevices under the Agreement it is expressly agreed that the Service Provider is acting as an independent contractor and not as an employee. The Service Provider and the Customer acknowledge that the Agreement does not create a partnership or joint venture between them, and is exclusively a contract for service

Notes a. All suits, requests, demands or other communication required or permitted by the terms of this Agreement by will be given in writing and delivered to the Parties of the Agreement as follows

ANTHONY J CROWLEY of MAYFAIR LONDON

HASTUR AND LIGUR of HELL

and each [Illegible words due to Crowley’s hand] notify the other.

[ILLEGIBLE WORD]

ANTHONY J CROWLEY

A few days ago when I saw the YouTube video about the possible nightingale in the background (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeUU44zUi5M&t=1s) I got a little bit obsessed with the thing. So I went and spent an unhealthy amount of time trying to bring forward the background audio. I am no sound engineer but I did my best. I tried to put them here but Tumblr doesn't allow videos on a reblog, just links (go figure). Anyway, in the original there is a bird after Crowley opens the door but it is very short. In the "enhanced" video it is clear when it happens. What kind of bird it is? I can't tell but there is one.

Hi Mr Neil!

I just need a quick confirmation:

Did the nightingale sing (because I can cleary hear a bird right there) when Crowley was leaving bookshops, after the kiss?

Thanks!

I went and listened. Couldn't hear anything. Listened in headphones. Decided it's either a bird or a bicycle noise. What it definitely isn't is a nightingale.

This is what a nightingale sounds like.

Nope, you are not the only one. I can't make sense of that change in cadence. It is very odd indeed. I don't know if he is trying to say to the human "he is just an angel I know" as you could say "he is a lawyer I know;" saying what he is and that you are acquainted with him. Which would make for a very strange delivery.

Or if he says "he is just an angel. I know" as in someone with a heart of gold, loving, and caring, you know, good (and that also happens to be an actual angel but the human can't know that). With the "I know" meaning something like "tell me about it! I've been around. I am intimately familiar with the fact, thank you very much." I don't think at this point he would have used the word "love." I think it was after this conversation that he realized what he feels for Aziraphale is actually called "love." I feel that that is the big revelation that happens after this exchange. Nina easily points out and names what has been in front of his eyes the whole time. His first reaction is to scoff when he turns around like saying "you are crazy, woman. you speak nonsense" but we also see the doubt and the gears starting to turn. Either way, the intonation is very odd, I never liked it.

“He’s not my bit on the side, he’s far too pure of heart to be anybody’s bit on the side. He’s just an angel I know.”

Does this line delivery not bother anyone else?? Every time I hear it I go over it again and again. Why does Crowley’s voice get unusually low and choked only when he says “I know”?

Did he want to say “He’s just an angel I love”?

Did he not like that he used the phrase “he’s just an angel” instead of “he’s my angel”?

Crowley never speaks with uncertainty. But it felt like he did here. And I need to understand why.

OMG you are so right. He totally is! He is such a nerd. I am impressed that you got that detail, it is so dark in the show. I love the art! Now that you got me all curious I played a little with some screenshots. Mr. I-make-my-clothes-out-of-raw-firmament of course made it like two sizes too small XD It seems to be made of soft, smooth fabric with white buttons, however the armhole edge does have a texture, kind of like a cuff (this must have a name but I know nothing of garment lingo which includes not knowing the name of the fabric even though I can totally picture it in my head).

Do I look like I own a bookshop? Yes, yes you do! LOL Although a proper bookseller would never decide against putting a stack of books on an empty chair and throwing them instead! It is right there. He looked at the chair, thought about it for a second and still decided to throw the books, I find that hilarious XD

gets in charge of the bookshop for 1 (one) day: shows up in a cardigan vest and metal sleeve garters, keeps the shop CLOSED, avoids selling a single book... iconic, truly did THE MOST, 10/10 😩👌🏻

(also, the way he was this 🤏🏻 close to finally achieving the status of house husband he's been dreaming about for MILLENIA just to have the rug pulled out from under him last minute... truly DEVASTATING 😩 my girl really can't catch a break 🤧)

Remember two years ago or so when Neil gave us a little gift in the shape of a piece of daily? I found the dialogue in the show!

@embracing-the-ineffable Sorry, answering in a reblog again but I've got pictures! We do know how things look in the back :) ... well, sort of. We know how the set looks like in the back. The full shop was created in a different set in the studio, not in the main one, that would be too easy for us.

The angle for the first picture is not great, but it is the only one I have. Once you enter the alley, you have to turn left and then you have to turn right again because of the offset. If the music shop were on Marguerite's side of the alley and Aziraphale and Crowley arrived from the left, that would mean they came from the theater's side, but we know they entered the alley in Whickber Street so the music shop has to be on the coffee shop side of the alley for their arrival to make sense.

More Ineffable Discontinuity? Arnolds Musical Instruments Est 1950...

I'm not so sure about "1950". From season 1:

And look at that red phone booth! 👀

Red phone booths are on some of the season 2 promo posters, even though they don't seem to actually BE in season 2.

I don't know where I'm going with this, but Mr Arnold, the musician, is a HUGE Dr Who fan, and the hidden audio in Gabriel's memory tunnels might have a lot of references to a musician.

Edit: Neil says Mr Arnold's dad moved the shop there in the 1970s (after the 1967 flashback), which still doesn't explain it missing in season 1...

I have more clues and a collection of posts from all over the fandom, here!

@embracing-the-ineffable It's going to be easier to reply here. I don't think that is a window, I think it is a display that the store bought. The clasp to open it is on the outside.

When A&C go to the music shop, we see a bricked wall across it wit a window. We see them arriving from the left and we also see someone in the background crossing from the right when Crowley closes the door which means the shop is in an alley that allows people to walk freely on both sides.

The shop itself seems to be narrow too, the width being that of the window and door, and not too deep. From what we can see there are no more windows. The far wall has guitars on it, the wall on the right (looking from the door in) has lots of clutter and the wall on the left has a shelf and the piano is set against it.

So the only position I could find that satisfies all requirements is this, behind the coffee shop, because if Arnold's were behind Marguerite's, then A&C walked in from the wrong side and that would just be weird. So anyway, since the other side of the alley is open, it is possible that the shop was there in S1 but it only had signs on the street behind it.

By the way, I paid more attention and both signs for the shop lack the apostrophe, however the one painted on the wall has the space for it. Since the Association condemned "the improper use of apostrophes on signs in windows" all I can conclude is that Mr. Arnold is being petty about it and I can respect that LOL

More Ineffable Discontinuity? Arnolds Musical Instruments Est 1950...

I'm not so sure about "1950". From season 1:

And look at that red phone booth! 👀

Red phone booths are on some of the season 2 promo posters, even though they don't seem to actually BE in season 2.

I don't know where I'm going with this, but Mr Arnold, the musician, is a HUGE Dr Who fan, and the hidden audio in Gabriel's memory tunnels might have a lot of references to a musician.

Edit: Neil says Mr Arnold's dad moved the shop there in the 1970s (after the 1967 flashback), which still doesn't explain it missing in season 1...

I have more clues and a collection of posts from all over the fandom, here!

You are welcome! :)

Updated map of Soho - GO2

A few days ago I did a series of posts about the map of Soho in GO2.

Some more information came up since, so I updated the posts:

Part 1 - Location and general map

Part 2 - Whickber Street [left]

Part 3 - The intersecting street

Part 4 - Whickber Street [right]

There you go (shared by the production) https://www.tumblr.com/fuckyeahgoodomens/726170416320741376/the-behind-the-scenes-of-transforming-the-bookshop?source=share

Updated map of Soho - GO2

A few days ago I did a series of posts about the map of Soho in GO2.

Some more information came up since, so I updated the posts:

Part 1 - Location and general map

Part 2 - Whickber Street [left]

Part 3 - The intersecting street

Part 4 - Whickber Street [right]

Updated map of Soho - GO2

A few days ago I did a series of posts about the map of Soho in GO2.

Some more information came up since, so I updated the posts. Part 2 got another update with some details on Arnold's music shop, not really a big deal

Part 1 - Location and general map

Part 2 - Whickber Street [left]

Part 3 - The intersecting street

Part 4 - Whickber Street [right]

Map of Soho Good Omens Season 2 - Part 4 (Whickber Street [right])

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Update: Map now identifies Lucky Snake

The right side of Whickber Street doesn't have as many stores. It also ends with a park. On one side: -Dirty Donkey Pub The pub occupies most of the block, in the far side there is a small alleyway that leads to a courtyard and to the pub's backdoor. This courtyard has two large doors facing the street. Since there is an alleyway the courtyard is not isolated, people can come and go. I imagine this courtyard acts as a loading area where the pub receives and unloads supplies. And on the other side:

-Market This structure is more like a small office building or a parking garage with flower and fruit stands at street level. It was already there in Season 1 -Unknown structure There is an alleyway between this mysterious structure at the end of the block and the market, so they are not connected. This structure has a door but no sign that I could see. It doesn't look like a storefront at all, maybe storage? public restroom? something so British that a non-British person is unable to imagine?

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Map of Soho Good Omens Season 2 - Part 3 (the intersecting street)

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 4 Update: Map and pictures further down now have Lucky Snake, and the description of both the Lucky Snake and The Chinese Buffet Restaurant have been updated too.

We don't know the name of the street that crosses Whickber Street. It starts between the market and the furniture store, and after a crooked crossing of Whickber St., it continues between the bookshop and the Dirty Donkey Pub until it ends on Wardour Street. On that upper block we have: -A. Z. Fell & Co. The bookshop has a backdoor that leads to this street. -Bilton Scaggs Hats and Caps This shop has been here for centuries. Originally Bilton and Scaggs was a publishing firm that printed among other things "The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, witch." Neil believes they went out of business in the late 19th century and the hat makers took over. Their shop was called Bilton and Scaggs Milliner & Haberdasher for a while and eventually they changed to Bilton Scaggs Hats and Caps. But honestly, only Aziraphale knows the whole story.

On the other side of the street we have: -The Dirty Donkey We don't know how long this pub has been in business, but we know that it was already there in the 40's when the zombies used it to hide and spy on the heroes. And then in 1967 Crowley used a private room to set up the caper to steal holy water from a church. The set was also used to set up two of the pubs where Gabriel and Beelzebub met. Both scenes were filmed on the same day! After the tour, the first episode of Season 2 was screened inside the pub for those lucky enough to win spots. The Dirty Donkey Pub has also appeared in Neil's "We Can Get Them for You Wholesale" and "Sandman: Overture." In the show, one of the elevators to Heaven and Hell opens inside the Dirty Donkey, maybe this supernatural ability allows it to show up in many different Neilverses ;) -"Model" This is Mrs. Sandwich mysterious establishment. Nobody really knows what happens there. We know the upper floor has lovely pink curtains, presumably for her girls who also love coffee. -Will Goldstone's Magic Shop Named after Will Goldston (not sure why an extra "e"), a stage magician who wrote many books on magic. The store existed in 1941 when it was run by Pat (who met a gruesome end at the hands of zombie nazis). Will Goldston himself died in 1948. So, was he the owner of the store and Pat just an employee? Did someone use his name? Or is that the reason behind the additional "e", to claim it wasn't him? We don't know. In current times it is operated by Mutt.

This street ends on Waldour Street and because we don't see much of it, I included those shops in this post: -Chinese Buffet Restaurant (updated) The English sign just says "Chinese Restaurant", Google translate gave me "Chinese Buffet Restaurant" for the sign on either side (if you look closely both sides say the same thing). There is no other writing that I could see so I would say that we don't know if it has another name or where is it written (inside maybe?). @embracing-the-ineffable raised the question of how do we know Mr. and Ms. Cheng own the restaurant. The truth is that we don't know for sure. We have assumed it probably because Aziraphale and Ms. Cheng are in front of the restaurant when he invites her to the meeting, but for all we know she was just walking on the street when they met. The Chengs could easily own the Herbal Pharmacy or the Grocery Store. We just don't know for sure -Lucky Snake (updated) To the right of the restaurant (our left) there is another store with yellow walls and red lanterns. It was brought to my attention (thank you!) that this is the infamous Lucky Snake we see in Aziraphale's typed list of shops. In Season 1 it was called "Oriental Delights" but this season it is a grocery store. -Herbal Medicine and Pharmacy - Traditional Chinese medicine appointments To the left of the restaurant (our right) we have the herbalist/pharmacy. This is written in English while "traditional medicine appointments" is written in Chinese. There is no other name outside either.

Turning around and looking towards Whickber Street, we can get a peek all the way to Great Windmill Street, between the news agency and the market. -Windmill Theatre Today it is called Windmill Soho but the name Windmill Theatre is equally recognizable. In 1941 it was owned by Mrs. Laura Henderson. The theatre was famous for 1)not closing at all, even during the heaviest of bombings and 2)its motionless nude girls (tableaux vivants) called the "Windmill Girls". Because of this, it used the motto "We Never Closed" (although people modified to "We Never Clothed"). In the set, the doors are not props, they are the real doors to the internal docks of the studio, which honestly it is very clever.

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Map of Soho Good Omens Season 2 - Part 2 (Whickber Street [left])

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Update (21/Dec/23): Map now identifies Lucky Snake Update (12/Jan/24): Arnold's music shop new info (really small)

-Alf Laylah Wa Laylah - Imported Fabrics and Textiles The name is Arabic for "The Thousand and One Nights"; the compilation of stories from the Middle East and Central Asia that Shahrazad told King Shahryar night after night to save hers and many other women's lives. -The Small Back Room Currently owned by Maggie, although she rents the space from the nice bookseller next door. Her great grandmother started it in a corner of the bookshop (a small back room?) in the 1920's. Soon after, nice Mr. Fell gave her the space it is currently occupying. We know Maggie's dad ran it until he retired and left it to Maggie. In S1 it was called "Vinyl Fetish" so maybe they were trying something new to revive the business or maybe that's the name he used and she reverted back to "The Small Back Room" when she took over. The Small Back Room is also a reference to a film of the same name by Powell and Pressburger. -A. Z. Fell & Co. Booksellers - Antiquarian and Unusual Books - Purveyor of Books to the Gentry THE bookshop, need I say more? Yes, yes I do, but not here or this post would be double the length it already is :P

Across the street, on the other side of the block we have:

-Delicatessen - Continental Wines & Provisions This Deli has been around since S1, it may be somehow connected to the Italian restaurant next door and the only basis I have to say this is that they are both Italian. -Francesco's - Authentic Italian Named after Francesco Raidy, the First Assistant Director. -Battye and Palm - Est 1790 - Bespoke tailoring, made to measure Sandra Battye and Rosemary "Rosie" Palm are a couple of flatmates in Discworld; the former is a seamstress while the latter is a "seamstress" (I wonder whether she would get along with Mrs. Sandwich). In S1 this was a 60's shop called "Skye Suits", Skye being the Scottish island Douglas is from and where Neil has his UK residence. Battye and Palm may have taken over and relocated here or they may have opened a new location some time between S1 and S2. -Give Me Coffee or Give Me Death A relatively new shop, owned by Nina who according to this ask bought Jon Coffee in 2019 and later on, in 2021, took over the closed shop next door, Honey Sweets, to expand. The name is a play on "Give me liberty or give me death" with the Statue of Liberty motifs all over, starting with the logo. The side of the shop was cleaned up very nicely and where Jon Coffee had its dumpster, Give Me Coffee has a nice bench. -Arnold's - Musical Instruments - Established 1950 (Updated again) Music shop named for David Arnold, the Good Omens composer. David was supposed to play the part of Mr. Arnold in the show but because of scheduling conflicts, it didn't happen. David was not born in 1950 so why they used that date is a mystery. To get to Arnold's you actually have to enter the alleyway (see the sign on the wall), turn left and then right and you'll find the door. We recently learned that in the main set, you can enter the alleyway, but the actual interior of the shop was built in another section of the studio. In S1 the wall that now has a display was covered by an iconic red phonebooth. We don't know if Arnold's was there back then as there were no signs, but we know Mr. Arnold has been a member of the Whickber Street Traders and Shopkeepers Association for years. Even more recently we learned that Mr. Arnold's dad moved the original Arnold's shop to this location somewhere in the 70's when the shops there were cleaned up. -Marguerite's French restaurant owned by Justine, another relatively new establishment. In S1 this space was occupied by a firm of solicitors, the stairs lead to their office, no tables at all or pretty flowers. -Newsagency This establishment has been there since S1. We don't really know anything about them.

Finally, around the corner, next to the News agency is: -Otwell's Furniture Spelled with one T; the only reference I could find is for Old Otwell Bins (one T, one N although it can also be found with two N's). Ottwell Binns (two T's, two N's) was a novelist from the beginning of the 20th century while Old Otwell Bins/Binns wrote prophecies in the early 1600's (or maybe late 1500's). Naturally Aziraphale has an original signed by him. Otwell was mentioned in S1 but we didn't get to see his book (with the characteristic bookmark handwritten by Aziraphale). Fun fact: The GO book has it spelled as "Old Ottwell Binns" from the very first edition onwards, so I imagine an editor "corrected" the novelist name it and it stayed that way ever since. Part 1 | Part 3 | Part 4