A Thousand Blows: Is The Blue Coat Boy a Real Pub?

Crafted by Steven Knight, ‘A Thousand Blows’ is a historical drama that takes in the bowels of London’s East End during the 1800s. The show crafts a gritty reality where crime, love, betrayal, and ambition coexist within the seedy neighborhood. While most of the story is narrated through the eyes of three central characters, namely Mary Carr, Hezekiah Moscow, and Henry Goodson, the series spans various memorable backdrops. One such integral locale is The Blue Coat Boy pub, owned by Goodson. It makes a prominent impression throughout the narrative, often as the ground zero for a lot of the boxing events that define the series. As the story progresses, the pub becomes a contentious topic as a clash breaks out between different ideologies.

The Blue Coat Boy is Inspired By a Real Pub From the 1800s

The Blue Coat Boy in ‘A Thousand Blows’ is inspired by a real pub. In the show, the establishment is owned by Henry Goodson, AKA Sugar. It is also where bare-knuckled fights occur once the sun goes down. According to research conducted by Sarah Elizabeth Cox, a historical advisor on the series, the Blue Coat Boy was the name of two pubs in the East End area. Punch Lewis ran the one situated on Dorset Street (previously called Duvall Street), which was demolished in the 1920s. He was a pivotal figure in kickstarting Hezekiah Moscow’s career in boxing. The show also has a character based on Lewis, who MCs the boxing fights inside the Blue Coat Boy. As such, there are clear connections between the two establishments. However, as the show is a drama and not a documentary, specific changes have been made to cater to an original narrative.

In 1882, the Blue Coat Boy was having a night of boxing when the crowd urged a young black man (Hezekiah) to present himself. Although he hesitated to step forward, he tried providing details about his recent arrival in the country. Eventually, the crowd gave him the name Ching Ghook after he was reluctant to reveal his own. According to Cox, the name had clear racial connotations behind it, especially as one sports journalist present within the building referred to Hezekiah’s appearance as Chinese. Subsequently, the crowd picked up on the message and ran with it, giving him a moniker that would continue even as he found success in the boxing ring for years to come. Thus, similarly to the show’s portrayal, the Blue Coat Boy had an integral role in Hezekiah’s journey into boxing.

The show deviates in some places by introducing some fictional elements. For instance, Hezekiah’s first fight in the Blue Coat Boy in the series is against Sugar. The two end up developing a rivalry that stretches throughout the narrative. In reality, there is no record of Hezekiah and Sugar ever facing off in the ring. This plot element is likely introduced to create tension within the two central characters and to provide them with an agency moving forward. Sugar’s complex emotions are also explored through his ownership of the pub. As time passes, it becomes evident that the boss of the East End is losing his grip over his empire and slowly slipping away into obscurity. Therefore, the Blue Coat Boy plays a vital role in dissecting the internal themes of new versus old raging throughout the show’s first season. However, for the most part, it has some ties to reality.