This plaque was unveiled in February 2026 on the site of the fictional 'Powders' laundrette, a film location in this iconic British cinema classic.
Starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Gordon Warnecke and directed by Stephen Frears with an original screenplay by Hanif Kureishi, My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) broke major ground in its exploration of race and sexuality in Thatcher-era London. The film’s depiction of, and significance to, British South Asian and LGBTQIA+ communities cannot be overstated.
My Beautiful Laundrette was filmed across Wandsworth, Battersea and Vauxhall in 1984 with the set design and the site found on Wilcox Road in SW8.
Rainbow Plaques is a programme led by London LGBT+ Forums' Network, which identifies hidden and lost LGBTQIA+ heritage whilst highlighting the importance of intersectional queer visibility in our streets and public spaces.
The plaque was originally installed by Wandsworth LGBTQ+ Forum, Lambeth Council and Studio Voltaire in the pavement opposite 11 Wilcox Road, in September 2021, made possible through generous public donations.
Thanks to Lambeth Council and Turnqey for reinstating this plaque.
Visiting Information
3-27 Wilcox Road, Vauxhall, SW8
The closest station is Nine Elms (2 minutes).
Access Information
The artwork can be viewed at street level from the pavement.
The London LGBT+ Forums' Network is a collection of individual LGBTQIA+ forums, Prides and borough-based community groups from across Greater London. They exist to tackle issues of inequality within public services, to be a voice for their members and LGBTQIA+ residents, and to deliver projects that celebrate our shared culture and heritage.
Wandsworth LGBTQ+ Forum is one of London’s leading community LGBTQ+ groups which campaigns locally, across London and nationally to raise awareness and promote the interests of LGBTQ+ people. Not least because Wandsworth itself has a large and diverse LGBTQ+ population, but with no LGBTQ+ physical space in the borough, Wandsworth LGBTQ+ Forum exists to ensure that voice is not heard and lost.
Wandsworth LGBTQ+ Forum has established a broad programme of advocacy, health and cultural activities for LGBTQ+ people of all ages. The Forum have embraced provision of sexual health, primary care, cancer and mental health services and promotion of cultural and inclusion projects in partnership with other organisations such as the Furzedown Project 50+ Coffee Morning and Clapham Picturehouse (Out at Clapham).
Credit Nick Wright
