The Muffin Man: From Big Issue to Book – Tales of a Soho Vendor | My Soho Times

Big Issue vendor and author André Rostant makes his debut as a My Soho Times contributor with a tale of everyday life on the streets of Soho, moments of connection with passersby, and the sense of community that thrives amid the constant flow of city life which ultimately inspired his book The Muffin Man.

They Stole Lennon’s Glasses!

He had only been sitting behind Liberty on Carnaby Street a few months. Now, the bronze Beatle peers myopically as I sell Big Issues. Shakespeare, his hand lost to a World War Two bomb, also gazes down, I hope, benignly.

A fellow hurries by pushing a barrow of fruit – from the sole surviving original market stall in Berwick Street. Mark – tailor to Bowie, the Krays, Harry Potter and Mel B (among others) – passes, nods. A cheery greeting from habitual visitors to the gents’ loo – a contender for cottaging capital of the northern hemisphere. One of the Pret staff kindly brings me a coffee.

How do you chip bronze glasses off a bronze statue? What do you do with them? The security team and cleaners are vigilant, now, mainly to prevent a build up of candles and shrine paraphernalia around the bench.

I’ve been vending on Carnaby street over seven years – and will continue so long as I remain homeless. You hear the odd, “Get a job”! But buying and selling magazines is trading and anyway, like most Londoners, I do two or three jobs but still have no money – vending takes the edge off, keeps the wolf from the door: you couldn’t live on it.

Tourists ask who the woman statue is… Arms spread across the back of the bench, feet extended, crossed – something of a trip hazard.

When you beg, the world is passing knees, shopping bags, dogs, toddlers. You are literally looked down onand frequently moved along while, ironically, the street is haunted by chuggers – charity collectors, sanctioned mendicants.

But selling The Big Issue is different – not subject to street trading restrictions. You present people with homelessness that is not helpless – they can take it or leave it, but can’t ignore it. In some ways, I have become part of the fabric of the street – regular customers include returning tourists and visitors.

The crucifixion-like pose is a nod to Lennon’s song ‘Christ, you know it ain’t easy’. The figure, deliberately androgynous, reflecting the ambiguity of some of Lennon’s lyrics, and aspects of his life and work.

A man who has lived sixty years in Soho stops to chat. The neighbourhood is morphed around him – friends, family, familiar shops, vanished. He has changed town by staying put.

As fun as selling The Big Issue is, I do hope to move on. To that end and largely from love of the area, I’ve written a book about Soho – people who live here, sojourn or pass through – from the perspective of a fictional Big Issue vendor. It’s called The Muffin Man (Arkbound is the publisher), and we had the good fortune to launch it this June at the fabulous All is Joy social club on Dean Street.

Always feel free to stop for a natter if you see me on Carnaby Street – no obligation to buy!

‘The Muffin Man’ by André Rostant, priced at £12.99, can be purchased at the following locations: www.arkbound.com, Foyles, Waterstones, Smiths, reputable bookstores, Westminster libraries, and Amazon.

Written by André Rostant | X: @badthink | Photos courtesy of André Rostant

This article was originally published in the Autumn issue of My Soho Times magazine. View it ONLINE HERE!

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