Nightclubs
Esmeralda’s Barn was not the first nor the last club owned by the Krays, who hired a manager to operate it for them and continued with their protection rackets and other criminal activities. The Krays would use either muscle, extortion, or money obtained through illegal activities to obtain shares in varying amounts of more than 30 nightclubs, bars, and restaurants in London. They appeared in their clubs regularly, dressed stylishly and associated themselves with the celebrities who appeared in their properties. Photographed with the celebrities, they became celebrities themselves.
The Krays ran an organized crime ring known as the Firm, which was involved in armed robbery, extortion, arson, truck hijacking, murder, and protection rackets. While running their organized crime empire the brothers cultivated the image of celebrity businessmen, driving around London in luxury automobiles, and becoming part of the image of swinging London, albeit the adult version of the city rather than that associated with rock and roll. Diana Dors, a British film actress in the style of Marilyn Monroe, was a frequent guest of their clubs.
So was Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, George Raft, Brian Epstein and many other celebrities, most of whom were aware of whispered rumors of ties to organized crime by their hosts. Ronnie Kray acted the part of the influential gangster in public, with promises of favors unavailable through ordinary means. The twins made quite a bit of money through their clubs, which they used to help fund illegal activity, their lifestyle, and the members of law enforcement who were on their payroll.
While the Kray’s were building their images as successful nightclub owners and celebrity businessmen they were involved in a developing feud with another organized crime group operating in the South of London. It too was run by brothers, Charlie and Eddie Richardson, both of whom operated semi-legitimate businesses which served as fronts for illegal activities including those practiced by the Kray’s. Eddie’s main business was operating what in America were known as one armed bandits, and in England at the time were called fruit machines. His brother was scrap metal dealer.
They too found a thriving underworld and as they and the Krays expanded their criminal activities an uneasy coexistence threatened to expand into a turf war. The Richardson gang was exceptionally violent, often using torture on victims before killing them, including extracting teeth with pliers or nailing victims to the floor. They were also notorious for conducting mock trials of victims which led to various tortures including electric shock. Punishments were often meted out for crimes which did not require, in the minds of the Richardson’s, actual killing.