Quote from The Standard’s article on Don Arden (12 April 2012), which I have only just come across via a Standard FB post. I guess now it’s local coffee shops that act as the office for a lot of people:
The Monster of Rock – Why Sharon Osbourne’s dad was the most feared man in music
“Born in Manchester in 1926, his real name was Harry Levy and he began his career singing in the local synagogue, from where he progressed quickly to performing on the variety circuits at 14 in wartime Britain. The local phone box was his office. When he got in there, no one dared try to get him out.!”