A complete mural by Michael Andrews, from the famous Soho drinking club the Colony Room, has been sold to James Hyman Gallery, representatives of the estate of Michael Andrews.

The famous Soho Colony Room club was frequented by artists such Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, Frank Auerbach and Michael Andrews, and, more recently, by Damien Hirst, Tracy Emin and Sarah Lucas.

Michael Andrews's 15-foot-long mural of picnickers has decorated the walls of the drinking club since the 1950s.

James Hyman said " I think it was important to purchase the piece from an historical point of view. The Colony Room is a part of London's cultural history and the mural was the centrepiece. At this stage I am not sure what will happen to it, I am just pleased to have secured it for future generations to enjoy. Ideally I think it should be in a museum, in my opinion the piece is that important."

Andrews painted the work for proprietress, Muriel Belcher, and was inspired by an image in a book on Bonnard which he re-interpreted.

The Colony Room was founded in 1948 by Muriel Belcher, who ran the club until her death in 1979. After 60 years in the same Soho building, the lease on the site has expired and the bar is due to close at the end of December, 2008.

Since the Club was founded in 1948 the Colony Room has been an institution in London's art scene. Made famous by Francis Bacon, this tiny first floor club has played host to some of the greatest artists of the post war period most notably Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud. In more recent years Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Kate Moss have all been regular habitués.

ENDS.