Alfie Solomon: The Real-Life Jewish Gangster from Peaky Blinders

In Peaky Blinders, Tom Hardy’s portrayal of Alfie Solomons is one of the show’s most memorable performances. With his unpredictable temperament, dark humor, and violent tendencies, the character quickly became a fan favorite. However, while much of the show’s narrative is fictional, Solomons is based on a real historical figure: Alfie Solomon, a bookmaker and gangster in early 20th-century London. Though the character in the show is an amalgamation of fiction and historical fact, the real Alfie Solomon’s life was just as brutal and chaotic as his on-screen counterpart—albeit less powerful and more entangled with London’s Italian underworld than many realize.

The Real Alfie Solomon: A Bookmaker with Gangland Ties

The real Alfie Solomon, unlike the fictionalized version in Peaky Blinders, was not a larger-than-life criminal mastermind, but he was undoubtedly a violent and ruthless man. He was born in the late 19th century in London and was part of the city’s Jewish community, which had established a significant presence in the East End by that time. Alfie Solomon was involved in the betting scene, particularly in the underground world of bookmaking, which was rife with criminal activity.

Solomon’s role in the London underworld was primarily as a bookmaker, a profession that at the time was often entangled with violence and intimidation. Bookmakers were the lynchpins of illicit betting at horse racing tracks, and they often had their own protection rackets. Solomon was rumored to have led a group that would both attack rival bookmakers and later protect the betting operations at races, ensuring that his business interests were uncontested. This aggressive form of business management, where violence was a regular tool for maintaining control, wasn’t unique to Solomon; it was part of the broader world of organized crime in London.

The Sabini Gang Connection

What sets Alfie Solomon apart from the many other criminals in London’s underworld at the time was his involvement, or at least his connection, to the infamous Italian Sabini gang. The Sabinis were a powerful criminal organization based in London, headed by Charles “Darby” Sabini, who was known for his tight control over the racecourses and betting rings in the early 20th century. The Sabinis were rivals to the Peaky Blinders in Birmingham and were depicted in the show as a significant threat to Tommy Shelby’s rise.

The relationship between Solomon and the Sabinis remains murky, with conflicting sources offering little clarity on the exact nature of his involvement. Some sources suggest that Solomon worked with the Sabinis in some capacity—perhaps as a bookie on their turf, or as someone who operated under their protection or influence. It’s also speculated that Solomon might have led a faction that acted as enforcers for the Sabinis, using violence to protect or expand their betting operations. However, historical records don’t provide definitive details about how closely he worked with the Italian gang or the degree of power he wielded in comparison to their other operatives.

What is clear, however, is that Solomon was active in the same violent and high-stakes world of racecourse rackets that the Sabinis controlled, and his name was regularly linked to organized crime in London. In Peaky Blinders, the Sabinis’ rivalry with the Shelbys is central to the plot, and while Solomon’s direct role in the conflict is not explicitly clear in real life, the show uses the historical context of the racecourse war to weave him into the drama.

A Violent and Dangerous Figure

Alfie Solomon’s criminal career was punctuated by several violent incidents that reflect the brutality of the world in which he operated. One of the most notable moments in his real-life story was his involvement in the 1921 shooting of Billy Kimber, the leader of the Birmingham-based Peaky Blinders. Kimber, portrayed in season one of the show as a major antagonist to Tommy Shelby, was shot by Solomon in 1921. Though Solomon was arrested for the crime, he was never convicted of Kimber’s murder. The details surrounding the incident are unclear, and it is uncertain whether Solomon was acting alone or was involved in a larger conspiracy against Kimber.

However, Solomon’s violent reputation didn’t end with Kimber. In 1924, he was arrested again—this time for attempting to murder two other bookmakers. The attempted killings were linked to disputes within the world of bookmaking, likely stemming from rivalries over betting turf and business. This violent streak, coupled with his repeated run-ins with the law, paints a picture of a man who was deeply entrenched in the cutthroat world of criminal enterprises and who used force to protect his interests.

Despite these violent tendencies, Solomon was not as powerful as the likes of the Sabinis or other major gang leaders. He was more of a small-time but dangerous operator, whose violent methods were often focused on protecting his turf rather than expanding his empire. His presence was certainly felt on the streets, but he was no grand kingpin.

From Criminal to Police Informant

The final chapters of Solomon’s life are marked by his fear and desperation. In 1930, Solomon became a police informant, a move that indicated just how dangerous his world had become. By then, he had grown fearful for his life, likely due to the many enemies he had made throughout his criminal career. It’s believed that he was providing information to the authorities about other criminals in exchange for protection from rival gang members.

This shift from criminal to informant speaks to the precariousness of life in London’s underworld, where former allies could quickly become enemies, and betrayal was a constant threat. Solomon’s decision to cooperate with the police suggests that he had grown weary of the violent world he had helped to create. Ultimately, his role as an informant marked the end of his criminal career, as his need for survival took precedence over loyalty to his former criminal colleagues.

A Clean-Shaven Secular Jew

A key detail about Alfie Solomon that distinguishes him from his Peaky Blinders counterpart is his appearance and identity. Unlike the grizzled, bearded gangster portrayed by Tom Hardy, the real Solomon was a clean-shaven, secular Jew. His Jewish background was significant, particularly in the context of the time, as the Jewish community in London’s East End was often associated with both legitimate business and criminal enterprises. However, while the show’s Solomons is often seen with an air of traditionalism, the real Alfie Solomon was far more secular in his outlook and had little to no connection to religious practices or beliefs.

In many ways, Solomon’s secular, pragmatic approach to life—coupled with his violent criminal tendencies—made him a more “everyman” figure in London’s underworld, rather than a larger-than-life personality like the fictional version depicted in the show.

Conclusion: The Real Alfie Solomon vs. Alfie Solomons

The real Alfie Solomon, while an undeniably violent and dangerous figure, was not quite as powerful or iconic as his Peaky Blinders counterpart. He was involved in the gritty world of bookmaking and racecourse rackets, with strong ties to London’s criminal world, particularly the Sabini gang. Solomon’s life was one marked by violence, arrests, and ultimately fear as he turned informant to save his own skin. His character in Peaky Blinders—a violent, unpredictable, and often humorous gangster—draws heavily on the real Solomon’s criminal activities, though it takes creative liberties, particularly in the depth of his influence and his interactions with Tommy Shelby.

In both the real world and the fictional universe of Peaky Blinders, Alfie Solomon/Solomons remains a memorable figure—a man who navigated the dangerous world of organized crime with cunning, violence, and, ultimately, a deep desire to survive. Whether in the back alleys of London or on the screen, his legacy is one of both ruthlessness and vulnerability, caught between the violence of his criminal past and the need to secure a future outside the shadows.

Alfie Solomons