rhythm and booze Food, Booze, Bands & News - August/September 2010
C ro w n But Not Out!!
The future of a city pub has been assured, following its liberation from the hands of pubco Admiral Taverns. Baxter & King, the construction firm behind The Ostrich Inn, have bought the lease for the Crown, Lincoln Road and are planning a sympathetic refurbishment. Landlord Brian Gascoyne promises a friendly and tolerant venue, which benefits the entire community. “The right hand bar is being turned into a function room for live music and parties. It can be blocked off from the rest of the pub when required and I
will be offering it out free of charge for bona fide community events.” Reopening on September 1, Brian intends to create a grown-up and secure environment, stamping out binge drinking and promoting quality real ale. “I have a zero tolerance attitude on drugs, excessive drinking and bad behaviour. I won’t let people ruin it for others, no matter how much money they put across the bar. “I have a passion for real ale and when I was at The Crispin Arms, near Wellingborough, I managed to introduce
Brian Gascoyne - Landlord of The Crown, New England.
customers to the taste, making it the most popular drink there. “I intend to do the same at The Crown, starting off with two ales before increasing choice to match demand.” nThe Crown to Town Reborn (see page 3)
(H)eat to the Beat! Dead Beat to White Heat The Destructors An 18-track album from one of Peterborough’s original Punk bands. Collecting together their best material, recorded over the past six months, this release is going to take some beating! Out August 23 2010
“I admire punk bands that are true to their roots and, it has to be said that, The Destructors fall into that category.” - Powerplay Magazine “An intoxicating brew of punk rock with slight hints of hardcore, metal and garage rock added for extra flavor.” - The Trouble with Normal "Prolific in their approach, The Destructors serve up angry, socially conscious Punk, harking back to a more old school, British style." - Pop Matters
IN-STORE, ONLINE, DOWNLOAD ON SALE IN HMV, CATHEDRAL SQUARE
BY MAIL ORDER FROM METALONROCK.TV OR AS A DOWNLOAD FROM iTUNES / 7DIGITAL
Crown to Town:Reborn Ten years ago Lincoln Road was lined with busy pubs, catering for all ages and tastes. Social and demographic changes, corporate greed and legal problems started to see the closure of several pubs. The Norfolk, one of Peterborough’s premier music pubs closed down and was converted to an estate agent, followed by The Eight Bells which suffered a similar fate. The Triangle had the distinction of not only being the first pub in Peterborough to be closed down under the Licensing Act 2003, but of being the first one to be closed twice. The Greyhound had its heart ripped out when the interior was made into a café and supermarket, while The Windmill is currently being converted into shops and flats. The Crown was shut temporarily due to licensing issues, however – as explained on the front cover – it’s due to reopen on September 1 when the legendary Crown to Town gets its starting point back. The following route should be taken over the course of an afternoon, remembering to eat at a couple of venues along the way. Starting off at The Crown, there’s a choice of real ales and, if you visit on a Sunday, the chance of a reasonably priced roast dinner. Leaving the pub, turn left and continue along Lincoln Road until you reach The New Inn. While there’s no real ale, they do serve Courage Light Ale and Newcastle Brown Ale. The next pub along is The Blue Lagoon, situated on the corner of Lincoln Road and St. Paul’s Road. This pan European pub serves Polish and Portuguese lagers in bottles and English beer on keg. After leaving the pub turn left into St. Paul’s Road, walking ½ mile and crossing the road at some point before reaching The Northfields Inn. This corner pub offers a limited selection of ales and as you can see from the listings guide, a selection of live acts. Crossing the road and walking ¼ mile along you’ll find The
Blue Bell Inn. As it is an Elgood’s pub, there’s no shortage of ale on offer. As with the Northfields, they have live music with the added bonus of food, served 12-3. Crossing the road, walk down Dogsthorpe Road turning left when you get to Elm Tree Road. Walking another ¼ mile, crossing the road at some point, will take you to The Elm Tree Tavern. Originally named The Comet, after the world’s first commercial jet liner, the pub offers a range of ales and serves food between 10-7 Monday-Saturday and 12-6 on Sundays. Leaving the pub, turn right and walk along Garton End Road. Getting to the junction for Dogsthorpe Road, turn left – crossing over at some point – continuing to the turning for St. Martin’s Street. Turn right and walk along the road, taking a left into Highbury Street. While you will have to walk ¾ miles from The Elm Tree to The Hand and Heart, it’ll be worth your while as landlord Paul “Bram” Brammer keeps a good cellar – a reason why it’s recently won Cambridgeshire Pub of the Year. Once you leave the pub, turn right and follow the road onto Lincoln Road. Turn left, walking along the road, crossing Dogsthorpe Road and continuing into Burghley Road. Walk along the road until you find The Rose a pub formerly known as The Fountain and, later on, The Glass Onion. Recently reopened, landlord Nick will be opening a restaurant upstairs in the coming months and in the meantime there’s a barbecue on Friday and Saturday evenings. Crossing over the road, walk along St. Mark’s Street and turn right onto Church Walk where you’ll find The Tom Lock. While it’s a pub with a restrictive ID policy and the Dutch breakfast that is keg Bombardier, its saving grace is the menu, pool table and beer garden. Once suitably refreshed, walk out of the car park and turn left to carry along Lincoln Road.
There is Geneva’s further on your left, which occasionally sells ales, however carrying along Lincoln Road will bring you to North Street and The Ostrich Inn. Sharing owners with The Crown, the pub serves food 12-3 and has three ales on hand pump with another line to follow. Our final visit is to The Wortley Almshouses which you get to by turning right outside The Ostrich, right at the end of North Street and following Westgate along before you get to the taxi rank. A Samuel Smiths pub, new managers Alex and Sheena have extended the opening hours to 1130-11 Monday to Saturday, 12-1030 Sunday with food served 12-7 Weekdays and 12-4 Saturdays. A new menu is imminent offering Thai green curry, alongside old favourites such as steak and kidney pudding. If you’re a BT Openzone customer you’ll be able to access wi-fi, where you can visit www.gmap-pedometer.com to see that this crawl was just over three miles long.
The Wortley Almshouses Under new management,with somewhere to park your bike!
The Gangsters - Appearing @ The Cellar Bar, Saturday September 25
AUGUST 01 -Monica and the Explosion (7pm) 02 - Gizz Butt (Beatles Tribute) 03 - Gizz Butt (Red, Black & Blues) 05 - Ian Graham & Kat Moore 06 - Swinging the Lead + MBM 07 - Disco Chimp 08 - BBQ 3pm-5pm, Geoff (solo) 5pm 12 - The Collabor8rs 13 - Infamy 14 - Gig Available (ring to book) 15 - Ken Wynne (solo) 19 - Lloyd Watson (solo) 20 - Open Mic Night 21 - PRIVATE PARTY 22 - Gig Available (7pm slot - ring to book) 26 - The Collabor8rs 27 - Lateshow 28 - The Malingerers
SEPTEMBER 03 - Lace & Whiskey 04 - Filthy Lucre 05 - Lloyd, Rex & Murray (7pm) 09 - Boden Penny Duo 11 - Citizen Smith 16 - Punky Rebel Media 17 - Open Mic Night 18 - Richard Hall 23 - Gig Available (ring to book) 24 - Llloyd Watson Band 25 - The Gangsters 26 - Ken Wynne (solo) 30 - Gig Available (ring to book) Open Every Day from 2pm Bands 8.30pm unless otherwise stated Bottled Ales & Freshly Served Food Live Sport in HD Karaoke on Wednesdays
THE
w w w. t h e c e l l a r b a r p e t e r b o r o u g h . c o . u k
CELLAR BAR The Thorpe Lodge Hotel, Thorpe Road, Peterborough, 0777541239
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Pub Scrawl
Pub poetry is alive, well and making a name for itself in Peterborough. The city’s former Poet Laureate, Cardinal Cox, gives you a run down of what’s on over the next couple of months. Marking their fourth anniversary, Pint of Poetry and a Dash of Drama will be at Charters on August 11. They continue to be a welcoming and open circle, always looking for new performers and have a Facebook group for anyone who wants to keep up to date. Meeting on the second Wednesday of the month, they will also be be
Mark Niel, appearing at the new Poetry Factory initiative in August. Photo © www.akickinthearts.co.uk there on September 8. While it’s not their birthday, Poets United’s decade and a bit is also worth celebrating. They have just released an anthology titled Panthology. This, their third collection, contains the work of 13 members, who include six of the city’s former Poet Laureates. The group meet the first Tuesday of the month at 8pm, which means the next two are August 3 and September 7, at The Botolph Arms, Oundle Road. For more information call Viv on 01733 340560. A new initiative aimed at helping writers through constructive criticism called Poetry Factory is held on the third Thursday of the month. The special guest on August 17 is
Mark Niel who runs a poetry night in Milton Keynes and has performed widely. I met him the first time I ever read in London and can vouch that he is a good bloke. The cost for this night is £5, however on September 21 there is no guest so the fee is only £1. Attendees are expected to bring two performance poems and a one page poem to the workshop along with paper, pen and an open mind. To book your place, which is highly recommended, ring Keely on 07790 275382 or Pete on 01733 890537. Following their trip to the Edinburgh Festival, Speakeasy returns to The Brewery Tap on Wednesday September 22. Starting at 8pm, the night promises to bring the best upand-coming poets to the city. If you know me you’ll know that I am a fan of all sorts of things embraced by the umbrella of science fiction, so I had best mention my friends in the Peterborough SF Club. The discussion night is held on the first Wednesday of the month at the Bluebell in Dogsthorpe, so on August 4 (from 8pm) they’re chatting about ‘First in Series’. I.e. what first book of a series, currently in print, would you recommend someone to read? Then on September 1 the subject is Steampunk, otherwise known as ‘Victorian-style SF adventures with big brass knobs on.’ The SF Club’s social nights are on the third Wednesday of the month, that’s August 18 and September 15, at Goodbarn’s Yard, St. Johns Street. The Club has a Facebook thing for those who are interested in such new fangled gadgetry. Down in Ramsey, the Coulter Cooperative writing circles have released a chunky collection of its’ members work. At over 200 pages of prose and poetry, this is an outstanding effort. For more information about these drop them a line c/o 33 Grenfell Road, Bury, Hunt-
ingdon PE26 2QR. The fourth Randall Rootz Festival will be held over the weekend of August 20/22 at the Brewery Tap and Charters. I mention it here because, despite my failures last year, I could well be compering again. If I do, I’ll shoehorn some poetry into the gap while bands change over. Say hello and put some money in a bucket for a good cause while listening to the bands. The deadline for entering this year’s Bard of the Fens story telling competition is August 20. The subject this year is Warriors and there are four categories for 6-12 year olds, 13-18 years, 19+ and Troubadours – groups of three or more of any age. There will be something for everyone at the final, to be held over the weekend of October 2/3 at the John Clare Cottage in Helpston. For full details, pay a visit to www.clarecottage.org Over in King’s Lynn, The Poetry Festival is held over the weekend of September 24/26. Guests include, Dannie Abse, Jo Shapcott, Penelope Shuttle, Kit Wright and Anthony Thwaite, who will be celebrating his 80th birthday at the festival. Further information on speakers, times and prices is available at www.lynnlitfests.com nRhythm and Booze is always on the hunt for information on pubs. If you pay a visit to any in Ramsey or Kings Lynn, don’t forget to let us know what you thought of them. Cardinal Cox is an enthusiastic amateur drinker who has had his poetry and other writings printed in the small-press for over 25 years. Some of his work can be found at www.booksmusicfilmstv.com Over the past few months he has plus recorded poetry for Peterborough FM and read live in Brighton, Folksworth, Peterborough and Stamford.
Not So Plain Ja Discovering a way to escape from school bullies led Keith Jayne into the acting profession. While he landed a series of high profile roles, which included the lead in Stig of the Dump, typecasting and a health scare persuaded him to pursue a new career path. Simon Stabler uncovers more about Keith’s past, present and his plans for the future. A pituitary gland problem as a child caused Keith to grow at a slower rate than his classmates. At the age of 13, in order to get away from the bullies who made his time at grammar school an unpleasant experience, he decided to enrol with The Barbara Speake Stage School. In these happier surroundings and represented by the school’s talent agent June Collins – mother of former pupil Phil - Keith began appearing in small roles on TV favourites such as Rumpole of the Bailey, Angels and Upstairs, Downstairs. Like many young actors of the 70s he appeared in several Children’s Film Foundation productions, including Robin Hood Junior – which starred fellow Barbara Speake alumni Keith Chegwin, Sammy’s Super T-shirt and The Glitterball, a friendly alien story that appeared five years before ET. Keith’s big break happened in 1979 when he was cast as Tom Arnold, a cabin boy, in The Onedin Line. An appearance in The Prisoner of Zenda - one of Peter Sellers’ final films – and inclusion in 1980’s Who’s Who of Television, was followed by the title role in Thames Television’s BAFTA nominated adaptation of Stig of The Dump.
Cheers! Keith is currently planning a return to acting. Photo © Keith Jayne 54 episodes. Keith’s main roles were interspersed with stage performances at The Old Vic and The National Theatre, not to mention a role in the Doctor Who story The Awakening. Keith’s performance as reluctant time traveller Will Chandler is still praised by the show’s fans, more than 25 years after transmission - with Doctor Who: The Television Companion going as far to hail the character as “one of the most convincing and
“Stig of the Dump is the part that I am most remembered for” While Keith acknowledges that this role “is probably the part I am most remembered for,” it was as Boxer Reed in Murphy’s Mob, ITV’s rival to Grange Hill, which gave him the most work - appearing for four years in all
memorable companions the Doctor never had.” Asking Keith if there was any truth in the rumour that Will Chandler would become a regular companion to Peter Davison’s Doctor, he confirmed that the idea was mooted for a short while.
“Until the producer decided that the character would not have enough lasting appeal for the viewers. “Actually, I was not sorry about that, as I don't really like the programme, although it was fun to do at the time.” While Keith feels lucky to have been involved with some of Britain’s bestloved programmes, he began to feel typecast. Deciding that an extra string to his bow would be useful, he went to college to study for a certificate in Finance and Investment. Having run his own financial services business for the last 22 years Keith believes that his return to education “was one of my better decisions.” This career change coincided with a dark period of Keith’s life when his earlier health problems came back to haunt him. “As a result of the growth hormone treatment I received as a child, I received a letter from the NHS saying I may have contracted CJD.” As the number of CJD-related deaths
ayne
AS SEEN IN... If you were growing up in the 70s or 80s, there’s a good chance that you would have seen Keith in one of the following productions.
Stig, Stig of the Dump (1981) Based on Clive King’s famous novel, which is loved by children the world over, Keith took the lead role in Thames Television’s 10-part adaptation. A critically acclaimed production, the show was nominated for the Best Children’s Drama award at the BAFTAs. Screenshot © Thames Television Boxer Reed, Murphy’s Mob (1982-85) Following the exploits of Dunmore United FC’s Junior Supporters Club, Murphy’s Mob was ITV’s rival to Grange Hill. Running for four series, with a theme tune sung by the much-missed Gary Holton, Keith appeared as Boxer in all 54 episodes. Screenshot © Central Television Pete, The Glitterball (1977) Produced for the Children’s Film Foundation, The Glitterball is seen by many as the prototype for ET – had Spielberg used a silver ping-pong ball for his alien.A riveting adventure, which won prizes at both the Los Angeles and Moscow Film Festivals. Photo © CFTF
rose, the story broke. Keith’s high profile saw him featured in national newspapers and interviewed on ITN. “The fact that it was reported that I was dying did not help me get any further work as no casting director is going to employ you if there is a chance you will keel over before episode two.” Last year Keith made a brief return to television, as a guest in the Blast From The Past section of The Justin Lee Collins Show. Although Collins was unable to guess Keith’s identity, through a series of closed questions, once all was revealed he admitted that Stig of the Dump had been one of his favourite programmes to watch as a child. Married with a child and living in the South West, Keith is thankful that his business is established enough to allow him to return to acting. Currently seeking an agent, he “hopes to do some work very soon.”
Will Chandler, Doctor Who (1984) Appearing in the Peter Davison story The Awakening, Keith played Will Chandler – a 17th century peasant pulled through time to the present day. At one point, it was considered making Will a permanent assistant for the Doctor. Screenshot © BBC
Win a copy of Stig of the Dump! To tie in with the feature on Keith, our friends at Puffin Books have given us five copies of Stig of the Dump. For your chance to win a copy of this classic novel, worth £6.99, just answer the following questions: 1) Name Keith’s character in The Onedin Line? 2) Who played The Doctor when Keith appeared in Doctor Who? 3) Name the stage school that Keith attended after leaving Grammar School? 4) Name the Children’s Film Foundation production which featured an alien in the form of a ping pong ball? 5) What was ITV’s rival to Grange Hill, starring Keith as Boxer Reed? Send your answers to simonstabler@aol.com by August 15, remembering to include your name and full address.
R EVIEWS Marina and the Diamonds @ Bloomsbury Ballroom, WC1 20/05/10 ***** Aided by back projection, Marina and the Diamonds came onto rapturous applause to play Girls. Armed with a flashing heart shaped lolly and wearing the largest pair of sun glasses this side of Sunny Mann, Marina looked as if she had beamed to Earth to save us from the pretentious boredom of La Roux and Lady GaGa.The band was tight, Marina’s voice spot on and the crowd were so transfixed on her face that few noticed the costume change. Working their way through The Family Jewels album, the band left the stage to allow Marina to perform Numb and Obsessions on the piano. While most the audience appreciated these solo renditions, it was spoilt a little by the chattering amongst the “too cool for school” brigade. Still, they only go to see gigs when they know they’ll be seen – clearly an indication that Marina and the Diamonds’ star is on the rise. The Destructors & The Black Marias Zengakuren Rowdy Farrago Records www.destructors.co.uk ***** Another issue, another Destructors release. However this time it’s a split single with The Black Marias and both bands are something to behold. While you’ve got be be wary of any band who drive a van with “Punk Police” written on the side, The Black Marias redeem themselves with wall of sound Punk guitars and Back On The Social – a dig at people’s obsession with My Space, Facebook, Twitter et al. The Destructors’ contribution comes across as a greatest hits package with reworkings of Religion, Bomb and a cover of The Dead Boys’ Sonic Reducer - a live favourite from The Destructors’ early 80s incarnation. New song Crash + Burn sounds like The Black Marias cov-
ering Babe Ruth’s The Mexican and that’s no bad thing. Hellhound on his Trail Hampton Sides ***** Allen Lane, £25.00 ISBN 978-1-846-14361-8 Using newly uncovered evidence, Sides has crafted a novel around the final months of Martin Luther King’s life and the hunt for his killer James Earl Ray. Starting with Ray’s escape from prison, the chapters of the first part of the book alternate between the run up to him pulling the trigger, the FBI’s dirty tricks against the Civil Rights Movement and King’s increasing unpopularity and subsequent redemption just before his death. The second part brings all the players together with Ray escaping to London in the hope of moving to the racist’s paradise that was Rhodesia, the power vacuum within King’s organisation and the FBI’s race to find the killer. While Sides has managed to pull together a riveting adventure, I wish he’d used artistic license a couple of times as phrases like “what might have been said between the two men is not known” turns the novel from ‘biopic in book form’ to ‘a documentary with dramatic reconstructions’. Joy Wah 94 Bridge Street Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE1 1DY 01733 891 555 ***** As much as I lover her, I’ve decided to stop taking my mum to Chinese restaurants. It’s not because she plays up, but every one I take her to seems to have gone downhill since my last visit. It happened with Gourmet Plaza when they started their cost cutting and now, sadly, it’s happened to Joy Wah.We walked in and saw that they were part way through a refit, however other people were happily dining so we were shown to our seats. The waitress
was courteous taking our drink orders and showing us the menu. As a sea food fan, my cravings that night were the reason I decided to visit, so I ordered salt and pepper squid as part of the starter. Sadly the squid was too tough, the result of being cooked a little too long – however the remainder of the meal of duck, mussels, chilli beef, banana fritters and ice cream, washed down with Tsingtao lager was very nice indeed. The main grievence was settling up. The waitress brought the bill over, I went to pay with my debit card, only to be told that the PDQ was broken. “Have you got any cash?’ she asked. I didn’t so I had to leg it to Bridge Street to pick some up. I came back, paid and had to ask for my change. There was no way they were getting a tip. Doctor Who – Season 5 BBC 1, 03/04/10-26/06/10 ***** When the David Tennant years ended in disgrace, with the two piles of crap that were the Christmas specials, Matt Smith looked an interesting prospect as the new Doctor. Unfortunately the opening episode The Eleventh Hour was just as overlong and cringe worthy, however the following episode The Beast Below was a return to form. Show runner Steven Moffatt has proved that the magic he had with Press Gang, Chalk and Coupling hasn’t gone away, it just need a gentle kick to start with. Redesigned Daleks for merchandising purposes aside, this became one of the strongest seasons for a long time. Karen Gillan as Amy Pond is one in a line of pretty yet crazy companions and I would go as far to say Matt Smith is the Tom Baker for the 21st Century. The final episode The Big Bang is up there with classic episodes such as The Pyramids of Mars and Tennant and Russell T Davies should be made to watch it on repeat to see how you make an excellent finale.
LISTINGS August 1
Amy & Dan - 4pm (TOI) Jeremy Watson TRIO (RSE) Monica and the Explosion - 7pm (TCB) August 2 Beatles Tribute (TCB) August 3
August 12
Battle of the Bands Round 2 (TCT) The Collabor8rs (TCB) August 13 Dr A’s Blues Consortium (RSE) Electric Warriors (BBI) Frankly My Dear (TCT) Infamy (TCB) Project, Romantic Idols, Ardour (TML)
Red, Black & Blues (TCB) August 14
tainment. Also outside BBQ & realale. Saturday’s acts - Whisky Jax, The Candle Thieves, Psycho Bombs, Martin J Sandom, The Duffy Brothers, Bex Marshall, Jez Hellard and the Roving Blades, Filthy Lucre Sunday’s Acts - Randolf Matthews, Groove Cartel, Free Peace, Murray Hockridge, Three Legged Dog, Barber & Taylor, The John Russell Band
August 5 Ian Graham & Kat Moore (TCB) Irish Music Night (H&H)
Grumpy Old Men (3HS) Icon the Brave (RSE) Lee Major (PWF) Twenty4 (TCT)
August 6
August 22 Betty Swallocks Band - 4pm (TOI) August 24
August 15 80s Karaoke – free food – (TET) Backstreet Blues Band (TOI) Intwined (RSE) Mick Jones (TNI) Punky Rebel Media (TML) Rock N Blues Band (TCT) Swinging the Lead + MBM (TCB)
Dr A’s Blues Consortium (PBF) Ken Wynne (solo) (TCB) Quiz Night (TCT) August 19
August 25 Shake Hands Eric, The Whiskey Jax – 7.45pm – (PBF)
Lloyd Watson (solo) (TCB) August 26
August 7 Disco Chimp (TCB) Electric Warriors (TOI) Legend (TCT) Mick, Les & Charlie (RSE) Retrolux (3HS) The Collabor8rs (H&H)
August 20 Aladdinsane (BBI) Groove Cartel (RSE) Hooker (TCT) Lloyd Watson Band (TOI) Open Mic Night (TCB) The Antarctic Monkeys (TML) The Dead Rabbits (TBT)
August 8 August 21 BBQ 3pm-5pm, Geoff (solo) (TCB) The Returns - 4pm (TOI) August 9 Ian Graham & Kat Moore (TOI) August 10 Swinging the Led (TOI) August 11 Feet to the Fire - 4pm – (TOI)
Becky Rayner (TNI) Brotherhoods Roundabout (TOI) Cold Sweat (TCT) Five Miles High (RSE) Mighty Quinn (3HS) August 21/22 Randall Rootz (CRS) A free festival in support of Sue Ryder Care and dedicated to the memory of Mark Randall. Live music from midday to past midnight, plus stalls, children’s enter-
Lime Shark, Albany Down – 7.30pm – (PBF) Open Mic Night (TCT) The Collabor8rs (TCB) August 27 Circa 73 (TOI) Irene Rae (RSE) Lateshow (TCB) The League of Mentalmen, The Replicas – 8.00pm – (PBF) August 28 Chelle Dean (TOI) Jeremy Watson (RSE) Karaoke (3HS) Steve Johns (TNI) Storm (TCT) Stringfinger, Smokescreen, Proto Inferno, Fallen Break – 3.00pm – (PBF) The Malingerers (TCB) This is Hell, Turn and Run (TML)
Who’s Who, Nimming Ned – 8.00pm – (PBF) August 29 Children of the Revolution - 4pm (TOI) Latino Band (RSE) Mini Beer Fest with music (TCT) September 2 Irish Music Night (H&H) September 3 Lace & Whiskey (TCB) Porky Pig (TOI) September 4 101 Proof (TOI) Filthy Lucre (TCB) Slide To Open (3HS) September 5 Lloyd, Rex & Murray - 7pm (TCB) September 9 Boden Penny Duo (TCB) September 10
September 18 Burlesque (BBI) Lee Major (TNI) Pulse (3HS) Richard Hall (TCB) Storm (TOI) September 20 Slide to Open (BBI) September 24 Llloyd Watson Band (TCB) Park Lane (TET) Retrolux (TOI) Tunnel (BBI)
(RSE) The Rose 2 Burghley Road Peterborough PE1 2QB 01733 873003 (TCB) The Cellar Bar @ Thorpe Lodge Hotel, Thorpe Road Peterborough PE3 6JQ 07775 841239 (TCT) The Cherry Tree Oundle Road Peterborough PE2 9PB 01733 703495 (TET) The Elm Tree Tavern Garton End Road Peterborough PE1 4EZ 01733 358134
September 25 Gin House (TOI) Karaoke (3HS) The Gangsters (TCB) September 26 Ken Wynne (solo) (TCB) Key/Contacts
(TOI) The Ostrich Inn 17 North Street Peterborough PE1 2RA 01733 752255 nTuesday - Texas Holdem Poker 7.30pm nThursday - Mighty Mouth Karaoke with Matt - 8.30pm nFood and Bar Snacks served daily 12.00 - 15.00pm
(3HS) The Three Horseshoes, Church St, Werrington Peterborough PE4 6QE 01733 571768
(TML) The Met Lounge 59 Bridge Street Peterborough PE1 1HA 01733 566100
(BBI) Blue Bell Inn Welland Road Peterborough PE1 3SA 01733 554890
(TNI) Northfields Inn 199 St. Paul’s Road Peterborough PE1 3ED 01733 565464
(CRS) Charters Town Bridge Peterborough PE1 1FP 01733 315700
* All gigs start between 8.30pm9.30pm unless otherwise stated
The Sidevalves (TOI) September 11 Citizen Smith (TCB) Daffy & the Alien (TOI) Mick Jones (TNI) Neverland (3HS) The Malingerers (PWF) September 16 Punky Rebel Media (TCB) September 16/19 Autumn Beer Fest (H&H) - The Contrast are confirmed for the 19th at 7pm
(H&H) Hand & Heart Highbury Street Peterborough PE1 3BE 01733 564653 (PBF) Peterborough Beer Festival, The Embankment Peterborough 07850334203
September 17 Children of the Revolution (TOI) Open Mic Night (TCB) The Gangsters (TET)
(PWF) Prince of Wales Feathers 38 Peterborough Rd, Castor Peterborough PE5 7AL 01733 380222 nQuiz Night every Sunday 9PM £1 entry
Rhythm & Booze, Issue 3 - August/September 2010. All material, unless otherwise stated, © Simon Stabler Please send letters, submissions, material/invites for review or gig listings to simonstabler@aol.com by 15th September.
Hello Ava, Goodbye Graham!
The “Notorious” Oak Branch Local historian Steve Williams takes a trip to Eastgate 150 years ago and discovers that pubs and prostitution went hand in hand. The Eastgate area of the city is a much-changed place, compared with its predecessor of 150 years ago. Gone are the one up, one down houses with outside toilets and in their place up to date 1960s housing, with all the conveniences of modern living. Gone too are the 18 pubs and beer houses, which inhabited the area at one time or another. Only three remain today, although only two are actually open and selling beer. The mid Victorian period saw many small businesses operate in the area, from horse dealing to sweet shops and prostitution. One beer house in Eastgate seemed to have cornered the market when it came to the oldest profession. The “notorious Oak Branch”, as it was called by magistrates in 1861, was under the control of at least two different women throughout its short history. In 1859, Susan Rowell was summoned for a breach of the lodging house regulations by allowing adult persons of opposite sexes, not married, to sleep together. It was noted by the magistrates, that the woman was a known prostitute and not the man’s wife. Three months later she was in front of the bench again and the Chairman said that the house was becoming a brothel. By August 1861, Mary Laxton and William Francis were running the house and Mary’s two daughters were involved in the family business. Rebecca Laxton had appeared before the magistrates in order to prove that her illegitimate child’s father was William Hales, a mason from Bedfordshire. At the time Rebecca confessed that her mother was cohabiting with William Francis and they weren’t married. She also admitted “women of loose character lived in the house, and that she herself had an illegitimate child before this one.” It wasn’t just prostitution that Mary
Eastgate as it was prior to the slum clearances. Photo © The Kitchin Collection/PCC was involved in. Around the same time two of her “girls”, Susan Frost and Elizabeth Knight, were charged with stealing a roll of silk from Mr Fryer’s draper’s shop. Mary had accompanied the pair into the shop and, possibly, acted as a decoy. The last we hear of Mary and her boyfriend William Francis is in December 1861, when they appear yet again in front of the bench.
merly servants’. The census also tells us that the Laxtons and William Francis came from Wyton or Stukely near Huntingdon. It is easy to assume, that they centred on Peterborough because the pickings would be easier and they were more likely to get away with their profession in a large city. The Oak Branch, like so many other pubs in the city, was owned by a local brewery. In this case
“On Wednesday, Mary Laxton and William Francis, the keepers of the notorious Oak Branch, in Boongate, were taken before the magistrates, and bound over on a charge of keeping a house of ill fame.” It is quite interesting to see how the residents of the Oak Branch describe themselves in the census returns, as they were unlikely to inform the innumerator that they were prostitutes. In the case of Mary and her two daughters, they state that they are “housekeepers”, while Elizabeth Knight and Susannah Frost are described as ‘for-
it was the Pheonix Brewery in Priestgate, whose owner at the time was local solicitor John Glenton Atkinson. Does this mean that Mr Atkinson was aware of the activities at the Oak Branch and perhaps did nothing about it? Perhaps he turned a blind eye to such proceedings. He obviously had some influence on the city, as even today we have two streets named after him in the Eastgate area - Glenton Street and Atkinson Street.