rhythm and booze
Live Satellite Sports Live Entertainment ‘Cheesy Tuesday’ Cheese sharing nights
July
August
Sun 18th – Candy Twist
Sun 1st - Band TBC
Sat 24th – Tiger Club
Fri 6th - Salmon Dave
Sun 25th (3pm) – High Rollers
Sat 7th - Citizen Smith
Summer Beer Fest August Bank Holiday Weekend including lots of real ales and ciders! Live music all weekend and BBQ Fri Aug 27th - Children of the Revolution Sat Aug 28th - Another Girl, Another Planet Sun Aug 29th (3pm) 23 Reasons Mon Aug 30th - Band TBC
Sun 8th - Band TBC Sun 15th (3pm) - Go With the Flow Sat 21st - Last Minute Brigade Sun 22nd (3pm) - Third Stone from the Sun
Peterborough CAMRA Pub of the Year 2011 & 2014 CAMRA Gold award 2013 & 2016 Peterborough Civic Award 2017 for Community Involvement Werrington Centre, Staniland Way, Werrington, Peterborough PE4 6NA
Sam Baines at the Bottle & Board, Peterborough
The Peterborough Beer Festival has succumbed for a second year running to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, but the local Camra branch is organising a ‘Back to the Pub’ Ale Trail from 20-30 August, featuring a number of pubs across the city, with Charters and the Ploughman, Werrington in particular both offering beer and music festivals on the bank holiday weekend. The plan is still coming together but updates can be found at www.facebook.com/ peterboroughbeerfestival Known to many local landlords as the man who launched the Small Beer wholesale company back in 1980, latterly a director of Castle Rock brewery/pubco and all-round
great character, Tony Eastwood passed away in November after a battle with cancer. Small Beer continues under the management of his son Rob. Amid all the gloom, Peterborough city centre has a new beer shop and bar. Despite the lockdown, the Bottle & Board situated in a former recruitment agency shop in Wentworth Street was opened by local couple Sam and Gina Baines in early April last year, offering takeaway beers and ciders, and continued trading throughout the year. Sam was one time brewer with the Firkin chain of pubs. Early business has sell out was Titanic Plum Porter The Ostrich in Peterborough
city centre has emerged from the pandemic with a strong programme of live events from July (see centre pages). Also offering live music every weekend through July and August is the Iron Horse Ranch House in Market Deeping – see ad/listings in this issue. JD Wetherspoon’s Drapers Arms in Cowgate, Peterborough reopened just a week before the March lockdown last year, after a £1.4m, refurbishment. Preview days were held over the previous weekend, showcasing the extended areas with wood panelling, outdoor courtyard drinking area and upstairs terrace bordering on to the Queensgate shopping centre. Manager and real ale
Drapers Arms, Peterborough
(Contin lover Chris Parkes has been with the pub since its opening in 2005 providing around 500 varieties a year, and was proud to offer the extended range of 12 cask ales including seven regulars (Abbot Ale, Doom Bar, Ruddles, Brewster’s Hophead, Grainstore 1050, Kelham Island Pale Rider and a permanent dark beer – initially Aromatic Porter from Grantham-based Brewster’s). Sister pub, the College Arms in nearby Broadway, reopened in August after a £800k refurb, and now also offers an outdoor drinking area. Nearby, the Solstice is likely to be demolished to make way for a multi storey to serve the new University of Peterborough, due to open in 2022. The pub is expected to continue trading until late 2021. Peterborough’s Xtreme Ales has been purchased from Mike and Neil Holmes by Simon and Martyn Hunt. The brothers are also partners in the Farmers at Yaxley, They’re planning a mini beer festival to coincide with the August Ale Trail event. The building formerly occupied by SAMMS was due to be taken over by near
Ostrich, Peterborough
neighbours the Lightbox in May. Owner Eve Warner intends to leave the upstairs area as it is, with the downstairs area used for functions. Further to the previous Pub of the Year award to The Frothblowers, Peterborough Camra have handed the Local Pub of the Year award to sister micropub the Wonky Donkey. Cider Pub of the Year goes to Charters. The Beehive in Peterborough city centre has been relaunched as the Genie Lounge. Orton Hall along with the neighbouring Ramblewood Inn has been sold by the Abacus Hotel group to Art Hotels for £6m. The Ramblewood is currently recruiting – interested parties should email ramblewood@ ortonhall.co.uk Stuart “Jonno” Johnson, landlord at the Golden Pheasant at Etton has been broadcasting Lockdown Vinyl Nights via the pub’s Facebook page – the marquee behind the pub has also been turned into a chill-out lounge with background music, named JK’s Soul Lounge. Out at Thorney, the Rose & Crown changed hands in July after Steve and Sheila Shreeve retired.Vince Gosling and Ray Groves are the new owners
– they also have the Addison Arms at Glatton. After an initial refurbish, future plans include accommodation and a sports bar.The Three Horseshoes August almost immediately after licensees Dean and Annie had reopened the pub following redecoration of the restaurant. Market Deeping has a new brewery – Bowler’s Craft Brewery offers a range of bottled beers, available in local stores and online, with at least one cask ale seen in the Hand & Heart, Peterborough. Deeping St James looks to be gaining a micropub – planning permission has been granted for the Thirsty Giraffe, housed in the former Driftwood café in Manor Way. Managed by the team who brought us the Frothblowers in Werrington and the Wonky Donkey in Fletton, it’s hoped that pub will open in September. It is thought the same team is working on a plan to open a taphouse alongside the Mile Tree brewery in Woodston. Also in Deeping St James, the Bell Tavern has undergone a makeover and is now offering monthly live entertainment. West Deeping’s Red Lion is now in the hands of local chef
Frazer King and his wife Emma. In Whittlesey, Colin Wilson of the Falcon Hotel has been helping local businesses by offering the opportunity to use
Bell, Deeping St James
day. The price of £8.95 included socially distanced table, tea/ breakfast and soup for lunch. The Haycock Hotel in Wansford is recruiting for staff ahead of its summer reopening when it will be rebranded Haycock Manor. Beer and music fans who would normally attend the Peterborough Beer Festival in August have other options this year outside of the city, with the annual Easton-on-the Hill Gala and Beer Festival at the Blue Bell moving from its usual May slot to the August Bank Holiday. Over 30 beers will be on offer plus 10 ciders , a pub quiz on the Thursday, a Soul Night on the Friday, a car and bike show on the Saturday, a free music festival on the Sunday and village fete and pet show with plenty of family activities on the Monday – see their ad in this issue and online at www. thebluebellpub.com Also hoping to attract festival goers will be the organisers of a music festival in Peterborough’s Central Park (August 21-22), Peterborough Sports Club in Bretton Gate
Red Lion, West Deeping
(Aug 27-29) and the Grainstore Brewery in Oakham (Aug 26-30). Two Stamford pubs have been granted permission for café style outdoor drinking: Paten & Co has extended onto Crown Street which will now be closed and 10.30 pm until October, allowing room for up to 28 alfresco guests. Nearby, the Golden Fleece has extended its existing outdoor area in the Sheepmarket. Dean and Jill are Jolly Brewer at the end of July to concentrate on their Baker’s Dozen Brewery – the new licensees are Mike and Janet.The son of a man, whose car crashed through the front of Twelve All Saints wine bar in Stamford, has revealed that his father had wanted to apologise to those who were hurt in the incident. Local businessman Philip Heath had been suffering with a heart problem when he blacked out at the wheel of his car – he survived the accident but sadly passed away in hospital several weeks later. Stamford’s Crown Hotel has been upgraded from three star to four star by the AA. Stamford Arts Centre reopened from late June, initially
for cinema screenings. The disappearance of its pub sign sparked fears that The Bull & Swan in Stamford maybe about to close, but the managing company have reassured regulars that the sign had merely fallen down in a February storm. The lease for the Green Man in Stamford’s Scotgate is reportedly up for grabs with at a guide price of £85K. After the failure at community ownership. the future of the 17th century Black Horse at Nassington is in doubt having been sold to a businessman, while up the road in Woodnewton, the White Swan has undergone a £150k refurb. Another White Swan – the one at Harringworth – is being restored to its former glory by local businessman Tim Wilson, along with Patrice Lardon and Monika Peleckaite who are recreating the 17th century coaching inn feel. The pub is expected to reopen in the autumn. The Millstone at Barnack has also been transformed with a £250K refurbishment after being bought by businessman Paul McSorley. The Crown Inn at Elton has been named Cambridgeshire Dining Pub of the Year by the
Easton-on-the-Hill Beer Festival
Good Pub Guide. After only a year at the helm of the Falcon Inn at Fotheringhay, Zak Perrin and Madison Keys have won the Northants Dining Pub of the Year title. Melton Mowbray’s Round Corner Brewing has scooped no fewer than three gold awards at the World Beer Awards, and named as a top three performing UK brewer. Grantham Camra awarded their Pub of the Year to the Green Man in Ropsley in March – the pub has also been awarded a Travellers Choice badge by TripAdvisor, an accolade held only by the top 10% of restaurants worldwide. Kathy Britton, owner of Grantham’s Zest Brewery (formerly Oldershaw) has maintained some income during the lockdown period by offering contact-free home deliveries to addresses within a 20-mile radius of the business. Eden wine bar in Grantham closed its doors in August, but reopened a month later under new management – Thejana and Danushka also have the Party Balloon Shop on Westgate. Also closing in August, popular music venue, the Good Beer Guide’ listed Castlegate had been in the hands of
brothers Neil and John Cockroft for over 30 years – they’ve put the pub on the market for £620k. Reputedly the oldest inn in Britain, the historic Angel & Royal hotel in Grantham has been sold for £1.75m to experienced hotelier, Dean Harrison who was born in the town. The hotel bar is reportedly open again and selling Brewster’s beers. The Lord Harrowby held festival in September, but the lease of the pub has subsequently been sold to Nigel Glover, who’ll be running the pub along with his family – trade has reportedly grown and an increase in live music events is planned. The Three Gables in Signal Road, Grantham has been saved from closure after a campaign by the local community. Threatened with demolition, the Fox Inn, alongside the A1 between South Witham and Colsterworth is, remarkably, the subject of a new licence application for alcohol sales and music including late night refreshments until 5am. Spalding’s Punchbowl reopened under the Craft Union banner in August after a £200k refurbishment and with a new manager – Kirsten Bond-Ball. Across the road,
the lease at the Black Swan is for sale by owner Star Pubs. Out at Holbeach St Johns, the Plough was due to be sold by auction in April with a guide price of £160k-£180k and planning permission for holiday lets, though a group of villagers are hoping to purchase the pub and reopen it, and the owners of the Priors Oven in Spalding are thought to have shown an interest. At Gedney Dyke the campaign to save the village’s last remaining pub – the Chequers, which has been closed since 2017 – has been lost. The current owners have applied to have the ACV status removed and applied for planning permission to convert the site into housing. The Mermaid Inn sale with www.everardcole.co.uk Also for sale is the Fisherman’s Arms at Pode Hole – details Spalding Festival has been cancelled – plans for an event in 2022 are already in place. The licensee of the Bull at Pinchbeck has reportedly left the pub, and the building is starting to fall into a state of disrepair. The Red Lion Hotel and Mulberry’s (formerly Chequers) in Spalding have both changed hands, but the Ship Albion remains closed, and Samuel Smith’s White Horse was awaiting new tenants at the time of writing. The brewery’s pubs in Stamford (Melbourn Bros and St Mary’s Vaults) remain closed while their future is decided, while its former Golden Lion in Bourne is being Rutland Camra has awarded ten pubs with Covid-19 awards for their efforts during the pandemic. Empingham Cricket & Sports Club, Grainstore Brewery Tap, the Wheatsheaf at Langham, the
Railway at Ketton, the Plough at Greetham, the Green Dragon at Ryhall, Exeter Arms at Barrowden, the Boot at South Luffenham, the White Lion at Whissendine and the Jolly Brewer in Stamford. Oakham’s Grainstore Brewery has announced the appointment of a new head brewer. Will Wood, who once worked for Oakham Ales joins the company from Lacon’s in Great Yarmouth. The brewery recently won a gold award at the SIBA National Awards in the over 6.5% category for Nip (7.3%). The Olive Branch has been named as UK Pub of the Year in the 2021 Good Pub Guide. The Railway at Ketton – has been awarded Pub of the Year by Rutland Camra. Licensees Linda and Jamie Betts only October. They intend to keep the pub as a traditional boozer, with four real ales (including Grainstore, Oakham and guest breweries), reintroducing darts, dominoes and pool teams, but without regular food other than bar snacks, though locals are permitted to bring in products from the weekly chip van. Weekly quizzes and monthly open mic nights also feature. The Enterpriseowned White Horse at Empingham closed in March, then subsequently reopened under new management in October offering European cuisine. The Fox & Hounds at Exton has changed hands again – the range of beers is expected to grow. The Wicked Witch at Ryhall is open again but reverting to its original name of the Millstone. New owner John Hailey will offering beers from Grainstore along with themed food nights such as curry night (Wednesdays), steak
chip Fridays. Barnsdale Hall Hotel has a new chef – Tim Luff joins the organisation having previously worked at the Olive Branch in Clipsham and the Exeter Arms in Barrowden. Tom and Joanna Wade left the Exeter Arms last March, they are succeeded by Mark and Katie Symes who have invested £100k on a refurbishment but were forced to close the day after reopening due to the pandemic. Both the Olive Branch and the Wheatsheaf at nearby Greetham were awarded Michelin Plate grading in the latest Michelin Guide. The Coach House at South Luffenham has new owners, who are looking to provide a traditional pub offering along with food and accommodation. An application has been made to close the Old Plough at Braunston near Oakham and That would leave the Blue Ball as the last remaining pub in the village. Barnsdale Hall Hotel has been sold for £10m. New owners, the Patel family described the site as a “truly incomparable resort”. Debbie Rolfe, landlady at the Green Dragon at Ryhall has been offering desks for hire within unlimited tea and coffee. Bourne resident Paul Martin opened a beer delivery service in October. Thirst Bourne will supply beer from breweries within a 25-mile radius of the town. JD Wetherspoon has submitted a third amendment to their plan for a new outlet in North Street, Bourne, to include a rear extension and conservatory. Bourne’s Old Town Hall reopened in June with a performance by local
folk band Pennyless – the enforced closure has given the owning trust the opportunity to renovate the building further – the building’s 200th anniversary will be celebrated in October with a week of events. The Toft House Hotel near Bourne has closed again after Giri Golf – the company operating the business – was forced into liquidation. Paul Steer, landlord of the Horseshoe at Silk Willoughby has declared his aim to make his pub plastic-free. Tom and Sian Bellis, licensees of the recently refurbished Sugar Mill in Bourne received an unexpected delivery during lockdown in May when Sian gave birth to second son, Sebastian, in the pub. Still in Bourne, popular music venue, the Mason’s Arms remains shut after a dispute with the owning pubco and the current tenant. The Bull at Rippingale has new tenants and reopened in August. The pool and darts have gone, but there’s a spacious restaurant as well as a function Real ales were GK Abbot and Black Bull Bitter (Marstons) on the opening day. Owner Adam Green also has the George in Oundle and the Black Bull at Market Overton. The pub is open 5-11pm Wednesday/Thursday and from 12 noon on FridaySunday. Further north along the A15, the Tally Ho! at Aswarby is for sale again. Millers in Sleaford reopened in July immediately taking delivery of for Timothy Taylor Landlord bitter on draught. The annual summer beer festival at the 8 Sail Brewery in Heckington has been shelved for another year, but a beer and sausage festival is planned for October. A former chapel at Greylees, near Sleaford has been proposed as a new bar/restaurant – The
Old Chapel was originally part of the Rauceby Hospital complex. The owners of the Old Ship Inn at Pointon have stepped in to save the clubhouse Sleaford, the former Beer & Bean (and one time Nags Head) has reopened as the Ivy after a four year wait. The owners also have the Electra Club and Marquis of Granby in the town. The Magnet Tavern in Boston is available for lease with www.poyntons.com The licensee of the Great Northern in Boston has had his licence renewal application rejected after objections from Lincolnshire Police relating to a history of the pub being used as a house of multiple occupation. Pubs no more Former regulars Marija Obradovic and Annie Skelton have fronted a move to save the Cherry Tree on Oundle Road, Peterborough, closed since 2016. They’re hoping that someone will come forward to put up the £400k required to purchase the
pub and surrounding land from current owner Milton Estates. Heritage Lincolnshire have put out an appeal for memories and pictures of the 16th century Old King’s Head in Kirton, which they hope to restore as a community space with B&B, café and deli – details at www. heritagelincolnshire.org Parish councillors in Sutton Bridge have made fresh calls for a resolution to the problem of the crumbling former Bridge Hotel which is becoming increasingly unsafe and described as an “eyesore”. The former Merry Monk in Oakham, which reopened as an Nepalese restaurant named Everest Lounge. Plans have been submitted to clear the site of the derelict Silver Jubilee in Bretton for construction of new special school. The former Fifth Avenue nightclub in Peterborough now looks likely former music venue, the Axe & Cleaver is to be converted
the long closed has reopened as a Nisa Local foodstore. Plans to demolish the 18th century former Ram Jam Inn at Stretton, once reputedly a regular haunt of highwayman Dick Turpin, and replace it with drive through units have now been approved. The site of the former Bridge Inn at West Pinchbeck has been proposed as a development of eight homes. The long closed Red Cow at Donington near Spalding is houses. The Country Lounge at Morcott has become an as Rutland Point. Clearance work has been undertaken at the long-closed Bell in Pinchbeck, but the building still stands. A plan to convert the Riverside Hotel been deferred due to its close proximity to the River Glen. Plans have been submitted to convert the long closed Roundhead in Bretton, along with the neighbouring Bretton Court building into a complex Chris Shilling
The Woolly Sheep 38 Sheep Street Skipton North Yorkshire BD23 1RD 01756 700966 www.woollysheepinn.co.uk If you’ve ever enjoyed a pint of Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, you’ll know it’s probably one of the UK’s favorite real ales, and you’ll than the one you’ll drink in the Woolly Sheep. You may not be aware of the fantastic range of other Taylor beers, as most are not regularly available in our area. The 18th Century pub is part of the Keighley brewery’s estate, and regularly offers the full range of Taylor’s permanent beers including one-time Champion Beer of Britain Boltmaker, Dark Mild, Golden Best, Landlord Dark (originally Ram Tam), Knowle Spring plus more recent creations such as Hopical Storm,
and Poulter’s Porter. What’s remarkable about this pub is that it’s situated just off the High Street, right in the main shopping area of one of North Yorkshire’s largest towns, but unlike most pubs of its type has managed to retain its character, with individual rooms, stoneleading to a cosy front lounge The extensive menu focuses on food from the north of England and there are options for private dining and conferencing for up to 16 guests. Prices range from £7.95 for sandwiches, £9-16 for main courses including the signature TT Steak & Ale Pie, with Sunday roasts at £11 and ‘Little Sheep’ children’s choices for £5.95. Out back there’s a cobbled courtyard with plenty of outdoor seating. If you’re staying over, there are 12 letting rooms available including secure parking and a hearty Yorkshire breakfast
– dogs are welcome. The pub is open all day from 10am-11pm during the week with an extra half-hour on Friday and Saturday (10.30am-11pm Sundays) with food served from 11.30am-9pm (12 noon-8pm Sundays). Just along Sheep Street is the rear entrance to the recently opened 2 Doors Inn (80 High Street – 07397 848477, www. facebook.com/twodoorsinn) – a small friendly town centre bar, open from 12 noon every day, with three to four local beers from the likes of Naylors, Ossett and Daleside. Jocular landlord, Deano made us feel extremely welcome despite all the Covid restrictions and despite the pub not offering food, suggested that we purchase something from the Three Sheep tea house next door for consumption on his premises. Camra members are offered a discount, and there’s live music every weekend. Chris Shilling
Although I’ve considered brewing my own beer in the past, there have always been a couple of obstacles in the way. I wouldn’t know where to begin in getting the equipment or ingredients together, and, even if I did, I really don’t have the room for such equipment. However, the Pinter is a new brewing system that irons out all of those problems. The result of six years of research and design, the Pinter is manufactured by The Greater Good Fresh Brewing Co (thegreatergood.co.uk), a company based in Walthamstow, an area of London that in recent years has become something of a craft beer hub. Founded by music festival entrepreneurs Ralph Broadbent and Alex Dixon, whose mission is to bring “brewery fresh” beer to the masses, the Pinter is an all-in-one system, capable of brewing 10 pints of beer or cider at a time.
Combining a fermentation vessel with a conditioning tank and a method of dispense, the Pinter is available in a choice of colours. Currently retailing at £85, it comes with two Pinter Packs, comprising a “fresh press” of concentrated malt and hop extracts (or apple and fruit juices for the ciders), a small bottle of brewer’s yeast and another of sodium percarbonate for sterilising the equipment; meaning that you can get brewing in next to no time. would be Public House IPA, a 4.2% ABV pale ale described as “deep malty and hoppy”. Following the instruction videos on the Greater Good website (thegreatergood.co.uk), I tipped the sodium percarbonate crystals into the body of the water. Ensuring the cap was screwed on correctly, I gave it a good shake for 10 seconds
before attaching the brewing dock, making sure that the arrows were correctly aligned. With the dock in place, which opens a valve in the cap, I turned the Pinter over and could hear the solution moving into the brewing dock. The video suggests that you leave it standing like this for 10 seconds before taking the Pinter and the brewing dock apart. However, in the Tips & Tricks page, it suggests that for extra peace of mind, you can let the solution soak for 10 minutes. With the Pinter and brewing dock detached, I attached the tap handle and, holding it down, emptied the solution into the the handle and the cap, I tipped the remainder away. ensuring that the airlock set to it up with water to the black bar printed inside. Next in was
the Fresh Press, followed by the yeast which, following the recommendation on the Tips & Tricks page, had been rehydrated with a small quantity of tepid water to reduce the risk of stressing it. With the cap in place and after another good shake, the brewing dock was reattached and the device turned over. Although it has been described as “the Nespresso of beer”, the Pinter doesn’t quite work as fast as that famous hotdrinks maker and you still need to leave the beer to ferment. Public House IPA requires, according to the label, four days’ brewing time and a further three for conditioning. But by “fermenting Public House IPA for an extra day and conditioning for up to seven days in total will increase clarity and dryness and produce a more I opted for the extra time and left the Pinter in the corner
of the kitchen to do its thing. Even though much of the carbon dioxide produced was being absorbed by the beer, I was still surprised not to hear any noise from the Pinter during the course of the fermentation process. However, after removing the Pinter from the brewing dock, I was relieved to see a small quantity of beer and a quite a lot of spent yeast in the dock. With the handle and front plate returned to the Pinter, I placed it the fridge to allow the beer to condition. After a week, it was time to tap the beer and with the Pinter placed on the kitchen worktop, I slowly turned the carbonation dial to off, releasing the pressure and with it a piney aroma. Pulling off a small quantity that was tipped down the sink, I then poured my a very nice, dry pale ale that I would certainly like to brew again. The beer tastes best in the
so it’s more suited to parties than the home drinker. While I’m sure that it’s possible to brew your own wort or other beer kits in the Pinter, the manufacturer only recommends the use of its Fresh Press packs. Retailing at between £10 and £16 per pack, the range includes pales ales, lagers and pilsners, ciders, a stout, saison ale and wheat beer. There’s also a Fresh Beer Club, where for a monthly subscription of £12 you are sent a letterbox friendly Fresh Press pack of your choice. Although the Pinter is probably not for the seasoned homebrewer, it does offer an entry level way into the craft. However, with a few tweaks, such as the addition of a window to view the fermentation process, a way of taking a hydrometer reading, and tailor-made fresh press packs, the Pinter could be much more than that. Good Pub Guide 2021 Listed
COSY COUNTRY PUB AND RESTAURANT IN THE PICTURESQUE VILLAGE OF CASTLE BYTHAM
Regular Live Music, Monthly Pub Quiz See Facebook/Listings in this issue All Major Sporting Events Shown Big Bytham Breakfast: Every Sunday 10am - 12 noon NEW! The Castle Pantry is open from 12-5pm daily (10-12 Sun) for Fresh Milk, Eggs, Pies, Pasties, Sausage Rolls, other savory products and meats, home reared on our own farm!
High St, Castle Bytham, Stamford NG33 4RZ The Castle Inn, Castle Bytham T: 01780 411223
Congratulations are due to former Peterborough Poet Laureate Charley Genever who was picked to be the East Anglia face of Winter Warmers from arts project Inn Crowd, who work to promote live literature to rural pubs across the country. Hopefully we have put lockdown behind us. Many of the regular nights moved online such as Pick n Mix and Fiction Fix in Peterborough, Pint of Poetry and Poetry Swaps hosted by Stamford Arts Centre, plus the Oundle Festival of Literature and Deepings Literary Festival continued to promote author events. Write Club morphed into a regular online poetry workshop co-ordinated by Mark Grist, who has recently had some animations of his poems produced to engage with a younger audience. The BBC Radio Cambridgeshire evening show started a bedtime story slot in March 2020 that showcased the work of such Peterborough poets and writers as Toby Wood, Keely Mills, Charley Genever, Sandy Waldrop and current Peterborough Poet Laureate Malika Speaks. On the same station’s BBC Upload show poets including Si Fox, Scott Coe, Amber-Page Marilyn have had a chance to have their verse broadcast. Let’s not forget though that we lost a couple of stalwarts of the local scene also. Ron Graves had run the poetry nights at the Draper’s Arms in Peterborough for a few international fame through his
The late Viv Foster pictured with Nigel Hilliam and The Cardinal.
ReidGraves music project (in collaboration with the Contrast’s singer and guitarist David Reid), that released its third album length CD in the summer of 2020. He had worked for many years in the teenage mental committed socialist. Viv Foster had been a driving force in the Poets United group. She had also been active in Anglo-Saxon/ Viking re-enactment and had been a member of the Pig Dyke Molly Dancers. Both will be missed by all who knew them. Stamford Corn Exchange (01780 766455, stamfordcornexchange.co.uk) is hosting a series of talks by musicians, starting with Status Quo’s Francis Rossi on Wednesday 30 June, then Whitesnake’s Bernie Marsden on Friday 17 September, and then Happy Monday’s Shaun Ryder on Friday 4 February 2022. Henry Normal will be there on Thursday 17 February. Stamford Arts Centre (01780 763203, stamfordartscentre.com)
hopes to kick off its live talks with Lucy Worsley, drawing on her book A Very British Murder, in August, and has aspirations to host an abbreviated Verse Poetry Festival in September, featuring Wendy Cope, Mark Grist, Georgie Jones, Hollie McNish and Luke Wright. King’s Lynn Poetry Festival (www.lynnlitfests.com) is currently planned for the weekend of 24-26 September. Looking further ahead, the Fenland Poet Laureate competition will be on Friday 22 October at the Rose & Crown Hotel in Wisbech. At the New Theatre in Peterborough (01733 852992, newtheatre-peterborough.com), they are looking forward to an evening with Sir Geoff Hurst on Tuesday 1 March. Tickets range from £28 to £58. During the Lockdown Cardinal Cox had his second collection, Grave Goods, published by Demain Publishing.This has 50 poems drawn from the work he produced as poet-in-residence for the Dracula Society (2015 – 2017).
the rhythm section Frankly My Dear
The Ostrich, Peterborough has launched a mass of new, regular live music sessions. Chilled Sunday Sessions, featuring local and national solo artists and bands, take place from 4pm on month; its “join in and play” Head In the Sand folk sessions are at 1-3pm on the second Sunday of the month; while Soulful Strut will see DJs Julian Roberts, Paul Davis and Terry Grant play Motown, Atlantic, Stax and more between 2pm and 6pm on the third Sunday of the month. Hosted by Ritzy Crackers and her Disco Dollies, on the the Ostrich’s Embrace LGBT night features loads of glitter, DJ party music, camp bingo guest drag performers; Ostracised, a night of original punk and post
punk music, takes place on the second Thursday of the month; the Originals Acoustic Night is hosted by Rob Bull on the third Thursday of the month, while the Palmy Ukulele Band’s regular group rehearsal session is on the fourth Thursday of the month. The North Street venue Ostrichfest beer and music festival on 5-8 August. As well as 30 real ales plus craft beers and lagers, eight draught ciders, a wide bottled selection and more than 50 gins and rums, there will be life music from Children of the Revolution, Frankly My Dear, the Money Shot, Johnny Quinn, Salmon Dave, Palmy Ukulele Band and its Head in the Sand folk music session. For band times and details of the pub’s live acts on Friday and
Saturday evenings, turn to the listings pages at the back of this magazine. Two days of non-stop entertainment will take place in Peterborough’s Central Park on 21 and 22 August. Split into three sessions; Prom in the Park, which takes place between 11am and 3pm on 21 August, Steve Bingham, Steve Bean, and Land of Hope & Glory; Ibiza in the Park, featuring the Roscoe Bros, SyRan D N B, Toby Graham, DJ Nick T, and Eternals, follows at 4pm-10pm; while Bands in the Park takes place Sunday 22 August between 11am and 10pm. This second day features music from well-known local acts including Electric Warriors, the Deps, Sound Injectors and the Expletives. For further
The Expletives
information and to book tickets, got to academyeventsltd.co.uk Leadenham’s annual Day of Lincolnshire Folk returns on Sunday 1 August. Spread over indoor and outdoor stages throughout the village, this celebration of authentic Lincolnshire folk music and dancing features almost a hundred folk musicians from around the county including the popular Pennyless (pennylessmusic.co.uk). The George Hotel
LO Barnes
and Leadenham Teahouse will both be open, serving food and drink alongside folk music performance stages, along with stalls serving food and locally product arts and crafts on The Nun’s Close. A full list of acts and times will be found on leadenhamestate.com closer to the date of the festival. Some of the UK’s biggest tribute acts including the Kopycat Killers, the Upbeat Beatles and Flash – a Queen tribute – will
perform at this year’s Holbeach Music & Beer Festival (www. holbeachmusicandbeerfestival. co.uk). Taking place on 6-8 August on Kings Field, Raven’s Gate, Holbeach the beach party themed event will also include a beach sand play area for younger visitors, not to mention a selection of real ales. Turn to the listings pages for the full line-up. A singer-songwriter who has previously worked as a backing singer with Florence + The Machine, Roots Manuva and the Heavy, has recently released a single. Bath-based Lo Barnes, who has links to this region, has been working with producer Toby McLaren since 2015. Shelved “next to Patti Smith, track demo led to gigs across London and an appearance on the Tom Robinson curated BBC Introducing Mixtape. New single Lonesome is available as a digital download from lobarnes. bandcamp.com
White Lion White Street Southall Middlesex 01-574 1422 Despite the lockdown, many of us have still been able to catch up with friends over a pint through virtual platforms such as Zoom, Camra’s Red (On) Lion and the good old-fashioned archive newspapers and vintage maps, it’s been possible to visit long-lost pubs for a quiet pint on your own. I say quiet pint but by the time the White Lion started appearing in the likes of The Sweeney, The New Avengers and
The Professionals, guns and gangs were never far away. Replacing an earlier White Lion that sat close to Bull’s Bridge on the towpath of the Grand Union Canal, the pub and White Street were built in the 1870s by the Brentford Gas Company to accommodate workers for the adjacent Southall Gas Works. RJ Meads, who was born in the area in 1904, “remembered when the men from the Gas Works used to come in sweating and stripped to the waist, drink a pint or two and go straight back and sweat it out again.”
The Ambassadors of Death, White Street was still fully occupied. However, by the time the cameras returned in late 1973 for The Invasion of the Dinosaurs, production of town gas had ceased and, with a muchreduced workforce, demolition work had begun on several of the houses.
The rundown nature of White Street saw it stand in for Belfast during a riot scene in 1975’s Hennessy as well as slum housing in Klansmen, a controversial 1977 episode of The Professionals that has never been shown on terrestrial television. As well as scenes shot around the gasworks, the White Lion was also used as a location for two further episodes of The Professionals; 1978’s Fall Girl and Mixed Doubles – an episode transmitted in December 1980 A triangular-shaped building on the corner of White Street and The Straight, the White Lion had three bars; the public bar/ lobby which was accessed from the main door, and a private bar and saloon bar that could be accessed either from the main bar or their own doors from the street.
Doubles, the White Lion was one of 62 out of 114 Fuller’s tied houses to serve its cask beers under metered gas pressure dispense; an innovation introduced in the 1960s that amazingly could still be found in some of its pubs until 1990. I couldn’t see which cask beers were available from the three Porter-Lancastrian dispensers, however I’d hazard a guess that they were London Pride, ESB and Hock – a mild that was dropped as a regular beer in 1993. Fuller’s Pale Ale and Brown Ale were also available here in bottles, along with Draught Guinness, Harp Lager and Fuller’s Bitter – the brewery’s keg “ordinary bitter” that was superseded by cask Chiswick Bitter in 1980. Although gasometers remained in place until quite
recently for the pressure reduction, storage and distribution of natural gas, the White Lion and the remainder of White Street were demolished in the mid-1980s. In 1987, the site was used for the secure storage of new cars, and a park and ride service for Heathrow Airport began operations in 1990. In 2010, then mayor of objections by the local authority to approve planning permission for Southall Waterside – a mixed-used development of the site, which aims to create 3,750 homes and leisure facilities. Despite the creation of an open air “soil hospital” to make the land safe, locals and experts have raised concerns that the work is polluting the air and affecting health. It seems that, 50 years after the story aired, the Ambassadors of Death can still be found nearby.
Traditional Village Pub and Restaurant Three Real Ales including Doom Bar + 2 Guest Ales Regular Live Music, Open Mic Nights and Quizzes from August – see Facebook for updates Specialist Nights, Sunday Roasts
Bringing home the taste of the
Takeaway service: 20% discount on orders over £20 (cash only) Special occasions catered for Tel: 01529 241025 Email: bombaybrasserie@gmail.com Facebook: bombaybrasserieattheoldshipinn
LISTINGS
16 July Halo (7.30pm), Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping Music Quiz, Whistle Stop, Tallington The Deps, Cock Inn, Werrington CJ Hatt,Yard of Ale, Woodston Disco Inferno (DJ), Brewery Tap, Peterborough
25 July Sunday Sessions (3pm), Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping Acoustic Session (4pm), Ostrich, Peterborough High Rollers (3pm) Ploughman, Werrington Nuggets, Charters, Peterborough Jamroom, Crown, Great Casterton
17 July Carpark Rendezvous (9pm), Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping Porky Pig (7pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Blackout, Cock Inn, Werrington Dead Horse,Yard of Ale, Woodston JimBob Duo, Peterborough Con Club Eclectic Ballroom (Disco), Charters, Peterborough Saturday Night Groove (DJ), Brewery Tap, Peterborough
28 July Acoustic Sessions (8pm), Ale House Kitchen, Ramsey
18 July Sunday Sessions ft Meg McPartlin (3pm), Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping Soulful Strut (2-6pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Two for the Road (3-6pm),Yard of Ale, Woodston Candy Twist, Ploughman, Werrington 20 July Open Mic (8pm), Boat Inn, Whittlesey 23 July Velocity, Bell Tavern, Deeping St James Candy Twist (9pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Cuttin’ Loose, Cock Inn, Werrington Jordon Poole,Yard of Ale, Woodston Michael Knight, Peterborough Con Club Tallawah, Brewery Tap, Peterborough 24 July Disco, S Bar, Stilton Iron Fist (7.30pm), Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping Bent Back Tulips (9pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Another Girl Another Planet, Crown, Peterborough DJ Ethan, Cock Inn, Werrington Caustic Lights,Yard of Ale, Woodston Laurie Haley Duo, Peterborough Con Club Tiger Club, Ploughman, Werrington Mr Nash (DJ), Charters, Peterborough Saturday Night Groove (DJ), Brewery Tap, Peterborough
29 July Embrace LGBT Night (7pm), Ostrich, Peterborough 30 July Whisky Bar sessions (7.30pm), Boat Inn, Whittlesey Clarksdale Contract (9pm), Ostrich, Peterborough The Zephyrs,Yard of Ale, Woodston Punk Rock Mayhem 3: Scumbus + I Got Spiders + Sprainer + For the Hornets, Mama Liz’s, Stamford Vinyl Night, Charters, Peterborough Children of the Revolution, Brewery Tap, Peterborough
The Cock Inn 1305, Lincoln Rd, Werrington, Peterborough PE4 6LW – Tel 01733 322006
Open all day from 12 noon, Food served Lunchtimes (not Mon) and Evenings until 9pm Established restaurant – a sharing dining experience including Tapas, Sharing Platters and Daily Specials ‘Wine Wednesday’ – 4x Tapas + Bottle of Wine for just £30
Live Music Fridays and Saturdays – See listings in this issue
www.thecockinnpeterborough.co.uk
31 July Austin Gold (7.30pm, £7.50 per person), Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping Scratchy Beard in Concert (5pm), The Old Town Hall, North Street, Bourne, 23 Reasons (9pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Retrolux,Yard of Ale, Woodston Mark Steele, Peterborough Con Club Funk & Stuff (DJ), Charters, Peterborough Eddie Nash (DJ), Brewery Tap, Peterborough 01 August Raft Race Day: The Deps (1pm), Cosmic Rodney (3.30pm), Last Minute Brigade (6pm), Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping Band TBC, Ploughman, Werrington Lenny Stone Band, Charters, Peterborough Open Mic, Brewery Tap, Peterborough 03 August Copper Kettle acoustic sessions (8pm), Old Copper Kettle, Crowland 05 August Ostrichfest: Children of The Revolution (9pm), Ostrich, Peterborough
Full listings on our website 17 North Street, Peterborough PE1 2RA (Just off Westgate)
06 August Ostrichfest: Johnny Quinn (7pm), Frankly My Dear (9.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Porky Pig,Yard of Ale, Woodston Ed Cox, Peterborough Con Club Salmon Dave, Ploughman, Werrington The Decades (5pm), Revolver (6pm), Flash (Queen Tribute, 7.40pm), Kopycat Killers (9.40pm), DJ Saint (11pm), Holbeach Music & Beer Festival Thank Funk it’s Friday (DJ), Brewery Tap, Peterborough 07 August The Glorious One Eyes Cats (7.30pm), Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping Under the Covers, Brass Windmill, Helpringham Ostrichfest: Salmon Dave (4pm), The Money Shot (9.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Nicky Downs, Cock Inn, Werrington Last Minute Brigade,Yard of Ale, Woodston Without a Doubt, Peterborough Con Club Citizen Smith, Ploughman, Werrington Sugar Beats (12.45pm), Tenters (2pm), Albany (3.15pm), Redemption (4.30pm), Moll Grips (6pm), Coldplace (Coldplay tribute, 7.40pm), Bon Giovi (9.40pm), DJ Saint (11pm), Holbeach Music & Beer Festival
50+ gins & rums
“Ostrich Inn Peterborough” ostrichinnpeterborough.com
Priors Oven
INSIDE RESTAURANT AL-FRESCO DINING TAKEAWAY WWW.IRONHORSERANCHHOUSE.CO.UK
Quiz, Grainstore, Oakham Saturday Night Groove (DJ), Brewery Tap, Peterborough 08 August Sunday Sessions ft Division Acoustic Duo (3pm), Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping Music on the Market Square (2-6 pm), Whittlesey Ostrichfest: Head in the Sand Folk session (1pm), Palmy Ukulele Band (5pm), Ostrich, Peterborough The Mesh Band (2-6 pm), Market Square, Whittlesey Band TBC, Ploughman, Werrington BHDC (12.45pm), No Danger (2pm), McCurdy Brothers (3.15pm), Doc Watson Express (4.30pm), High Rollers (6pm), Upbeat Beatles (7.40pm), Wild Boys (9.40pm), DJ Saint (11pm), Holbeach Music & Beer Festival Blackout UK, Charters, Peterborough 11 August Acoustic Sessions (8pm), Ale House Kitchen, Ramsey 12 August Pleazer + Spherical (8pm), Ostrich, Peterborough 13 August Broadcasters (9pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Morning Glory, Cock Inn, Werrington Jamie Walton,Yard of Ale, Woodston 14 August Live Music (9pm), Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping Velocity (9pm), Ostrich, Peterborough The Mighty and High,Yard of Ale, Woodston Neil Timothy, Peterborough Con Club Saturday Night Groove (DJ), Brewery Tap, Peterborough 15 August Sunday Sessions ft Uprising Reggae Band (3pm), Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping Soulful Strut (2-6pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Go With the Flow (3pm), Ploughman, Werrington Motor City Vipers, Charters, Peterborough 17 August Open Mic (8pm), Boat Inn, Whittlesey 19 August Originals Acoustic Session (8pm), Ostrich, Peterborough
20 August Teddi the Drag Queen, Pride Games Night (7.30pm), Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping Black Rose (9pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Filthy Contact, Cock Inn, Werrington Ramshackle Serenade,Yard of Ale, Woodston Lightning, Peterborough Con Club Razoreater + Support Bands(Metal) Mama Liz’s, Stamford L’Aristo’s Revival (DJ) 20/8, Brewery Tap, Peterborough 21 August Let There B/DC (7.30pm), Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping The Deps, S Bar, Stilton Kickback (9pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Cuttin’ Loose, Cock Inn, Werrington The Expletives,Yard of Ale, Woodston Rick Roberts, Peterborough Con Club Last Minute Brigade, Ploughman, Werrington Snuff + Brassick + Incisions + Transit Plan, Mama Liz’s, Stamford Saturday Night Groove (DJ), Brewery Tap, Peterborough
An exciting new development for the
The Thirsty Giraffe It might be a silly name, but we are very serious about the quality of the real ales and A micropub promotes conversation, listens to its customers, shuns all forms of electronic entertainment, and encourages We will have limited opening hours, not any screens or fruit machines, and no loud We are looking for a few individuals who share our passion for ales and conversation To be considered, please email john@ musicmadhouse.co.uk and tell us what you really like about real ales or ciders!
Barholm, Stamford, Lincs PE9 4RA • 01778 560238
A Welcoming Traditional Ale House
Open from 4pm week days, 1pm Saturday and 12pm Sundays
Six Real Ales with three on rotation • Three Draught Ciders • Three Lagers Three Craft Ales • Fine Wine & Spirits • Large Beer Garden • Heated Marquee
ABV 3.9%
Let There B/DC
22 August Sunday Sessions ft Pagen Gould (3pm), Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping Acoustic Session (4pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Swing Pins, Peterborough Con Club Third Stone from the Sun (3pm), Ploughman, Werrington High Rollers, Charters, Peterborough 25 August Acoustic Sessions (8pm), Ale House Kitchen, Ramsey 27 August Whisky Bar acoustic sessions (7.30pm), Boat Inn, Whittlesey The 707 (9pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Start With Silence,Yard of Ale, Woodston Children of the Revolution, Ploughman, Werrington High Point Players (8pm), City of Peterborough Sports Club, Bretton Gate Sounds of Simon (7pm), Lovelock Bridge (9pm), Grainstore, Oakham Gangsters, Brewery Tap, Peterborough 28 August Sweet Revenge (9pm), Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping Black Dog Murphy (9pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Halo, Cock Inn, Werrington Lee Major,Yard of Ale, Woodston The Deps, Bell Tavern, Deeping St James Hattrick (4, 7 & 9pm) plus DJs and singers (from
3pm), White Hart, Sibsey Travanion and Go Johnny Go, Peterborough Con Club Another Girl, Another Planet, Ploughman, Werrington Mark Stevens (3pm), City of Peterborough Sports Club, Bretton Gate Monroe Duo (7pm), Swagger (9pm), Grainstore, Oakham Eddie Nash (DJ), Brewery Tap, Peterborough 29 August Sunday Sessions ft The HoundDogs (4pm, £10 per person), Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping Johnny Quinn (4pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Jessie’s Ghost,Yard of Ale, Woodston 23 Reasons (3pm) Ploughman, Werrington The Bytheways (7pm), Pembroke Tenneson (9pm), Grainstore, Oakham Groove Cartell, Charters, Peterborough 30 August Band TBC, Ploughman, Werrington 03 September Triple 7, Crown, Great Casterton 04 September Acoustic Bands (afternoon), Manky Beds (evening), Crown, Great Casterton 05 September Millstone Grit (choir) + Bands TBC, Crown, Great Casterton
The Crown, Casterton Beer & Music Festival Friday September 3rd – Sunday Sept 5th (Fri 6pm to 11pm, Sat 1pm to 11pm & Sun 12pm to 7pm)
20 plus Real Ales + Ciders in Large Marquee + Gin Bar
Choice of Food including freshly prepared pizzas available throughout Friday Evening: Triple 7 Saturday Afternoon: Acoustic Bands, Evening: Manky Beds (Rock) Sunday Afternoon: Millstone Grit (choir) + Bands TBC
Please see our Facebook page for updates and general information The Crown, Main St, Casterton, Stamford PE9 4AP - Tel 01780 753838
Beer Festivals 22-25 July Beer Festival and Vintage Weekend, Great Central Railway, Loughborough - 70+ guest ales, 30 ciders plus a gin and proseco bar.Vintage Steam Vehicle Festival will be open Thursday - Sunday with 12 traction engines, big wheel, gallopers and mini train rides. Live music Friday and Saturday evening. 24 July Party in the Park, Central Park, Boston - Live music throughout the day, a range of free activities, and food stalls and a bar on site 05-08 August Ostrichfest, Ostrich, Peterborough - Live music, 30 real ales, craft beers and lager, eight draugt ciders, 50+ gins and rums, food from Tacos & Flip Flops 06-08 August The Holbeach Music & Beer Festival, Kings Field, Holbeach - The biggest and best tribute bands in the UK plus support acts, ales and ciders. 13 August Peterborough, Sausage & Cider Festival, The Embankment, Peterborough over 30 different craft ciders from around the world. Plus live music, games and competitions. 19-22 August Booze on the Ouse Beer & Cider Festival 2021, St Neots Rugby Club (hunts.camra.org.uk/festival) 21-22 August Central Park Music Festival, Central Park, Peterborough 26-29 August Charters Beer Festival, Charters, Peterborough 26-30 August 21st Annual Rutland Beer Festival, Grainstore, Oakham - A wide range of real ales from around the UK, plus live music Easton on the Hill Gala, Blue Bell, Easton on the Hill
- Beer festival all weekend with pub quizzes, live music, cricket match classic cars and more. 27-28 August Summer Beer Fest, Ploughman, Werrington - Lots of real ales and ciders. Live music all weekend and BBQ. 27-29 August Beer Festival 2021, City of Peterborough Sports Club, Bretton Gate - Real ales and gin bar, food available, live music, sport all weekend 09-11 September Rail Ale 2021, Barrow Hill Roundhouse, - More than 350 real ales and ciders plus gin, wine and prosecco, and an amazing musical line up to get you in the party mood. 02 September - 03 October Norwich City of Ale - A city-wide celebration of city pubs, local tours
Rhythm & Booze, Issue 61 July/August 2021
All written material, unless otherwise stated, © Simon Stabler All events are listed free of charge. To ensure inclusion in the September/October 2021 issue, or have any other news included in the magazine, email simonstabler@aol.com by 12 August. Entry cannot be guaranteed for late submissions. For advertising queries, contact Chris Shilling on 01778 421550, 07736 635916 or by email to chris@shillingmedia.co.uk Advertising Rates (excluding VAT)* £200 - full page (cover) £160 - full page £100 - half page £60 - quarter page * Discounts for series bookings Thank you to Wally Barnes, David Brown, Cardinal Pete Cox, Tim Nichol, Steve Williams and ‘Suss’ Cornish for their help in compiling this issue.
Unusual Pubs Amazing Stories By Bob Barton, Halsgrove, hardback, £16.99
obviously enjoyed visiting 120 pubs that ooze that special something – from city bars to rural treasure houses and reveals here their glorious tales in a very readable and well-illustrated book to inspire fellow imbibers and travellers. The Stringbeat Years: Songs Accompanied by John Barry 4 x CD boxset, Windmill Records, WM-CD-002
Back in the day, before books featuring licensed premises started concentrating on the – or even what gastronomic delights they served – people would go out of their way to visit a character pub. Then some contemporary chains got the bright idea of their boozers with unmatched chairs, tables with wonky legs, old and not so old enamel signs, farm implements dangling from the ceiling and so on – all imported from a central unit full of such items. Somehow it wasn’t the same as the original concept of what made an unusual pub, as they happened more by chance than interior design. Although even bringing in interesting old things in to line a pub is nothing new as the famous Dirty Dicks in Bishopsgate, London, proves where the landlord of the then Old Port Wine House brought in the cobweb-covered artefacts from Nathaniel Bentley’s warehouse – Our host, Bob Barton, has
Having whetted our appetite with books including Hit and Miss: The Story of the John Barry Seven – here is the ideal soundtrack for those with a passion for British pop music before the Beatles and pirate radio came along. a total of 110 tracks across the period 1959-1962 with a further 24 tracks from 1962 on the fourth disc together with ten titles composed by John Barry between 1958 and 1961.
Among the well-known names, golden boy Adam Faith is well represented with some of his big hits such as What Do You Want? Faith recorded 60 songs under Barry’s direction with four tracks making their debut on CD here. Included is the original version of their 1959 debut single on the Top Rank label, Ah, Poor Little Baby, which failed to make an impact. This cut features the distinctive guitar playing of Vic Flick. It was not unusual at the time for British acts to cover well known hits from the US and there are several examples here, some of which work better than others. Grantham’s Vince Eager does justice to It’s Late and It Doesn’t Matter Any More. In addition to some familiar names from the wider world of entertainment, there are several contemporary coffee bar scene on this great value box set. David Brown
John Barry and Adam Faith.