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The Stage, Thursday 11 November 1976.
Kentish is where the hops really come from. That fact alone makes the
County pubs Country! And pubs are big business on the showbiz front
today. You can forget the idea that down here that all the pubs are
oak-beamed and full of yokels moving at a snail's pace.
Entertainment is IN at the INNS take my word. No, don't take my word
just listen to the people I've been talking to in an in-depth round up.
....
Over to Rochester's "City Arms," go-go dancers, strippers and drag are
regular attractions.
Landlord Vic Gillham-Hill said. "I realised the fair time ago that these
days you have got to have something other than drinking. You must have
entertainment. I think people here are all for it because before quite a
few used to go to London for their evening's out.
Roy Burgess, chairman of Medway Licensed Victuallers Association,
representing scores of pubs said he felt more and more pubs were now
putting on entertainment and added, "I know there has been a growth
towards more old fashioned entertainment such as Saturday night sing-alongs
with a pianist organist."
....
Chatham's "Elephant and Castle" was packed last week when for the first
time ever a stripper (Jill St. Jannes) was presented in the saloon bar.
The place was packed. But it is only a prelude to what mine host Terry
Lomond has planned for the pub in the future.
The "Old Ash Tree." Bang on the A2 (the old Roman Road) is enjoying
tremendous success most nights and can offer patrons a varied programme
including country and western artists, full-scale banjos, groups and the
like.
Last week it was the centre for Truman's search for a band talent show,
with successful entrants going on to the Lyceum.
One of the winning outfits was a Johnny Carroll Showband which has
played the "Old Ash Tree" often and with great success.
Johnny told me. "Pubs are full of atmosphere, - the sort of atmosphere
you once got in the theatre. We're back where it all began, let's face
it."
Roger Dunne recently took over the "Marlborough" on the Strood outskirts
and the first thing he decided to install were entertainers.
He said:- "At the moment my licence only covers a maximum of two
performers which restricts me to basics like a pianist and drummer, or
organist and singer. For the moment it is sufficient to attract. You
have to remember, too, that most pubs in Kent were never constructed or
designed for entertainment on a big scale. It would be silly to try and
cram in big outfits, if props and band gear left no room for customers!
The move back into pubs, however, is growing and fast.
Guitarist singer Ted Connolly was struggling for spots in club cabaret
nights a couple of years back.
Now listen to him. "I'm constantly turning down work; there isn't a day
passes when at least two licensees ring me. At the present rate I could
work pubs for the next three years."
Ted's attraction to a licensee is that he is truly portable and takes so
little room in the bar - and has a big repertoire of songs that go
across the board. He is also an excellent guitarists.
The "Malta Inn," beautifully set on the banks of the river Medway, near
Maidstone, is a hot spot for music. The electric organ is a big
attraction and draws people like bees to a honey pot - which is more
than a jukebox ever did in a pub.
It would be foolish to pretend that all pubs are going into show
business.
Many tiny village pubs resist change mainly because their patrons regard
the premises as a haven from the hurly-burly. But some rural pubs,
nestling on spots wear inns have been for hundreds of years are
changing.
Like the "Falstaff," at Higham, bang opposite the house in which Charles
Dickens lived and died. The old reformist would, I suspect, approve of
the changes in his "local," although he might have found it difficult to
concentrate on writing on Sunday lunch times when a regular jazz band
goes into action.
But then, shouldn't we all put our pens down on a Sunday?
I think I will - and pop out for a ginger ale.
Jimmy Hodge Jnr.
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