Musical Pubs
Cambridge has always had a vibrant music scene – whether in the chapels, local assembly rooms or, in more recent times, clubs and bars. With no dedicated concert space in the town, it often fell to inns to provide venues for concerts.
Black Bear (Market Passage) Was notable for the excellent concerts given there from 1773 to 1809 under the auspices of its Music Club. The excellent MusiCB3 Blog has lots of information about the Black Bear concerts and have even got a virtual recreation of a concert that took place 18 February 1806
Hoop Tavern (Bridge Street/Sidney St). The Cambridge Town and County Choral Society held its fortnightly meetings here from 1830 to 1847, and the Apollo Musical Society also gave concerts there in 1838. Having a commodious assembly room it was used, even before it was adopted by the ADC, for all sorts of functions – notably political, theatrical and musical. When it was sold in 1847 it had an assembly room, a bowling-green, and reached right back to the ‘Hoop Tap’ in Park Street. The assembly room was used for concerts and reviews, by the Cambridge Union Society (1831 to 1850). It was then used as billiard rooms until taken over by the A.D.C. in 1860 and converted into the compact little theatre.
Red Lion (Petty Cury) The Cambridge Philharmonic Society, which flourished from 1832 to 1844, used the assembly rooms at this pub for its performances.
Red Cow (Guildhall St) The Folk Club here featured artists such as Tom Paxton, Champion Jack Dupree, Fleetwood Mac, Alexis Korner, Duster Bennett, Savoy Brown, Medicine Head, Pam Ayres,
The Red Lion (Petty Cury) A club at the back of this inn played host to Pink Floyd, & Black Cat Bones with Paul Kossoff
Regal/Wetherspoons (St. Andrew’s St) Albeit this claim comes from its days as a cinema, the Regal welcomed The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Billy Fury, Helen Shapiro, Adam Faith, & Cliff Richard,
Boatrace (East Rd) What is now ‘The Snug’ on East Road, but in previous times was known as the Boatrace, saw Oasis, Blur, Pulp, Franz Ferdinand & Snow Patrol, and many others perform there
Airport Hotel (Newmarket Rd) Julio Iglesias, Spanish singer and songwriter (b1943) had a regular spot at this bar when he was a language student.
Lamb (Sidney Street) Between 1867 and 1870 this pub, previously the Red Bull – where Superdrug is today – played host to the Lamb Music Hall. Performers included The Brothers Wainratta (Indian Equilibrists), Mr. Will Cruikshank (Negro Delineator), Brothers Leopold (Grotesque Clowns and Vaulters), the Brothers Mellon (Burlesque Duettists with Double Violin Business), Master Willie “The Little Droll”, and Frere Donata (Champion One-Legged Dancer).
There is a fabulous account of the Cambridge music scene in the 1960s at the blog I spy Syd in Cambridge outlining the contribution made to music by and through many of the pubs including Still and Sugarloaf (Market Hill), Dolphin (Coronation Street), Bun Shop (St. Andrew’s Street), Red Cow (Guildhall Street), Volunteer (Green Street and the Criterion (Market Passage).
Musical Publicans
Through the ages a number of Cambridge’s publicans have been musicians.
Reginald ‘Reg’ Cottage 1911-92 Towards the end of his career as a musician, Reg was the landlord at the Old Spring (Ferry Path/Chesterton Road). He was a pianist, piano-accordionist, organist and leader of the Reg Cottage Orchestra – the resident dance band at the Dorothy Ballroom between 1949-64.
John Halsey (b.1945) Landlord of the Castle Inn public house, rock drummer, aka Barrington Womble (“Barry Wom”) in The Rutles, played for Lou Reed (Transformer), Joan Armatrading, Maddy Prior etc
Arthur Henry Foulger (1858-1943) was a publican and musician. At different times, he ran two Cambridge pubs: the Brewer’s Arms (Gwydir St) and the Bakers Arms (Shelly Row). At the same time, he ran a string orchestra/band.