rhythm & booze issue 1
DESCRIPTION
The first issue of Rhythm & Booze, the Peterborough-based pub, food, music and culture magazine. Articles include a feature on the Roger Brooks Memorial, Bridge House and a trip to Castor.TRANSCRIPT
Food, Booze, Bands & News - April/May 2010
Tom LockHas LostThe Plot
With too many Peterborough-
based magazines operating a per-
sonality cult, the last thing I
wanted was to open this launch
issue of Rhythm and Booze with a
rant.
That was until the issues I experi-
enced at The Tom Lock, Lincoln
Road.
From the moment some bright
spark suggested that managers
replace Landlords it was inevitable
that many pub operations were
going to lack even the most basic
of common sense.
What I hadn’t realised was places
like The Tom Lock were following
company policy so thoroughly that
me, as a 32 year old, would be re-
fused service as I didn’t have any
ID on me.
Now I know that many teenagers
of 16-17 can quite easily pass for
early 20s, so to protect them-
selves venues will operate either
Challenge 21 or Challenge 25.
But to refuse me service, despite
the fact I’ve been drinking there,
off and on, for almost 14 years
and am covered in tattoos, just be-
cause “everyone needs ID” is tak-
ing the whole jobsworth thing too
far.
The reason behind my visit was to
review its Early Bird menu for the
next issue.
Sadly I was never able to do that,
and while I’m sure that the food
would score very highly their com-
mon sense, not to mention cus-
tomer service skills, aren’t even
worthy of nil points.
The Tom Lock, no bitter or common sense. Photo © Adam Stabler
Challenge 21, Challenge 25 and, apparently, Challenge 32
Star LetterAsk a million people “what is a pub?” and you’ll get a
million answers.
I like a lot of people go to a pub to whinge and moan
about work, the wife, taxes etc etc, after the first pint
you chill and mellow a bit, listen to other people’s
problems with concern, not contempt in a word;
Relax.
I’ve been in pubs where the music has driven me out
also I’ve been in pubs where there music has pulled
me in. Jukeboxes, one-armed Bandits, Karaoke, food
served during the evening; are these the end of pubs
as we know it? The Beer Police say so - Beer Police,
something to do with photography?
In an ideal world (my world) every corner would have
Real Ale pub on it. Let’s get real, keg outsells cask,
so if the Beer Police would get off the back of Publi-
cans who are trying to exist and serve Real Ale by
having keg, jukeboxes, food etc, we wouldn’t have
any Real Ale pubs.
“Family-size Vodka and Coke please Jackie!”
Bernard St. Fibsen
Editors reply: There’s no prizes for guessing who
you mean by the Beer Police. While they’ve done well
nationally, fighting for drinkers rights, like any other
local group be it political parties or music fans, it’s de-
scended into a clique thanks to people fiddling with
things outside their remit.
While Real Ale is best, certain individuals believe
“some breweries are better” and should have atten-
tion concentrated on them, then wonder why venues,
even the better-run establishments go to the wall. An-
other thing’s always puzzled me, why do some ven-
ues consider pool tables and jukeboxes to be the
lowest of the low while shove ha’penny and some old
duffer on an accordion is perfectly acceptable?
While I wouldn’t go to many of the pubs down Broad-
way for their musical entertainment and lack of de-
cent beer, I have visited them in the past. Mainly
because they do a decent line in pub grub, which is
sadly lacking in our Real Ale establishments.
Now why do I think we’ll have a bulging postbag next
issue?
Pub QuizFor your chance to win a copy of
This Is Peterborough Too, fea-
tured on the opposite page, email
the answers to the following ques-
tions to [email protected] by
15th May.
1.Secretly recorded by Saint Eti-
enne, Peterborough’s Andrew
Midgely took 7 Ways to Love into
the charts under this name?
2. Guitarist Graham Butt is the
only original member of this band,
formed in 2002?
3. Vocalist with Vince Clarke who
isn’t Dave Gahan, Fergal Sharkey
or Alison Moyet?
4. Ian Burden, one of several
King’s School pupils to
find chart success, was
in this synth-pop band?
5. They got to number
35 with Sound of
Eden?
6. Stu West and An-
drew Pinching are the rhythm
section to this long running punk
band?
7. It was a good news week for
these Wittering airmen when they
got to the top 5?
8. The Bard of Barking who wrote
A New England while walking
through Oundle?
9. We were Just
Good Friends when he said he
wanted Reggae Like It Used To
Be?
10. Some say he was a miserable
old git, but with his bespectacled
partner he always managed to
Bring Me Sunshine?
All material, unless otherwise stated, © Simon Stabler
Please send your letters, competition answers and gig listings to [email protected] by 15th May
Upon ThisRock...
...’n’RollPeterborough’s diverse music
scene has been brought together
on a new compilation CD.
This Is Peterborough 2 was re-
leased at the start of March by
local indie label Rowdy Farrago
Records.
Formed in 2006, the label recently
celebrated its 25th release having
put out material by The Destruc-
tors and The Ruined amongst oth-
ers.
Like its predecessor, last year’s
This Is Peterborough, the 20-track
CD came about after label boss
Allen Adams asked bands to sub-
mit a track for inclusion.
Allen explains, “Having worked at
The Met Lounge for the past 10
years I’d got to hear so many re-
ally good local bands.
“Unfortunately many of those have
fallen by the wayside, more out of
lack of opportunity than ambition. I
thought it was time to redress that
by getting a professional compila-
tion released which is sent to
radio stations, DJs and promoters
world wide.
“With the original release people
were reluctant to come forward.
They thought there was going to
be a catch as we were compiling
the CD for free.”
Despite the success of the compi-
lation, with many bands benefiting
from positive reviews, enlarged
fan bases and offers of manage-
ment deals, people were still re-
luctant to submit material for the
latest release.
“We initially received a single sub-
mission” said Allen.
“After a bit of chasing we started
to receive plenty of material and
despite our manufacturers being
able to use longer length CDs
some bands have had to be held
back until next year.”
With cover art from Free Thinking
Design’s Lee Mason and features
a host of local names including
Pet Slimmers of the Year, Punky
Rebel Media and Dun II Def, This
Is Peterborough 2 is available
from HMV Peterborough,
www.metalonrock.com and
Fifty-five years ago, the view of the
city from Town Bridge was very dif-
ferent. Over the years, the power
station was demolished to make
way for Rivergate, Charter’s ar-
rived and before that, Bridge
House was built.
With plans to redevelop the South
Bank, the view will change again.
With a question mark hanging over
the future of Bridge House, Simon
Stabler uncovers the history of its
construction.
By November 1940, The Blitz, the
Luftwaffe’s nightly bombing raid on
Britain, was halfway through. Thou-
sands of lives were lost and countless
buildings damaged. One of these was
the London Contracts Office of
Mitchell Engineering Limited.
Unable to find suitable accommoda-
tion, Mitchell moved to Peterborough.
The tracing staff worked in Market
Chambers, while technicians and
draughtsmen squeezed into Fengate
House. The decade that followed the
war saw Britain trying to adjust back
to normality. With large scale rebuild-
ing programmes, matched with rapid
growth in technical advancement, it
was time for Mitchell to plan a pur-
pose-built office block.
A plot was found on the southern em-
bankment alongside Town Bridge. Lo-
cated opposite the old Customs
House, this spot had been left untidy
and derelict ever since the bridge was
built in 1934. Despite the complexities
of a river location, consulting engineer
Walter C. Andrews suggested the use
of steel framework and reinforced
concrete floors would allow the build-
ing to be completed relatively quickly.
Bridge House was designed by archi-
tects Howard V. Lobb and Partners,
who had been behind the Royal Festi-
val Hall and later the British Govern-
ment Pavilion at Expo ‘58. The colour
of bricks was chosen to avoid clash-
ing with nearby buildings. The height
set to avoid affecting the view of the
Cathedral. Any future extensions
would move outwards towards East
Station Road.
The 26-by-150 foot window alongside
the river, allows the maximum of natu-
ral light to enter the drawing office.
Cork flooring and double-glazing re-
duces heat loss and traffic noise,
while photocells on the roof turn the
lights on when it gets dark. It lights up
in rows, starting with the furthest from
the window.
Providing radiant heat, similar to that
given off by the sun, radiators and
pipes are hidden from view. In the
drawing office they are located above
the acoustic ceiling installed by
Frenger Ceilings Ltd, while pipes in
other parts of the building are embed-
ded in the floor.
The sculptor Arthur J.J. Ayres de-
signed the 25-by-50 foot Portland
stone mural, which runs alongside the
bridge. It was chosen during a com-
petition judged by Roy Mitchell, man-
aging director, his father F.G “Tiny”
Mitchell, chairman of the Mitchell
group of companies, Gilbert Led-
wood, chairman of the Royal Society
of British Sculptors and Howard V.
Lobb. The mural was believed to be
the largest bas-relief in England at
that time. It features historical figures
Take It To The Bridge
The Mural by Arthur J.J Ayres, Photo © Gwydion Williams
from the world of science and engi-
neering, such as Archimedes and
Newton, grouped around the sun, “the
source of all power” and three men
representing modern industry – ad-
ministration, design and works. Roy
Mitchell explained that the competi-
tion was devised “to foster a closer
relationship between art and indus-
try.”
Ayres carved the mural in-situ with
assistance from son James, wife Elsa
and daughter Jane. He was a fellow
of the Royal Society of British sculp-
tors and his work adorns buildings as
grand as Westminster Abbey. His re-
lief above an entrance to the National
Hospital for Neurology and Neuro-
surgery, London bears the same Ho-
race Mann quote as the Bridge House
mural – “every addition to true knowl-
edge is an addition to human power.”
The mural gave Ayres “a fresh ap-
proach to a modern problem” as the
thin walls meant that the “sculpture
was executed in a different manner.”
Despite a late delivery of steel fol-
lowed by the steel erectors working to
rule, Bridge House, constructed by
subsidiary Mitchell Construction Co,
opened for business in November
1955, a year after work began. It
united 200 staff members for the first
time since 1940. An agreement with
the Ministry of Transport, keen to re-
duce congestion, meant that the front
entrance was for the sole use of visi-
tors. Staff would enter via the car park
at the rear.
Financial problems and receiver led
sell-offs in the late 60s saw the name
Mitchell Engineering fade from view.
Mitchell Construction, as a separate
company under managing director
David Morrell, went from strength to
strength, until a contract to build a hy-
droelectric power station on the North
Bank of the Zambesi River signalled
the beginning of the end. Awarded the
contract in 1971, it became apparent
that the ground conditions were
poorer than described on the tender
document.
Lives were lost, work slowed down
and costs rose. By the time Mitchell
had called in the receivers, its costs
were alleged to be over £200k a
month. Mitchell Construction became
part of Tarmac Construction and, Mor-
rell spent the rest of his life suing
those he felt responsible for the com-
pany’s downfall.
After Bridge House was vacated,
British Telecom took it over. Bosses
covered up “Mitchell Engineering Lim-
ited” from the mural, until Peterbor-
ough City Council occupied the
building in the early 90s, bringing the
name back into view.
While the council still owns the prop-
erty, using it to accommodate their
transport, engineering, environmental
and public protection teams, the
building closed to the public in Febru-
ary when the planning department
moved to Bayard Place.
The building falls within the South
Bank development area, which pro-
poses the construction of leisure facil-
ities, offices and zero carbon homes.
No date is set for the closure of
Bridge House. And while no firm pro-
posals have been drawn up, there is
a possibility that the site will be used
for a hotel.
If the site is redeveloped, structural
engineers Waldeck Associates say
that the mural can be saved. John
Peach, former leader of Peterborough
City Council, wants it moved to a
prominent location, possibly a school
or shopping complex. Wherever it
ends up, the mural will ensure that
the memory of Peterborough’s past
as a home technological innovation
will live on.
The drawing office window, photo © Michael Trolove
With its Roman ruins and timber-
framed cottages it’s easy to forget
that Castor is only four miles from
Peterborough city centre. Entering
the village from town you’ll see
The Fitzwilliam Arms on your right.
Built from stone and topped off
with a thatched roof, it looks every
inch the traditional village pub until
you step inside and realise it has
been converted to a restaurant.
As part of the Fratelli group its fa-
mous for its home-cooked Italian
food and welcoming hospitality.
The £5 “Menu Spuntino”, de-
signed to prevent over-eating as
much as overspending, is avail-
able Sunday to Thursday during
both lunchtime and evenings.
Recently re-furbished and just up
the road is the Royal Oak. The
pub, with its three lounges and ex-
ternal patio area, prides itself on
three ever-changing real ales,
open fires during winter and a ban
on juke boxes and gaming ma-
chines. They serve a range of
soup, jacket potatoes, paninis and
baguettes at lunchtime Tuesday to
Saturday, which can be pre-or-
dered by phone.
Further along you’ll find The
Prince of Wales Feathers. In addi-
tion to their extensive range of
well-kept real ales are bottled beer
from Belgium and Germany, not to
mention real cider and perry on
draught. There’s live music most
weekends and a lunchtime menu,
offering quality home cooked food,
available all week.
With two pubs in such close prox-
imity serv-
ing real
ale is
no
sur-
prise that
Castor has
its own brewery. Formed last year
by Duncan Vessey, Castor Ales
has already received critical ac-
claim for its Roman Gold, Serene
Nene and, the marvellously titled,
Castor Oil.
As well as supplying pubs Dun-
can’s beer can also be found at
the regular Shakedown Blues.
Held once a month at Castor Vil-
lage Hall, past performers have in-
cluded Mud Morganfield, the son
of Muddy Waters, and Eddie Tay-
lor Junior. Information of what’s on
and how to buy tickets is avail-
able from their website.
Castor is easily accessible by
road, with Kimes operating the
number 9 bus from Queens-
gate during the day. However
if you’re planning on visiting
during the evening you con-
sider going by taxi, most taxis
firms will negotiate a reason-
able rate, or follow the foot-
paths from Ferry Meadows. If
you’re walking, just remember
to take a torch with you in the
winter.
Fratelli Castor
- 01733 380251
The Royal Oak Inn
- 01733 380217
Prince of Wales Feathers
- 01733 380222
Shakedown Blues
- www.shakedownblues.co.uk
Kimes Bus
- www.kimesbuses.co.uk
Spotlight on...Castor
UP-TOWN TOP DININGA Taste of Paradise?
Serving a fusion of Malay and
Thai cuisine, Malayba is a wel-
come addition to Peterborough’s
culinary landscape.
As my colleague is a vegetarian
and I prefer fish to meat, we often
experience limited choice when
dining out.
Thankfully there was no such
problem here, although we were
both spoilt for choice.
I started with Salt & Peppercorn
Soft-Shelled Crab, while my col-
league went for the tempura-like
Asparagus with Golden Oats.
For the main course I had a
steamed fillet of sea bass in a
sweet and sour Nynonya sauce,
while my colleague ordered bean
curd in a Sambal sauce - accom-
panied with French beans.
While both sauces included chill-
ies, they were there to emphasise
the meal and give it a little kick, as
opposed to overpowering the
palate.
For its variety, top-class service,
layout and cocktail bar, Malayba is
truly the taste of paradise.
Restaurant Details
Malayba, 44 Broadway, Peterbor-
ough, PE1 1RT
Website: www.malayba.com
Tel: 01733 561806
Open:
Mon-Sat:12:00 -14:30,17:30-23:00
Sun: 12:00 -14.30, 17:30-22:00
Sample Dish: Nyonya Sea Bass -
steamed sea bass fillet with
Malaysian Nyonya Sauce (£9.50)
Sample Drink: Honolulu Breezer
– a cocktail of vanilla vodka,
amaretto, hazelnut and apple
served with crushed ice (£6.50)
What’s on?
Charters
Town Bridge
Peterborough
PE1 1FP
01733 315700
3rd April - The Whisky Jax, Being
Jo Francis, Irene Rae and more
(tbc)
The Ostrich Inn
17 North Street
Peterborough
PE1 2RA
01733 752255
April
1st – Ian Graham
2nd – Porky Pig
3rd – The Les Woods Band
9th – Blues After Midnight
10th – White Spirit
16th – Circa ‘73
17th – Retrolux
23rd – Lloyd Watson
24th – The Electric Warriors
30th – Frankly My Dear
May
1st – Citizen Smith
7th – Children of the Revolution
8th – 101 Proof
14th - Daffy and The Alien
15th – The Grumpy Old Men
21st – The Backstreet Blues Band
22nd – Storm
28th – Aladdinsane
29th – Mighty Quinn
Tuesdays @ 7:30 – Poker
Wednesdays @ 8:30 – Quiz with
cash prizes
Sunday @ 8:30 – Mighty Mouth
Karaoke with Trev
The Post Office Club
Bourges Boulevard
Peterborough
Fundraiser for Sue Ryder and
Macmillan Nurses, tickets are
available for £10 from 01733
762951
Mauricky Collins, Fat Chantz and
The Nuggets
The Prince of Wales Feathers
38 Peterborough Road
Castor
PE5 7AL
01733 380222
April
17th - One Eyed Cats
24th - 24
May
6th - Frankie Martin
7th - Les Woods
8th - The Malingerers
9th - Daffy & The Alien
22nd - 101 Proof
The Village Hall
Peterborough Road
Castor
PE5 7AX
Ticket information available from
29th April – Shakedown Blues
present Vernon Harrington
Photo © Riot Photography UK
n.b All venues listed serve real ale
Despite its ornate mosque, the
Gladstone area is one of Peter-
borough’s most deprived areas.
In the Roger Brooks Memorial,
the now tatty and weather-dam-
aged mural opposite the
mosque, the cultural diversity
of the area is celebrated.
Whites, Asians and West Indi-
ans rub shoulders in the image
that gives a 360-degree view of
the street from the house that
it’s painted on. Having grown
up in the area, Simon Stabler
was always fascinated by the
image. With the inscription
worn away, he wanted to know
how the mural was achieved
and who was Roger Brooks?
In 1978 Peterborough Develop-
ment Corporation was at the
height of its powers. The estates
of Orton Malborne and Orton
Goldhay were welcoming their first
residents, building started on
Queensgate Shopping Centre,
while the new road system was
taking shape.
As part of a renewal programme
in the Gladstone district, a road
was built between Gladstone
Street and Cromwell Road. Called
Link Road, councillors hoped it
would “strengthen links between
the various communities in the
area.” Four years later the Corpo-
ration’s artist-in-residence Francis
Gomila was asked to paint a
mural to reflect this belief.
Painted on the side of 155A Glad-
stone Street, the house adjacent
to the new road, the mural fea-
tured local residents including
Sam Mrsinka, who owned the bar-
bershop nearby. The only person
not to have existed was the man
at the extreme left walking away,
although Francis says “it was sur-
prising how many people thought
he was someone they knew.”
Francis has fond memories of “10
cold and raining weeks spent up a
scaffold” painting the mural with
the help of Foundation Art stu-
dents from Peterborough Techni-
cal College. However there were
several problems encountered at
the start. “Eastern Arts initially re-
fused to fund the project and the
mural was often damaged with
racial graffiti,” said Francis.
“Thankfully we had Roger Brooks,
a young and tireless progressive
councillor on side and a white
family, although originally reluctant
to have their children feature
alongside other nationalities, de-
fend the site when they saw the
mural take shape.
“I’d like to think that the mural did
help to bring the community to-
gether.”
Unfortunately Roger Brooks died
before he could see the finished
piece. Council Leader Charles
Swift said at the time that Brooks
“was very active and very dedi-
cated in helping minority groups,
in many ways he was something
of a social worker, a people’s
champion.”
Francis was quite surprised that
the mural, even in its dilapidated
state, was still standing. The last
time he visited the site was in the
late 80s to reseal it with a coat of
varnish. His other local work “En-
gine”, the bas-relief on the Park-
way bridge that crosses Fengate,
still stands.
The Gladstone Neighbourhood In-
vestment Programme, which
plans to regenerate the area, want
to use art to deliver community co-
hesion within the neighbourhood.
Some hope that the Roger Brooks
Memorial could be restored, but
would Francis like to be involved?
“If the support was right I might be
interested, however the original
sketches are long gone. It would
be more interesting to create a
fresh mural, depicting the people
who live there today. Like some
kind of everlasting story.”
The Roger Brooks Memorial, Link Road/Gladstone Street
Photo © Chris Porsz / www.peterboroughinpictures.co.uk
Blast From The Past...
...The Roger Brooks Memorial