rhythm & booze issue 1

8
Food, Booze, Bands & News - April/May 2010 Tom Lock Has Lost The 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

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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.

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Page 1: Rhythm & Booze Issue 1

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

Page 2: Rhythm & Booze Issue 1

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

Page 3: Rhythm & Booze Issue 1

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

Page 4: Rhythm & Booze Issue 1

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

Page 5: Rhythm & Booze Issue 1

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

Page 6: Rhythm & Booze Issue 1

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)

Page 7: Rhythm & Booze Issue 1

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

[email protected]

29th April – Shakedown Blues

present Vernon Harrington

Photo © Riot Photography UK

n.b All venues listed serve real ale

Page 8: Rhythm & Booze Issue 1

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