I was deeply involved in the folk scene from 64 - until the mid 70s when I left for Belgium, mainly around Wimbledon, Kingston, New Malden.
Started with the New Malden Folk Club in the Railway Tavern in 64 I think, which moved to the Royal Oak a year later. I met Sandy Denny in there a couple of times doing floor spots, I can remmember thinking what a great voice, and wishing she could tune her guitar. The Holy Ground (aka the Fighting Cocks) openened in Kington, and it was a great place over the years, decent acoustics, and a great singing tradition. In 1969 Dunedain was formed with Nigel Hall, Mike Huxley, John Rodd and myself and we opened another club in Kinston at the Castle, Fairfield. The pub was isolated with no buildings or houses around, and we used to frequently have a lock-in on the Saturday evening when we ran it. It was a fairly small upstairs room, and felt well populated with 25 people in there, often we had 40-50. At the same time the new malden crowd had migrated to the Albert on Kingston Hill. We had to move as the area was being redeveloped, and contined residency at the Fighting Cocks until we opened the Upstairs Coal Hole at the Prince of Wales in Wimbledon, in 71. A big and quite successful club, we could afford to have a regular diet of high profile guests but it never had an intimate atmosphere.
I remember doing gigs or floorspots at many of the clubs mentioned in this thread.
Another favourite club slightly beyond London was the Windsor Club at the Swan in Clewer Village. Another small attic type club over the garage or barn. The name Alan springs to mind, and quite possibly one of the best collections of attractive females in the regular audience that I can remember.
Great days