Kevin, I remember the Hop Poles in Enfield. It moved there in about 1966 from the Kings Head in Enfield market square, which sadly I believe is now empty. That was just a few weeks after my first visit there. It was run as I recall by a couple called Russ and Pam. I became a resident there after a while and attended regularly until the early 70's when I drifted away from folk music. Saw all the big names of the time there, and as we used to get a small payment (yes really!) for the residency, I often took my payment in the form of the artists's latest album. Got a lot of my collection that way, including Ralph McTell and the Dransfields.

I remember a couple of other local places, though I was a bit parochial in those days. Ventured occasionally into Wood Green to the Starting Gate, and remember seeing Ralph McTell at the Fishmonger's Arms.

Used to get into London occasionally, and in addition to other places already mentioned, used to visit an upstairs room in a pub on Cambridge Circus. I think it was called the Scot's Hoose. Jansch and Renbourn were sort of residents as I remember.

Steve Last