Bath English music session closed

Subject: Bath English music session closed
From: ConcertinaChap
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 11:14 AM

Hi all,

Sadly the closure of the Royal Oak pub two days before Christmas has led to the (hopefully temporary) closure of the English music session there. The one good thing about this is that the last night of the pub was also the session, and with 15 musicians we played the place out proper.

I'm really sad about this as the Royal Oak was a great and deservedly popular pub and the 1 1/2 years we've played there count as some of the best pub sessions I've known and, more than anywhere else I've played, we were accepted and listened to by the predominantly young clientèle. Very sad.

Anyway, we're looking for a new home for the session and hope to have somewhere early in the New Year.

The Bradford on Avon session continues unabated, BTW. See our web site at
www.englishmusicplayedhere.org.uk.

Chris

Subject: RE: Bath English music session closed
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 02:11 PM

Is this the Royal Oak on Bristol(?) Road, where there used to be a little folk festival every year? think there are 2 Royal Oaks in Bath...

Subject: RE: Bath English music session closed
From: GUEST,Treacle Bolly
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 07:51 PM

Yes, the one mentioned is on Lower Bristol Road. It actually closed for the first time about eight or nine years ago, but was rescued in the nick of time from and reopened as a real ale pub and seemed to be doing OK with occasional beer festivals and other events.

The other surviving Royal Oak (still open as far as I know) is on Pulteney Road near Widcombe lock. There used to be others !

Subject: RE: Bath English music session closed
From: nager
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 08:48 PM

So, they have decided to pull the plug on it ...

Subject: RE: Bath English music session closed
From: ConcertinaChap
Date: 29 Dec 11 - 09:50 AM

As I understand it (from the bar staff, who presumably would know), the pub was doing fine. The owners, however, amassed large debts ...

Certainly the pub was rarely less than busy. Bath has always had a goodly number of good music pubs and the Oak was one of them. A sad loss and not only for folk music.

Chris

Subject: RE: Bath English music session closed
From: Greg B
Date: 30 Dec 11 - 10:08 AM

Anybody fancy becoming a landlord?

Subject: RE: Bath English music session closed
From: ConcertinaChap
Date: 02 Jan 12 - 08:31 AM

For those who are interested there is more on this story in the
Bath Chronicle.

The session is moving to the Widcombe Social Club. I'll start a separate thread for that.

Chris