Bunjies folk cellar coffee house

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: David C. Carter
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 12:45 PM

Thankee very much Hokum.Do I come and pick it up,or can you send it over the Net.


D

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: Hokumsheik
Date: 06 Dec 11 - 09:58 AM

David
Being the only person(?) to reply
You have won the jar of honey

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: David C. Carter
Date: 29 Nov 11 - 05:01 AM

Would that be Desolation Row?

Or Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands?

I would prefer to go to market than Margate!

Hokum old son,don't forget, a touch of the Bertie Wooster Sauce!

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 01:15 PM

I would tell you, but who wants to go to Margate?

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: Hokumsheik
Date: 28 Nov 11 - 12:33 PM

True or False?
Al Stewart sung Bob Dylan's 11 minute epic
(eehh, the title eludes me for the moment)
the day before its public release.

The prize will be a Rhum-Baba & a free walk to Margate.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: David C. Carter
Date: 27 Nov 11 - 06:14 AM

Hokumsheik,How's it going?

Don't forget to Rapé the spuds!

D

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Ian William Johnson
Date: 25 Nov 11 - 09:27 AM

I worked at Bunjies as cook/waiter for about a year in 1974-75, protecting the young girls from Lou, until he sold up & opened a wine bar just round the corner, I think he'd been dreaming of licensed premises for a long time,probably sick of drinking coffee all day (he'd often pop out to the pub of an evening & come back a little "tired"). I well remember Sippy and Hratch, who I think were both resident at the time, as well as a young Tom Robinson among many others. Lots of fun & I was sad to see, the last time I was in London, that it had become a restaurant.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 10 Nov 11 - 12:53 PM

You're talking about Moxie, a good guy, and he certainly didn't annoy me. I believe he now lives in France

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: Hokumsheik
Date: 10 Nov 11 - 12:48 PM

Does anyone remember a guy with long red hair who used to annoy everyone by playing harmonica all the time?

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Mark Steinhardt
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 03:01 PM

Here's what I have about Bungies. It's from my biography of Audrey Smith (published 2000) who, as half of "John Timpany and Audrey Smith" had a residency there. The information came from interviews with John and Audrey (deceased).
...Later in 1967, or maybe '68, they started to play regularly in Litchfield Street, close to Cambridge Circus on the edge of Soho. Every Tuesday night a sign on the pavement announced BUNGIES COFFEE HOUSE AND FOLK CELLAR, with an arrow pointing down a flight of wooden steps. Particularly in the summer, large numbers of tourists accepted the invitation, perhaps sensing an encounter with Olde Englande. At the bottom of the steps they found a lit sign, a short, dark corridor and two brown and cream doors with BUNGIES on one. They pushed it open and tipped down a few more steps, passing another sign which read SHUT THE BLUDDY DOOR! Facing them, between the restaurant and the folk club, was the food counter, where Lou, the owner, served spaghetti bolognese and cakes. Behind him, a flight of stairs led up to a tiny office where he did his paperwork and lured the young girls who worked the restaurant—foreigners with little English; cash, no questions. There was a big fan behind the counter and when Lou let rip with one of his tempers he would fling a plate of food at it and spray the candle-lit diners with tomato sauce and finely divided pasta. Or so legend has it.
The folk cellar was a small room under low brick vaults, dripping in wet weather, with hard benches and no tables. Big Theo Johnson, fat, bearded and boastful, took the money. The stage was a four foot quadrant in one corner, raised about eight inches from the floor and there "John Timpany and Audrey Smith" played their songs for the tourists and a smattering of students, folk fans and fellow musicians. Ron Simmonds shared the evening and Big Theo sang the same three songs every night—good songs, mind you, and it didn't matter because there were very few regulars. On busy summer nights with fifty or more crushed in, the air was thick with heat, sweat and smoke and the singers struggled out during breaks to breathe the comparatively pure air of a Soho night.
Bungies became the proving ground for all their material. As they began to get bookings from more discerning audiences, this was important. The Bungies crowd was easy to please but they worked at maintaining a standard—polishing the old songs, trying different arrangements of the new and occasionally working with Ron Simmonds. John, always a quick learner, watched Ron play the guitar, moving his fingers economically round a chord, picking out a melody and harmony or bass line at the same time, and soon mastered his style well enough to deliver a perfect copy of one of his tunes. Ron was furious and ever after practised with a duster over his left hand if John was about.
It was their first professional engagement and a regular commitment and if they couldn't make it they arranged a replacement. The entrance money was split between Ron, Big Theo and themselves. John still hoped to become a full-time professional but did not imagine he could achieve that with this duo. Musically, he was the senior partner and Audrey did not delude herself otherwise, but the important thing was that they were having a very good time, drawn ever closer by working together on something creative. They were also finding themselves a place in the folk music spectrum, between the unaccompanied strict traditionalists and the then nascent folk-rock experiments.
Not long after starting to play at Bungies, John and Audrey gave up the unequal struggle to keep the Nag's Head going. They had lost a lot of their own money keeping up the standard of performer while audience numbers fell. With the folk revival past its first bloom this was the fate of some of the smaller clubs......

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Christine in France
Date: 19 Oct 11 - 04:18 PM

Wherre can I hear some of Hratch's music?

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Oct 11 - 05:22 PM

So what did happen to the fantastic Hratch? Bunjiies was a wonderful place, great memories, but he was my main reason for going
Christine, now in France

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 07 Jul 11 - 09:14 AM

Both Theo and Roger are no longer with us I'm afraid. Roger died some time ago, he was still quite young. It was something like an aneurism or a brain haemorrhage. Roger and his then girlfriend, Jane (lovely lady), lived and worked in Catalunya for a while. I went and visited them over there.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,John Timpany
Date: 07 Jul 11 - 09:09 AM

Bunjies.

I was resident there for a few years with my partner Audrey Smith, and we played opposite Ron Simmonds with Big Theo Johnson doing 3 songs at half time.
Big Theo always needed an accompanist and unluckily Ron, me and Roger Evans had to take turns which meant a shorter break.
The money was rubbish, the venue was fantastic, the atmosphere electric, the audience wonderful, the acoustics superb, and the occasional guests excellent.

I don't think I ever found another venue for folk music in Europe with quite the character that Bunjies had. It's a shame it's gone.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,acoustic archive
Date: 27 Jun 11 - 08:58 AM

Youtube shut my channel down in 2008 the Blighters.Sp just to let you know I am restarting something similar ,but of more modest intentions and have already posted over 50 of my unique archive videos including a couple from Bunjies

Charlie Crow at Bunjies Folk Cellar

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 26 Jun 11 - 09:52 AM

Anybody list the performers on said double album, please?

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Andy Parker
Date: 26 Jun 11 - 09:03 AM

Just a little side note to Ian Mather's piece about hospital radio: the bass player in a later band of mine worked for UCH hospital radio as a DJ for a stint and, browsing their record collection one night, I found the only copy of the Bunjies double-album that I've ever seen...

And how could I have forgotten to list Keith Willson, blues supremo? I hope you are still out there, well and doing your thing...love

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Guest - Lin
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 01:40 AM

I used to go there a lot during the 1980's and purchased the Bunjies LP. I think there was only one album released of folk singers who performed there. It was a great place to hang out and also enjoyed the Greek food before the concerts.

Some of my favourite performers were a duo called, Brackenwood. They had a regular spot there. Also. a great singer/guitarist called, Hratch used to perform regularly during the 70's and 80's. Another guy called, Mike Lee who was a hugh Ralph McTell fan, used to cover many of Ralph's songs. Not sure if he had a regular spot there but he was very, very good!

These are some of the guys I remember seeing the most.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: Musket
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 02:21 PM

Many years ago, I was involved in hospital radio. Every year we had a conference of our national body and in the delegates pack one year in the early '80s was a double album of Bunjies Folk Cellar.

I loved listening to it and as a result once my work took me to London occasionally, I managed to get there and listen to some wonderful music.

Dead jealous to read above that my mate Willie got to play there!! Didn't know that.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Andy Parker
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 05:35 AM

I was the dish washer, and later manager, of Bunjies (promotion was swift in those days) in the late-70s, when Denis and Ron had the lease. I was a local Covent Garden boy and my sister had worked there before me. I later went back to play a series of gigs with Steve Lake, not long before it closed. The floor had been levelled! No more 'dip' to help the taller musicians avoid scraping their heads, but an opportunity to play one of London's legendary venues was not to be missed...


If Sippy, Hawken, Phil Swallow, Tom Pamintuan, Hratch and Brackenwood are still around: love to you all.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Maja
Date: 17 Feb 11 - 05:13 PM

I was an Au-Pair in London in 1972/73. Usually Thursday was my day off, so whenever possible I went to listen to Simon Ma in the evening. I'm so happy that someone else remembers him!! Wish I knew what became of him! I had moved to Hong Kong later, and the last thing I heard of Simon was that he had gone back to Singapore.

If anyone is still in contact with him, please let me know! Thanks!

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jan 11 - 03:32 AM

^What kind of music do you play? There are loads!

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,balladeer
Date: 25 Jan 11 - 01:52 AM

I was in London June 64 to Dec 65. Played Bunjies enough that I'm in their archives. My name was Joanne Hindley-Smith in those days. I'm coming over (from Canada) in June and want to find out where the clubs are (all over the country) that encourage floor singers. Appreciate any help.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 05:47 PM

Dan, I have a copy of Nights in the Cellar. I'm happy to send you some photos.
I started going down to Bunjies in the late 60's and hold very fond memories of it.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 05:40 PM

Hawken, Sippy, alive and well. and hope the winds of time have been good to you.
I remember Mr Northwind.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 05:32 PM

Hi Gez, good to see ya here. I used to sing the occasional song with Brackenwood.
Those were the days! (my friend)

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Sippy
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 05:24 PM

I was a Bunjette from the late 60's to the late 80's. I had a residency on a few different nights from the early 70's.
I actually grew up at Bunjies, and was so sad to see the cellar door closed. It is sorely missed by me and countless others who came for a coffee and cheese cake to there home from home.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Kevin in California
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 03:08 PM

Hratch now has a few videos on YouTube ... still sounds terrific!

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Hawken
Date: 03 Jan 11 - 03:11 AM

I remember Sippy and her bosomy Persian girlfriend who fancied me.
So exciting.
I played a few times there, in the early 70's.
Hot blackcurrant juice :)
Nice times.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Smartlady
Date: 24 Dec 10 - 04:47 PM

My memories of Bunjies go back to the early 1950s - no regular performers in those days - frequented by out of work actors, students (medics mainly), nurses and office workers (me) who wanted a bit of the boho scene.
Someone composed this song which we sang lustily to frowns from the management:

Old poppa Beethoven wrote this little song
To keep us contented and happy all day long
Sitting in Bunjies my heart began to throb
For one Cappuchino would set me back a bob (5p!!!!)
And for a sandwich, I`d have to sell my soul
For six weeks I`ve saved up to buy a sausage roll.

The medics would often bring in their skeletons and put the skulls over the wall lights, making the cellar look even more eerie. Someone would bring a guitar, someone else bongos and off we would go. Am I the only mother who taught her sons the words to rugby songs when they began to play?!!!!

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,KH Shaw
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 10:33 AM

GEZ WENHAM replied to this thread re: Brackenwood. I really need to contact him but lost touch years ago and have no fwding info for him. Can anywone help??

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Clive Lebozer
Date: 08 Dec 10 - 03:19 AM

I was a teenager in the 80's and me and my friend Mark went to Bungies every week just to see Brackenwood play Roads to Moscow and the Ellan Vannin Tragedy - I love that song and every time I play it myself, I remember those fantastic nights at Bungies - thanks Gez! I have always wondered what happened to Brackenwood - tell us, please Gez

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Guest - Lin
Date: 07 Dec 10 - 12:46 AM

Bunjies was my favourite folk music place to visit when I was in London. Great, great memories of Hratch (still in touch) at Christmas, Brackenwood, Sippy, Russ Shipton and Mike Lee. By the way does anyone know what Mike Lee is doing these days? He was a really good singer and did justice to covers of Ralph McTell songs.

I remember Brackenwood. It seems like I kind of recall that one of them or perhaps both worked at the airport (not sure where) in the cargo area. Anyway, they were great and the audience really loved them too.

Also, does anyone remember a girl that hung out there (I don't think she was a singer) but she was very tall, long black hair and from Hawaii? We always used to chat about the music but don't know if anyone would remember her. This would have been in the mid 1980's to late 1980's. She was always there when Brackenwood played and when Mike Lee played there.

I remember always ordering the lasagne which was really good!

Is Bunjies still there or is there some other veune/restaurant there now? I don't live in England so I have been out of touch with what happened to Bunjies.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Dan Robertson
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 05:34 PM

Sorry, I forgot to include my contact details:

[e-mail]

Thanks, dan.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Dan Robertson
Date: 06 Dec 10 - 05:30 PM

I am too young to remember Bunjies or Cousins, but my dad John Robertson used to play at both during the late 60's. Im trying to track down some early photo's of the place as a present for him and would appreciate any help. I know that there was a book called 'Bunjies coffee house - nights in the cellar' by Peter Cadle, but it seems impossible to track down a copy.
He used to hang out with Maureen (Mo), Brian, and Hratch. He did a cracking version of Leonard Cohen's Suzanne.
I can see that many of you have fond memories of Bunjies and hope some of them were captured on film. Cheers.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 25 Oct 10 - 11:29 AM

I think he means Meg Aikman, thought to have been an influence for Ralph McTell's Streets of London.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 25 Oct 10 - 09:26 AM

I think you mean Meg Aitken, Peter.
Lovely lady, she used to pop into Les Cousins, Friday all nighters, on a regular basis.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Peter Brown
Date: 25 Oct 10 - 08:28 AM

I remember Bunjies with affection. I was in Henley-on-Thames playing in the back bar of a pub with a girl singer and another guitarist (we called ourselves the Highroaders, very cheesy) when a passing stranger invited us to Bunjies. We were all about 18 and had hardly ever been to London, 30 miles away. It was around 1966.
   We went and did three numbers. No restriction - hardly anyone was there. Al Stewart had the residency and was singing amazing stuff, including Paul Simon's The Sound of Silence, which we loved. I remember getting the words and chords from him during the break. He was friendly and kind with a great smile. In the corner sat Meg Ryan, the street busker. The place smelt of coffee and undergroundness.
That evening led me to the Cousins - but that's another story - and a lifelong interest in folk and blues, fostered by the feeling that I'd been involved almost from the beginning.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,LAT
Date: 15 Oct 10 - 05:14 PM

I worked there serving drinks etc on Thursday evenings in the mid 70's. Lou Hart was the boss. A lovely man, he used to tell really long jokes. The ending was hardly ever worth waiting for but you did, just in case it was a good one. He was tiny, barely 5 ft tall. He came to my wedding in 1978 too. We served great omelettes (I can say that as I didn't make them!)a pretty mean spag bol and endless cups of coffee of course. And the house speciality which was lemon cordial in coke. The singer then on Thursday was Simon Ma - an accountant by day I believe.
Aah, happy days. I have really enjoyed reading all of this.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Keith Willson
Date: 11 Oct 10 - 09:12 AM

Many memories of Bunjie's from the 60s to the 90s. Dave Russel playing his seminal poem/slide piece "Nobody ever gets off at this bus stop" and "Bicycle boy". I still have a copy if his incredible poetry entitled "The Exacting Modality of the World Web" (that was written long before the Internet).

My contribution was occasionally backing Raggy Farmer, doing one or two gigs alone, playing in the "Brockley Brothers" with Les French and in late Saturday night blues sessions.

Russ Shipton released an album of 12 performers "Live at Bunjies" in 1980. May still be a few copies around somewhere.

Other people I remeber were Phil Swallow, Sippy, Brackenwood, Hratch, Dave McGowan....

HRATCH is living in East Sussex and doing a Gig at the White Horse Folk Club, Bodle Street Green:::...................
Monday 1 November. Hratch Garabedian and Tom Collison plus floor singers. Hratch and Tom were here recently on our "first song" night. Hratch is of Armenian descent and was a key part of the London music scene, appearing regularly at the legendary Bunjies Club in Soho. (He also once opened for Cat Stevens at the Royal Albert Hall). These days he lives in Sussex and will be accompanied tonight by his fine guitarist friend Tom. Don't miss this night, it will be really special!.   
http://www.whitehorsefolk.co.uk/

Long way from Litchfield Street and 1966 I know!

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Jenny Itzcovitz
Date: 13 Sep 10 - 07:52 AM

I was just telling my daughter about Bunjies. Is it still open? Or has it moved elesewhere?

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Steve Martin
Date: 19 Jul 10 - 10:37 AM

I first played in Bunjies when I was thirteen in 1967 and continued playing there often for the next five years. Hratch was the person I remember the most; an excellent singer and willing to lend his Gibson (which he said was on HP) to a young feller. I particularly remember him crying while singing "Swiss Cottage Maneuvers" and still wonder what it meant to him. Al Stewart had long gone by then but his ghost lingered on. I also remember Amory Kane really well together with many of the people who have posted here. Patrick, who did a good rendition of Gordon Lightfoot songs, was also a favourite.

I was pleased to troll through the memories here-thanks!

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,john mc
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 03:48 PM

Bunjies was wonderful. I used to go there regularly on a Friday night and saw a variety of very good people, but best of all was Al Stewart. And I am so old that I saw him BEFORE he released his first LP Bedsitter Images in 1967.

Jo-Anne Kelly (best white woman blues singer) also sang there - generally on a Sunday.

There was a particularly good singer / guitarist called "Hratch" - who just seemed to disappear - despite being so talented.

In the mid 60s the Apple Strudel with cream was legendary - accompanied by a cup of coffee in a glass cup and saucer - and of course the ever present halo of cigarette smoke.

A couple of friends of mine worked there for a while - a very cultured Indian guy called "Rizvi" and an American lady from california called susan popovic.

A thoroughly wonderful place which was so right for its time.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Gez
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 06:23 PM

The duo who played Al Stewart's "Roads to Moscow" was Brackenwood.. Clive Buckingham and ... er... me... Gez Wenham :-)

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Morgan
Date: 08 May 10 - 12:31 AM

I was the Omelette Chef at Bunjies in the years of Joe Ann Kelly, Sandy Denny, Mike McCann. Lou Hart was the Boss then. We the staff were all young hopeful Musso's, seeking the fame that touches some and seems always to be just beyond the grasp of others. I came out og the Kitchen for a smoke one evening and a girl came to me and asked "Is Cat still at work? He's the dishwasher." "Cat who?" I asked. "Stevens." She replied. "He's gone home" I told her and that was it. We were all mussos, we all shared what we had. Bunjies was like a birds nest with a perpetual house full of fledglings: And when they learned to fly they left the nest. It's a busy life once you take off: But you never forget those mates who buoyed you in the days you were battling.

I got my name Morgan in Bunnjies one night, about 66. I was waiting tables and a friend remarked, "I've got just the name for you Twelve String."
"Oh!" I said "What is it?"
"Morgan" he told me "I've just seen a movie called 'Morgan a suitable case for treatment." I like it I told him and went to the cellar to door a floor spot with Sandy Denny: The first time I stood up as Morgan.
I'd been thinking about this 'Morgan' character and thought he must be a pretty cool dude.
"Tell me about Morgan" I asked my friend.
"Well" he replied, "He's this dude who dresses up as in a gorilla suit and races round town mowing people with an Uzi!"
Too Late!! I was Morgan and have remained so.

Noel Murphy, my mentor, used to introduce me on his show as Morgan a suitable Treat for Casement.

Nice meeting you all.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: GUEST,Vivi-Ann
Date: 26 Feb 10 - 03:19 PM

I loved the cellar, -the music, the coffe and cheese-cake. I often visited the place in 1967 and sometimes in -69.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 09:18 PM

Anyone else know or heard of the above-mentioned Dave Russell? I used to know someone of that name (though he lived in Surrey then), always wondered what happened to him, and wondered if it might be the same guy...

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 04:02 PM

Oh yes, I remember Simon.

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 03:35 PM

A colleague at work, who knew I was involved in folk music, introduced me, in the early 1980s, to another fellow employee who played at Bunjie's (Simon Prager).

Kitty

Subject: RE: Bunjies folk cellar coffee house
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 05:46 AM

It wasn't my link I'm afraid, so don't know why it was removed.
In my day, Theo Johnson, and Roger Evans used to do nights at Bunjies, neither of them are with us any more I'm afraid.
Anybody remember the Barge Club at Kingston on Thames, which Theo Johnstone also used to run.