Pub Rock By The Water ๐ฃ๐บ
I recently took a couple of trips up to different parts of London, on all occasions the weather was quite pleasant i.e. sunny and warm. The first started at Stratford where I hopped the 308 bus towards Clapton (it's not an area I had ever been to before so it would be a bit of a mystery).
The bus ride wasn't too bad, it was quite nice to see around the other side of Stratford that I haven't been to before, it has certainly built up since the Olympics were held there, lots of new housing, restaurants etc.
Anchors, Hopes & Street Art๐ป
I hopped off before Clapton just at Millfields Park, it was nice to see people enjoying the weather, walking their dogs, laying in the park, playing football etc. I carried on to the main road and threw a right (in the opposite direction to Clapton) and headed along the road until I hit the river Lea, just before the river there is a lovely looking old church which is now the Chan Khong Monastery with its wonderful wind chimes, along from that there is a wall (not sure if it is temporary) containing a bunch of Super Mario stylee street art.
Straight ahead on at the side of the water sits the lovely Princess of Wales pub with a garden overlooking the water. Crossing over the road you can follow the Capital Ring path along the waterside which heads all the way up to Walthamstow and beyond. I strolled along taking in the sites dodging the cyclists and joggers finally hitting on a lovely old pub called The Anchor And Hope where I enjoyed a welcome sit down and a pint by the waterside, whilst relaxing enjoyed the company of some other people out on a lovely day with their crazy Springer Spaniel (who got up to all sorts of mischief!), an adorable hound though.
Duke's Heads & Half Moons๐ป
So, for this journey I had started around Fulham and Parsons Green. Must say I wasn't so taken with the scenery so, I hopped the tube and onto Putney a place that I have been quite a few times. I quite like it there, it is right on the banks of the Thames, plenty of shops, eateries and old pubs as well as being near Fulham Palace Gardens which you can catch at my previous post Fulham Fallout โข. Exhausted in the heat by walking and trotting in and out of shops I decided I just needed a sit down and pint by the river so popped into the lovely pub right on the bank called The Duke's Head where I sat outside and being as it was Spring suddenly hit the most horrendous sneezing fit, I have to say I don't usually get a reaction to pollen, but this year it seems to have caught me. I remembered the last time we were in Putney I wanted to pop into a legendary music venue (but sadly didn't get the chance), but on this occasion I had the time, so I headed the short way down the road to an old pub called The Half Moon. It still appears to have music nights going on and in fact whilst there several people rolled up with instruments getting ready to set up.
The pub has been a music venue since the 1960's originally beginning with the blues and folk sounds and at the time with acts such as John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Alexis Korner and the Yardbirds. In later years acts such as Elvis Costello, U2 and even Kate Bush's very first performance! A lovely pub and worth the visit if you get the chance.
Anyway following on with the general theme of this post (which is pubs, in case you hadn't noticed) I leave you all with a little pub rock/garage rock classic originally recorded by a US band The Standells back in the 1960's and revived by a UK Pub Rock band called The Inmates in 1979 and released on the Independent Radar Records label, the track is called 'Dirty Water', kind of reminding me of London and the Thames (although much cleaner than it used to be!).
"But I love that dirty water
Oh, London, you're my home..."
If you like that whole pub rock or garage rock sound you can catch more on this site at the links. Until next time enjoy whatever you get up to!๐ป
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Picture Sources
Photo by Georg Eiermann on Unsplash
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