The Montague Arms

The Montague Arms was a music venue located at 289 Queens Road, in the Telegraph Hill ward of Lewisham, on the borders of Peckham and New Cross in south-east London from 1967 until 2018.[1] The pub venue was known for its eccentric decor; which included old fishing-boat lights, a 19th Century carriage containing a stuffed zebra, and an old diving suit.[2][3][4]

For the pub in Roehampton, see Montague Arms.

The Montague Arms
Location289 Queens Rd,
Lewisham,
London, SE15
OwnerPeter Hoyle (1967–2014)
Noel Gale (2014–2018)
Capacity150
Opened1967
Closed2018

History

The Montague Arms was owned by Peter Hoyle from 1967, and managed by Stan and Bet Pownall who ran it until their deaths in 2012. The pub reopened in 2014 under the ownership of Noel Gale.[1]

Whilst in charge Hoyle regularly performed, along with Peter London, as The Two Petes. They covered popular rock and pop songs with London on keyboards and vocals and Hoyle on drums.[5] The duo put out a series of albums recorded live at the venue in the 1970s.[6]

It once bore a sign reading 'Tourists Welcome, Coaches Welcome' as, before the launch of the Eurostar and availability of cheap flights to mainland Europe, it was a regular stopping point for those headed to the ferry at Dover.[2]

In the 1970s, as well as live music, the pub also hosted live comedy. Mike Reid and Jim Davidson performed there early in their careers.[5]

Pub interior, 2014

The pub was the location of a round table interview with Nick Cave, Mark E Smith, and Shane MacGowan published in the NME in 1989. The trio also took part in an impromptu jam session on the pub's small stage with Cave on organ, Smith on guitar and MacGowan on drums.[7][8]

In January 2018 the current managers were forced to make some of the pub’s eight bar staff redundant and cancel upcoming gigs at short notice after they were informed that the pub had been sold.[1] A Change.org petition was set up imploring the new owners to keep the venue as a live music venue which received over 9,000 signatures.[4]

For its last three years it was the venue for an independently run LGBTQ+ friendly clubnight called Passionate Necking,[1][4] as well as a monthly DIY comedy cabaret, Piñata.

In May 2018 the premises was reopened solely as a pub under new management with a "minimalist" aesthetic.[9]

Despite the community's expectation that it was going to relaunch as a gastropub following the demolition of its iconic stage, the pub concentrated instead on cocktails and games, such as shuffleboard and table football.[10][11] The pub failed to draw in enough custom and shut its doors again in July 2019.

Artists to play The Montague Arms

References
  1. Garcia, Francisco (1 March 2018). "Why the sudden closure of London venue The Montague Arms matters". Dazed. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  2. "Montague Arms Bars and pubs Nunhead". Time Out. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  3. Chandler, Mark (5 March 2012). "Closing time for New Cross pub The Montague Arms". News Shopper. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  4. Johnston, Katherine (16 January 2018). "Peckham's historic Montague Arms calls time". Southwark News. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  5. "The Entertainers: 'The Two Petes' are the house band at The Montague Arms". 28 June 2008. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  6. "Peter Hoyle Discography". Discogs. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  7. O'Hagan, Sean; Brown, James (24 January 2018). "Rock's Backpages – When Mark Met Nick & Shane: Three Horsemen Of The Apocalypse". The Quietus. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  8. O'Hagan, Sean (30 August 2014). "Nick Cave: from Birthday Party boy to Bad Seed and beyond". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  9. May 11, Selina (8 May 2018). "Popular music venue The Montague Arms reopens as gastropub despite public backlash". Eastlondonlines. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  10. Richards, Laura (22 June 2018). "The Montague Arms". Time Out. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  11. "Montague Arms, Peckham". Whatpub.com. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcT7_k7pVas&feature=youtu.be
  13. "The Montague Arms Past concerts". Songkick. Retrieved 1 March 2018.

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