JACQUARD, THE

Originally the redundant White Lion Public House, the building was bought by local brothers Tony and Albert Cooper in 1971 and converted into a dedicated Jazz, Folk and Blues club.

 The brothers had already been responsible for starting the Jacquard Folk Club at The Mischief Tavern back in 1964. Albert incidentally was the voice and guitarist of the club’s resident band The Jacquards and remained so throughout all incarnations of the club, while Tony had originally helped run the Riverside Jazz Club at the Thorpe Gardens Public House and later at Studio 4 on Crown Road.

 During the venue’s formative years you could expect see the likes of: Ronnie Scott, Stephane Grapelli, George Melly, Vinegar Joe featuring Elkie Brooks and local resident bands such as The Vintage Hot Orchestra. It is said the club closed down in 1978 due to lower attendances brought on by the opening of new city venue Premises, who booked a similar programme of entertainment.

 The club survived new management and became a regular haunt for Punk, Indie and Goth bands in the eighties, hosting gigs by well-known local acts such as The Farmers Boys and John Peel favourites The Higsons. In the mid eighties it changed its name to Santanas before a brief spell back as The Jacquard, finally closing in August 1992. Today the building is a private dwelling to the right of Hartley’s Yard.

SCENES: ‘70s Jazz, Folk, Blues / ‘80s & ‘90s Punk, Indie, Goth