The Knowhere Guide

The Local Music Scene in Bethnal Green and Hackney, Greater London*

Bethnal Green and Hackney, Greater London Record Shops and Venues

Record Shops

• At the time 1973-Now: P&J Records Mare st; (Bernies - Past Managers:Terry Jones,Jeff Linstead & Mick Evans)19-- / 1998 Head Records Lower Clapton rd;(Martin's)19-- / 1978 (Became G&M Records) G&M Records Lower Clapton rd; (Martin & Mo 1978 / 90 - Past Managers:Colin & Mick) Sgt; Peppers Music Well st; (Alex)19-- / 1987 Regal Records Lower Clapton rd; (Eddies) 19-- / Now (Reggae Specialist) Wired for Sound Narrow Way Mare st; (Colin's)1990 / Now (RnB & Club Specialists) HMV Oxford st; & Tower Records Leicester sq; (For Anything !beats everywhere local for choice and price).
• i go to HMV
• Living in Hackney, thank goodness for internet shopping. A stroll down Berwick St. taking in Select a disc and Sister Rays is still bliss though!
• There's a shop on Lower Clapton Road across from a petrol station. It's does the best pre-release Jamaican stuff I've seen. It's on left as you go towards the Clapton Roundabout just after Powerscroft Road.
• There's always a bargain to be had at the Bethnal Green Woolworths. People would always look on market stalls for 6 inch vinyls, my dad had a huge collection. I use to like the star shaped disc that needed inserting in centre of the record inorder for it to turn on the player.
• The best record shop has gone P&J's in Mare Street, spent my teenage years in there every Thursday with my mate Carol with Terry and Dave who worked in there, Bernie the Guv'nor is a star
• Very few people had a record player.They were all 78's anyway and any thing younger than Al jolson was great,Although later Bill Haley appeared which livened things up.I was born 53.
• Woolworths. Bethnal Green Road.....market opertunity.
• Pauls for Music--Good for soul and garage served by a big nosed git with a big wardrobe full of cash hidden in the back of his shop somewhere.
• Paul for music - Cambridge Heath Road opposite Sainsburys - anyone who's read Hi Fidelity by Nick Hornsby will feel like they've been there already
• Totem is a cool shop on Church Street it has a good mix of all kinds of music at reasonable prices.

Clubs (Dance Music) and Music Bars

• Back in the day: Gucchi's(88-90)Victoria Park Road E9,Poser's club E9(Duragon)(81-83)off of Homerton High st;,Flamingo's(77-80)Hackney Marhses E10,Prince of Wales(78-82)Kingsland rd;,Black Bull(78-80)Candy st;Hoxton,Spread Eagle(76-82) Homerton High st;,Follies Bar(81-83) Lauriston rd;,Manhattans(76-80)Cadogan Terrace E9,Beachcombers (78-80) Cambridge Heath rd E2;(Now Metropolis),Elton's (79-82)Tottenham High rd;,Shanell's (78-81) Stoke Newington High rd; N.16,Clarendon Pub(92-95)Balcorne st; E9,The Joiners (92-95)Bethnal Green rd;
• Another non starter localy as far as I'm concerned.
• Mindfluid at Soshomatch, 2 Tabernacle Street, EC2
• Lime Bar......when it decides to open???
• lots of strip clubs, Browns, Metropolis etc..
• The Tekno undeground - Pendragon at Tyssen Street, various things at Trenz (Amhurst Rd.) and the All Nations. Squat parties, lots of.

Live Music Venues

• The Leisure Lounge,Bethnal Green Rd Tea, corner of Bethnak Green Rd and Bishopsgate. Church outside Bethnal Grn Tube, occasional classical music concerts.
• The Pleasure Unit - has launched the career of many east end bands.
• Despite being a public money pit and having an inept bookings policy, the Ocean on Mare Street is technically the best live venue in London, no question. Only in Hackney could such a wonderful facility be so underused. Chats Palace in Homerton has good free acoustic jams on Tuesdays
• Ocean is not bad. Unfortunately not many pubs have live music these days
• The Globe in Morning Lane, blues jam run by a mad China man known as Billy Chong - Terry to his friend - the good the bad and lots of the very ugly. Great fun on a Monday night though. Thursday traditional singalong, loads of real old boys singing old boys songs, but some real talent, I think this does the ocasionaly Saturday now but not sure. Trad jazz with Sunday Lunch... my favorite boozer in case you hadn't guessed. Fridays suck though as it's Karokee
• The Lord Cecil in Hackney across from the Hackney Baths (beginning of 'murder mile' in Clapton) is the best thing in the area for music and hanging out. Friendly couple run it and there's more odd ball characters in there than is natural. I knew I was in Hackney when I sat down.
• Most Music halls have disappeared in the east end the only one thats worth mentioning is The Hackney Empire i guess
• - Ocean on Mare Street. Massive.
• The Duke of York, Bethnal Green. For the best of UK house and andGarage......and the friendly dog.
• Best night out on Bethnal Green Road: The Old George. The Guvnor looks like one of Chas N Dave. Mix of all generations. Top night out.

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Credits

Last updated: 2007-11-06