23 replies to this topic

[Alan]

Who remembers pubs where they used to have an old piano with a pianist who'd get all the boozers singing either the popular songs of the day or, if they had an older clientelle, all the oldies? Even the Sefton Arms had a pianist. One of the old pubs on Cooper Street (Turks Head?) used to have great singing nights

[brunty]

alan all thats gone now anyone caught singing in a pub now is asked to kindly leave the premises,all these pubs want now is kareoki i remember a chap named bernard barnes a boss at unigate who was a fair pianist getting down to play
the piano in a local pub and after 10 minutes was asked to drink up and go.

[Griffin]

When I lived at the Toll Bar in the eighties, I used to walk up to the Grange Park Hotel on a Sunday night. No longer there now. It's become a block of apartments. They used to have a pianist, quite a young man who lived just a bit further down Prescot Road. No knees-up, though. His signature tune seemed to be "Sous les Ponts de Paris." The Fleece, at the same time, had a very sophisticated bar which appealed to the yuppies. There, there was a modern electronic player piano. Instead of a paper roll, it seemed to be controlled from the bar, but it was quite spooky to see it playing with no human assistance.

[Alan]

I know Bruntyed. A shame though isn't it!

[Allan]

i remember chessies on a sat night also one in westfield st where they would ask for volunteers to sing,lots of pubs had good singing nights.

[kes]

Ken Dodd used to be a regular at chessies, do his act for a couple of pints, and Jonny Kennedy, ended up a DJ on one of the local Radio Stations, used to come on his bike!still had his bike clips on when singing. Another was Billy Cordin, if anyone remembers him, ?a very funny man and good compere. Then you had your local singers , Bill Hanks, Jim Beddows, and Johnny Meadows. All good turns as they say. The list is endless.

[brunty]

kendy two you missed out johnny goontweed and jimmy conway.

[Allan]

bruntyed long time sinces i heard the name Johnny ( goon ) Tweed saw him lots at the garrick club in leigh he use to compere on tues night.

[eddiedunc]

Saw some good acts there Alan

[kes]

The Garrick compere as was still lives in Leigh, Roy Hastings a good friend of mine.

[eddiedunc]

Do you remember his signature tune?

[kes]

No.

[eddiedunc]

This could be the start of something big

[kes]

No it wont eddie, your not dragging me into another argument.

[eddiedunc]

The song you plonker Rodney