The Forest Gate drinkers’ guide

It is almost a decade since we last featured a Forest Gate drinkers’ guide (see here for 2015 round-up and here and here for the previous ones). Unsurprisingly there have been many changes and some closures, but overall there now is a more varied range of watering holes for the thirsty.

There have been two significant closures. The Live and Let Live on Romford Road, has closed as a pub, but seems to be some kind of accommodation address now, and round the corner to it, the Wetherspoons Hudson Bay has gone. This is surprising, as it always appeared to be busy thoughout the extensive opening hours, with both drinkers and diners.  It went last year and is to be replaced, on site, by an Islamic social centre.

Almost all of the pubs we have previously featured have undergone significant changes in ownership in bids to keep up with changing trends and demands. There is now a pretty significant division between those venues patronised by the older, perhaps more traditional, local population and the younger set of incomers, in addition to a couple of essentially exclusively Asian bars.  The range of options currently available offers something for almost all drinking tastes and type of venue.

The local drinkers’ venues have been expanded by the arrival of local micro brewery’s Pretty Decent Beer Company, which joins the Wanstead Tap in offering a different kind of drinking within a railway arch, off the beaten track. The railway arches have had a mixed history over recent years: Tracks, off Avenue Road, arrived and disappeared, as has Burgess and Hall, next to the Tap - although some drinking presence survives. The Ciderhouse opened next to Tracks. It seems to have very limited opening hours and would appear to be mainly a venue for hire

This time we have included Giovanna’s on Woodgrange Road, although it is more a restaurant/wine bar than pub, it does have a beer garden, so on that basis, meets a criterion for inclusion!

We are also looking at a couple of private clubs for the first time: the Century Bar and St Antony’s and have added the Rising Sun to the review list, which seemed to have dropped off our radar in previous round-ups. Having visited a number of times recently, its easy to explain the oversight.

In a rough price comparison guide, we have replaced the former Stellaometer with a Guinness Guzzler’s Guide (being the most universally available beer in the UK) at the end of this review, although a couple of the venues don’t sell the black stuff.

At the end of each review we give the latest Food Standards Agency food hygeine ratings.

Enjoy the read, and cheers!

Century Bar and Restaurant

Address: 454 Romford Road.

Web address: www.century.london

Background: Fondly known as a Desi pub (one owned or managed by a landlord of Indian origin), the Century was established by Kenyan Asian, Peter Patel, in 1988. He established it to provide a safe haven for Asian drinkers in an area where they often felt unsafe, from racist abuse in local pubs (see here for an explanation).  When he first opened the bar Peter was threatend by another, wholly unexpected, menace: Asian thugs seeking protection money. The close proximity to Forest Gate police station helped see off that challenge. Peter stayed for 30 years before retiring. Although branded as a club, membership is not required to eat or drink there.

Opening hours: Mon: closed. Tues-Thurs: 5pm – 11pm. Fri: 5pm – 1 am. Sat: 3pm – 1 am. Sun: 3pm – 11 pm.

They say: Describes itself as and Indian restaurant and and cocktail bar. “A space for relaxed social dining … draws its inspiration from the vibrancy of the culture, art and music, including an innovative spiritual modern India”.

We say: It's more of an Indian restaurant than drinking den, but there is a bar at the entrance with half a dozen beers on tap that welcomes casual drinkers, without question. Friendly staff. The restaurant has an extensive menu 50:50 vegetarian and non vegetarian, although no vegan options. The decor and furnishings are smart although unremarkable. There are a couple of large screen TVs showing, not surprisngly Asian stations.

FSA says: 5 stars.

Forest Tavern

 

Address: 173 Forest Lane.

Web address: www. foresttavern.co.uk

Background: Called the Railway Tavern until 2013, for obvious reasons, it was then taken over and revamped by Antic pub chain, as the Forest Tavern. They held it for a decade, after which it was taken over again by gastropub chain Portobello, and revamped again. The refurb has opened up its rather splendid facia board (see photo). The pub was originally opened by Holt and Co of East Ham, who were taken over by Cannon Brewery of Clerkenwell in 1922, who erected the facia in 1925. Cannon, themselves were taken over by Taylor Walker in 1930, and later by Allied Breweries, until their sale to Antic.

Opening hours: Mon – Thurs: 11am – 11pm, Fri-Sat 11am – 12pm. Sun 11 am – 10.30pm.

They say: “We’re conveniently situated right by Forest Gate station and just a 5 minute stroll from Wanstead Park” (they probably mean Flats, unless they “stoll” at 12mph!).

We say: It has a weekly quiz night on a Tuesday and monthly supper club (£50 a head). The pub regularly features live jazz, hosts a monthly Forest Gayte Pride night and frequently sponsors charities, such as the Magpie Project. There is a large “back room”, which doubles up as its restaurant and an outside paved area/garden that can probably accommodated 50 people. It has an extensive – vegan friendly – menu, which is on the pricey side, with a great Sunday Roast offer. It has range of interesting drinks (including some Pretty Decent Beer Co options – see below). It offers £4 pints between noon and 7pm Mondays – Fridays. It has no TV, or other distracting entertainment. It is a busy pub, catering mainly for the younger, middle class “Nouveaux Gater” set.

FSA says: Awaiting inspection, since the Portobello takeover.

Forest Gate Hotel

Address: 105 Godwin Rd.

Web address: www.theforestgatehotel.co.uk

Background: A traditional east-end boozer that has fallen on hard times. It had serious drug-dealing issues over a decade ago, which seem to have been overcome, but the anti-dealing messages in the pub remain a reminder of those times. We gave it a poor review a decade ago, and things seem to have got worse since; so, both the comedy and music clubs they ran then, along with the bar food, have dropped off their offerings.

Opening hours: Who knows? No indication on website, or inside or outside the pub, other than a vague statement "open all day".

They say: “Pub in the backstreets of Forest Gate, with a relaxed atmosphere. Spacious single bar, with some nice features like three columns (??!!), bar-back and counter. Sports TV, pool, darts, rear patio, a function room.”

We say:  Two large screens for live sport, often MTV music. Pool, darts, a one-armed bandit, pub quiz nights on Wednesdays, Karaoke on Thursdays and a DJ on Fridays. It is incredible how this place remains open. There are very few customers and the décor is poor and beer the choice absolutely minimal and fizzy.  The substantial hall at the back that is rarely used.  It seems to operate mainly as a cheap hotel, with the rack rate being £66 per night for a double room with bed and breakfast. The Trip Advisor reviews are horrific; the 46 of them average a 2/5 (poor) score, with some grim stories to accompany the ratings.

FSA says: 3 stars, up from 2 in 2014 and 1 in 2015.

Fox and Hounds

 

Address: 178 Forest Lane.

Web address: Craft Union Pub Co

Background: The pub has changed hands and landlords a few times over recent years, and was even shut for a few months a decade or so ago, but it has bounced back to become a very busy boozer.

Opening hours: Advertised as: Sun – Thurs: 11am – 11pm. Fri -Sat: 11am – 12 pm. But seems to have started opening at 10 a.m.

They say: "The Fox and Hounds is a great example of a 1930's East London public house, equipped with unique features like fire places and a through around bar. It is about as typical as a boozer gets with a pool table, fruit machines and jukebox."

We say: Difficult to get a greater contrast of pub than with the Forest Gate Tavern, just 4 doors along (for confirmation, see Guinness prices at the end)! Their self-description (above), like the pub itself, could not be less pretentious. Following the closure of the Hudson Bay, last year, it’s the cheapest and busiest pub in the area, by some distance. It is always lively with an older, long-established, very multi-cultural and harmonious customer base. The bar staff are always pleasant and welcoming.  It has a juke box, half a dozen sports TVs, and a pool table; it is a hive of activity. The food offering is pretty much restricted to crisps and peanuts, but it’s a pub and has no pretentions of being a restaurant. There’s an outside, paved area, with some shelter, that can accommodate upto 30 people  – a haven for smokers, but hardly an oasis.

FSA says: 5 stars.

Giovanna’s

 

Address: 58 Woodgrange Road.

Web address: www.giovannas.co.uk

Background: Opened 4 years ago, it is a family run business, inspired by the owners’ parents and grandparents who emigrated to Newham in the 1950s, opening the Windsor Restaurant, also on Woodgrange Road, followed by Marco’s Café on the Victoria Dock Road.

Opening hours: Mons: closed. Tues – Thurs: 11.30 am – 10.30pm, Fri – Sat: 10 am – 11pm. Sun 11 – 5pm.

They say: “We are an independent Italian deli, wine shop and bar focussing on selling quality Mediterranean produce to the Forest Gate Community.“

We say: A delightful addition to the local drinking and eating scene on Woodgrange Road. It is a “living wage employer” with charming and friendly staff, headed by owners Alex and Vic. There is a lovely Italian deli counter and short, but tasty, menu of fresh food. Small, but interesting range of mainly Italian food from the café/bar/restaurant/shop. They have three beers on tap and many of their food products are from small, independent, ethically-sourced producers. Outside dining with tables and chairs on Woodgrange Road and space for around 30 in pleasant back beer garden area. There is a large, comfortable downstairs dining room, with seating for 20, available for hire.

FSA says: 4 stars.

Golden Fleece (honorary mention, as a popular venue for many Forest Gaters)

 

Address: 166 Capel Rd.

Web address: www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/greater-london/golden-fleece

Background: A mainstay and focal point for the local, and Manor Park, communities. It has changed hands a number of times during its history. A decade ago we said: ”It is now owned by John Barras pubs, an old north-east England brewery which rebranded itself in 2010 as a pub chain, along Chef and Brewer lines.” It has subsequently been taken over by East Anglain brewers, Greene King.

Opening hours: Sun – Thurs: 11.30 am – 11pm. Fri-Sat: 11.30 am – midnight.

They say: “A great local pub, in the heart of the community, with friendly service and honest pricing.”

We say: The pub, offers a wide range of guest beers and a 10% discount for CAMRA members on selected pints. A substantial menu, with reasonable prices; though the quality of the food varies greatly, depending on the duty chef. It is a popular pub facing Wanstead Flats with sizeable beer garden with children’s play area. There is plenty of scope for spilling over into the Flats on hot summer days. The pub offers TNT and Sky Sports (mainly football and rugby) on 5 large screens and can be packed when West Ham, Spurs or international rugby feature. Frequent live music and karaoke events – see website for details. Does a busy post-funeral trade, being the nearest pub to both the City of London and Manor Park cemeteries. 260 TripAdvisor Reviews, average 4/5 stars.

FSA says: 5 stars.

 Holly Tree

Address: 141 Dames Road.

Web address: thehollytreepub.co.uk

Background: Had always been a reasonably popular pub, with a history dating back to 1870, with more potential than customers. It looked as if it may have suffered the fate of many under-used street corner pubs and become replaced by a block of flats. But it underwent a major refurbishment after it was taken over by Remarkable Pubs in 2019. Remarkable was founded in 1985 and has subsequently acquired over 15 Georgian and Victorian pubs in London (including the Boleyn Tavern on Barking Road) and restored them to their former glories. The Leyton Engineer is to follow soon. It has to be said they have done a magnificent job in all those in the chain that we have visited.

Opening hours: Mon – Weds: 5pm – 11pm. Thurs – Sat: noon – 11pm, Sun: noon – 9pm.

They say: “Following an extensive refurbishment in 2019, a new kitchen has been installed serving delicious food daily, including superb Sunday roasts. The huge garden has been landscaped and the large pub interior refurbished with a classic look and feel including the much desired cosy snug with real fire.”

We say: It is in a great location, on the edge of Wanstead Flats, with a children’s playground opposite. Children are welcome in the pub and at times can delight in a fully functioning minature railway (£1 a ride, for two circuits). Half of the pub is “child-free”, and dogs are permitted in certain areas; so all preferences are catered for. There are lots of options for outside dining and drinking and a substantial conservatory and glass annexe which are particularly suitable for visitors with children. It has become a very popular pub, particulary on Sunday lunchtimes, when young families can enjoy a drink and meal, with plenty of distractions for the youngsters.

FSA says 5 stars.

Pretty Decent Beer Co

 

Address: Arch 340, Sheridan Rd.

Web address: www. prettydecentbeer.co

Background. Started off as a brewhouse in Forest Gate about six years ago, which soon grew and opened up a tap room a few arches away, just before the onset of COVID, at current address. The brewhouse became so successful that in December 2022 they needed to double its capacity, but they could no longer be easily accommodated in Forest Gate. They moved to the Blackhorse Beer Mile, in Walthamstow, leaving the tap room behind in Sheridan Road.

Opening hours: Weds: 2pm-10pm. Thurs – Fri: 4pm-11pm. Sat: noon-11pm. Sun: noon -8pm.

They say: “Every beer sold includes a donation to causes driving change for the good ... Our  taproom is an inclusive neighbourhood spot where everyone feels welcome to sit down, relax and enjoy themselves. We brew a diverse range of modern, seasonal beers so there is always something new on the taps to try. We have 12 beers on tap, a full wine list and spirits from local legends Victory Gin. We also have gluten free and no alcohol beer - so something for everyone!”

We say: Offers a monthly subscription service, that delivers to your door. There is a small bar showcasing a dozen or so of the varied and interesting range of beers brewed by the company – many on tap, others in cans.. It can accommodate about 40 people, inside and out. There are “Happy hours” on most days; between 5pm and 9pm Weds and Thurs and between noon and 6pm on Sats and Suns, when prices are just £4 on all “core” pints. The bar hosts a Japanese kitchen offering about a dozen options on Fri-Sun afternoons. The “good causes” they have supported have included local initiatives like Clapton FC, Newham Solidarity Fund and the Magpie Project.

This bar and brewery are a great local success story. Use them or lose them!

FSA says: 4 stars.

Rising Sun

 

Address: 528 Romford Road.

Web address: www.the-rising-sun-london.edan.io

Background: Ex Bass-Charrington pub which has clearly seen better days and is unlikely to revisit them. Has recently been on the property market and presumably would be replaced by a street corner block of flats; although thi                          s may be difficult, as the pub is locally listed by Newham Council.

Opening hours: Sun – Thurs: 1pm – midnight, Fri-Sat: 1pm – 2 a.m. (frequently closed during some of these advertised hours).

They say: Big screen, Sky Sports, Pool tables, Karaoke Fri-Sun, authentic Indian food, resident DJ.

We say: Another Desi pub! Overwhelmingly 40 years plus male Asian customers enjoying Bollywood karaoke 4 nights a week. Small public bar at front, with shabby furniture. Larger back room with four pool tables, features quite large card games. Reluctant to take credit cards at the bar, stating a £10 min.

FSA says: 4 stars.

St Antony’s Catholic Club

Address: The Red House, 13 Upton Ave.

Web address: www.theredhouse-sacc.co.uk

Background: This Grade 2 listed building has a proud history (see here), which has fallen on hard times in recent years. It was established as a Cathoilc Social club in 1907, but changing local demographics has meant that it struggles, financially, to survive today. It was bailed out a few years ago, to have its exterior and façade refurbished, in order to preserve its Grade 2 listed status, but the inside is dreary and is in desperate need of a similar revamp. The trouble is, that it’s in the wrong place! Like the Old Spotted Dog a couple of hundred yards away (see here) for its great history), it is off the beaten track, as far as decent transport links are concerned and survives within a relatively poor area with a very limited local drinking culture. Nobody can afford to do it (or the OSD) up and so it languishes. With better transport and within a more affluent and alcohol-friendly area of London, both venues would be ideal Remarkable or similar chain targets and busy thriving club/pubs. They have neither, however, and an uphill struggle against the odds seems on the cards for both establishments.

Opening hours: Tues – Fri: 7.30pm – 11pm. Sat and Sun: 11am – 11pm

They say: “A social meeting place for members of the Catholic community in Forest Gate. The club was built on key Catholic principles”.

We say: It provides a Jazz night every Wednesday, from 8.30, priced £3 to non-members. The club hosts a regular summer party and occasional games, wine and steak nights tasting nights. Unsurprisingly, it hosts a major St Patrick’s Night party. Beware of advertised opening hours. We visited on four separate occasions within the advertised hours to find it closed.

FSA says: 5 stars.

Wanstead Tap

Address: Arch 352 Winchelsea Rd.

Web address: www.thewansteadtap.com

Background: The Tap has been opened for a decade now, confounding the naysayers who predicted that it wouldn’t last five minutes tucked away in a railway arch, well off the beaten track in the Waltham Forest bit of Forest Gate. Owner and mine host, Dan Clapton, had spent some time before opening the venue selling a variety of interesting beers on market stalls and at festivals, before taking the gamble on establishing what is now a Forest Gate drinking and cultural institution.

Opening hours: Mon – Tues: closed, Weds – Thurs -open at 4pm, Fri – Sun: open from noon.

They say: “Award winning bar and venue”.

We say: Dan and the Tap have come on a remarkable journey, from selling cans of beer to establishing a venue of note. They have battled through COVID and massive rent hikes and have survived by innovation. It is now the district’s only go-to spot for cultural events – large numbers of high quality book events in conjunction with Newham Bookshop and live music is gradually returning. Big televised sporting events often get sell out sessions, sometimes accompanied by good food from local suppliers. Next up – regular live podcasts. That should be interesting!

FSA says: 4 stars.

 Guinness guzzlers’ guide

Century Bar and Restaurant: £5 (when available)

Forest Tavern: £6.20

Forest Gate Hotel: £4.20

Fox and Hounds: £3.55

Giovanna’s: No stout

Golden Fleece: £4.90

Holly Tree: £5.75

Pretty Decent Beer Co: No Guinness, but their own milk stout: £5.20, or £4.00 during “happy hours”.

Rising Sun: £5.00

St Antony’s Club: Unable to find out, because unable to access.

Wanstead Tap: £5.75 for the Pretty Decent Beer's stout (see above)

Kenney Jones in E7 - Now and Then!

Kenney Jones, one- time drummer of The Small Faces, The Faces and The Who, last week returned to his east end roots and performed at the Wanstead Tap, where he discussed his autobiography, Let The Good Times Roll, with rock journalist Paolo Hewitt, in one of the Tap's great book collaborations with the Newham Bookshop. A most enjoyable evening, it was, too.

Above - the book.
Below - the signing

Kenney was born in Stepney, a couple of months after the NHS was established, and has come a long way since. His career as a rock musician, had Mod written through it, in much the same way as seaside rock has the name of the resort through it.

He  now owns  a Surrey polo club, hob-nobbing with the likes of Prince Charles on the pitch, and has swapped the Lambrettas for the  Lambourghinis.

Kenney playing polo with his new mate
Prince Charles at his Hurtwood Park
polo club, in Surrey

His story - as told in his book, and elsewhere - is a fascinating one and owes some huge debts to Forest Gate. What follows is a recollection of some of those, and a consideration of his life and times in music and beyond.

Kenney - the second "e" was added to distinguish him from other entertainers with similar names in the 60's - is a self described "Stepney Herbert", who was gripped by music in his early teens, and ventured over to Forest Gate:

Local dance clubs offered another opportunity to hear great music. At weekends we would queue for venues such as the Lotus in Forest Gate (ed: Kenny Johnson's venue - see footnote) , which initially, played dance records before it began hosting bands.

While in the area, he came across the J60 Music Bar at 445 High Street North, Manor Park - long gone (see photo below, today). It was, in Jones' words "an Aladdin's cave" and was there he bought his first drum kit, aged 13.

He soon met Stan Lane, who introduced him to his brother, the later bassist, Ronnie, and in no time Kenney was dragging his drums from Stepney to Ronnie's house, at 385 Romford Road to practice, as they began to put a band together.

Kenney links up with Ronnie Lane and starts jamming at his house,

                                     385 Romford Road

It wasn't long before the pair of them were back at the J60 to get a guitar for Ronnie (as he had switched from lead to bass) and ended up jamming in the shop with the Saturday boy, who turned out to be Steve Marriott - to the annoyance of the owner, who soon sacked Marriott for selling the bass to Lane at a cut price.

Ronnie and Kenney meet Steve Marriott (above), the Saturday boy at the J60 Music Bar (recent photo of its later reincarnation), 445 High Street North - and The Small Faces are born

Marriott had been brought up about half way between the J60 and Ronnie Lane's house, at 308  Strone Road. His dad, among other things, had a shell fish stall outside the Ruskin Arms - also on High Street North. The emerging musical trio linked up with the son of the pub's landlord - Jimmy Winston (aka Longwith) - who joined in, on keyboards, but more importantly offered practice space at the back room of the pub for the boys.

Left - 308 Strone Road, where Marriott
was brought up, right The Ruskin Arms,
where the Small Faces began practising seriously

The band gradually emerged and called themselves The Small Faces, because - well, they were all small - around 5'5" each. Winston was soon dropped and replaced by Ian McLagan - and the band took off, locally around 1965.

The opening of the Upper Cut club, on Woodgrange Road was a big occasion for Kenney Jones, both personally and professionally. He tells the story in the book:

My introduction to session work came about as a direct result of meeting Jan Osborne on 21 December 1966, following The Who's performance at the opening night of heavyweight boxer Billy Walker's The Upper Cut Club in Forest Gate, East London. My cousin, Roy, and I attended the gig, after which we met up back stage with Adrienne Posta and her friend Jan.

Jan later became his wife, for about a decade, and they had two children. Her father, Tony, also had a significant influence on the young Kenney. He was a prominent band leader of the day and taught Kenney how to read music, which became an intro for the young drummer to session music. He played this in parallel with his time with the bands. It extended his talents,  repertoire and contacts greatly - and made not a little money on the side for him.

Small Faces - Kenney Jones in front, with the
big checks - just the way he liked it!

The Small Faces were by now making a considerable name for themselves locally and nationally and made a big impact on the Upper Cut within a couple of weeks of it opening - and on a second occasion during the club's year long existence (see press cuttings for the story).

Above - adverts for the Small Faces gigs at the Upper Cut, 6 January 1967 and 8 July, the same year.  Below Stratford Express coverage of their gigs

The autobiography, itself, is Kenney's own slant on the familiar rock star tale of sex, drugs and rock and roll, complete with the touring excesses of scandalous bad boy behaviour.  All the staple elements are there: bands breaking up over "musical differences", bands being ripped off by devious managers/agents/promoters, and the double standards of rockers who toured and played away, but who objected to their WAGS staying at home and playing away.

Kenney Jones performed for the three of the biggest bands of the 60's and 70's - The Small Faces, The Faces and The Who and has lived to tell the tale.

Familiar themes recur in his story. His attitude to money - let's call it careful. His relationship with lead singers (Marriott, Stewart and Daltry) - let's call it feisty. And his attitude to authority - let's call it challenging. Perhaps they are connected and help define the man.

Kenney - far right, with The Faces

He has looked after himself. As his book tells us, and he probably had cause to remind many, he was a distant relation of the Kary twins. He is also a survivor, probably because his excesses were less extreme than many of his contemporaries. 

So, he has outlived the other members of the Small Faces (Steve Marriott died aged 44 in 1991, Ronnie Lane aged 51 in 1997 and Ian McLagan aged 69 in 2014).

Kenney in The Who, second right
and keeping close tabs on Roger Daltrey

He has also survived life as a drummer, an instrument notorious for the self-destruction of its musicians. Keith Moon, of The Who,  died aged 32 in 1978 - to be replaced by Jones. John Bonham of Led Zepplin also died aged 32, in 1980. Cozy Powell of the Jeff Beck Group, Rainbow and Black Sabbath survived until 1998, when he died, aged 51 and Mitch Mitchell who played with the Jimi Hendrix Experience and with Georgie Fame went, aged 62 in 2008.

A Faces reunion in 1993, as a fund raiser for
Ronnie Lane (with stick, in centre) suffering from MS

Kenney Jones' survivor capacity extends beyond the music industry. He is a prostate cancer survivor and a keen supporter of charities associated with it.

He has enjoyed the good life outside of music, too. A helicopter and a fleet of smart cars is never far away from his Surrey polo club, which he admits is proving a drain on his £20m net worth. This, of course,  enables him to mix within circles undreamed of in his Stepney roots. But he has never deserted or disowned them, and was happy to reminisce about his early life and times,  at the Tap.

A recent photo, with ex Faces Ronnie
Wood and Rod Stewart at a fund raiser
for Protate Cancer research, at Kenney
Jones' Guildford polo club

So - a most enjoyable night was had at the 75 people lucky enough to be there (tickets sold out within 2 hours) on an occasion put on by the great local double act of Newham Bookshop and the Wanstead Tap - the entertainment highlight of E7 - now.

Kenney (right), a man at ease talking
about his East End roots to journalist Paolo
Hewitt, at the Wanstead Tap in July 2018

Kenney - left - having a drink
 after his E7 show at the Tap

Footnotes:

1. Let The Good Times Roll, by Kenney Jones is published by Blink Publishing and retails at £20. Copies (some signed) can be obtained from Newham Bookshop - tel: , 745-747 Barking Road, or via their website: www.newhambooks.co.uk  

2. Readers of this article may be interested in the following articles on this site, featuring themes mentioned in it:

The Newham Bookshop History

The Life and Times of Ronnie Lane

Kenny Johnson and the Lotus Club

Small Faces at the Upper Cut Club (1)

Small Faces at the Upper Cut Club (2)

Billy Walker recalls the Upper Cut club

Happy birthday, Newham Bookshop!

The familiar frontage - it is what
it says on the fascia board

Today is  World Book Day, and the beginning of the month in which Newham Bookshop - managed by Forest Gate stalwart, Vivian Archer  - celebrates its 40th anniversary.  In this article we examine its history, the challenges it has faced and its golden autumn.

Thanks all round - but especially
to Newham Bookshop

The bookshop emerged, in March 1978, from an initiative begun five years previously in an attempt to confront low educational achievement in Newham. 1973 saw the establishment of Newham Education Concern (slogan, "stick our NECs out"), in Plaistow, by some concerned parents.

Within two years the pressure group had established the Parents Centre, which thrived for over 20 years, promoting educational advancement in the borough.  One of the Parents' Centre's offshoots was a small publishing arm, which produced a number of fine historic, autobiographic and photo-books celebrating the borough - including those shown in the picture, below.

Some of the Parents' Centre's
impressive publications

Before the Centre was established, local parents could not get hold of good educational materials to help their kids at school, so the idea of an Education Shop emerged.  It was initially located in an old Eel and Pie shop in Prince Regents Lane.

One of the pressure group's founders, and for the last 30 years Secretary of the London Voluntary Sector Training Consortium, Ray Phillips, said this of the present shop's origins:

When we moved to the Boleyn in 1978, we set up a separate company to develop a proper Education Shop for the sale of play materials and books. Later, we were also able to refurbish the double-fronted bookshop, with the now familiar space split between children's and adult ranges. After a difficult start, we never looked back.

Ray wrote that in a booklet to celebrate the shop's silver anniversary in 2003. And the final sentence could not be truer, today.

The shop is community-owned and the management committee consists of volunteers. The overall manager, Vivian Archer, joined the shop 30 years ago. She is ably assisted by another Forest Gate stalwart, John Newman, who manages the children's section. CJ Gajjar, was in charge of that when we visited.

CJ with just some of the extensive children's stock

Vivian's background is in drama.  She studied at the Central School for Speech and Drama in the late 60's, where she made a series of acquaintances - like the Redgraves, Ken Loach and others - who spurred her on. She spent 10 years as a working actor, with roles on both the stage and TV, before moving to the more settling world of bookshop management.

Her first experience was in Hackney, before moving to Newham in the 1980's. She has built up a network of influential literary supporters, including poets John Hegley and Benjamin Zephaniah (who wrote a poem to celebrate their silver jubilee) - and one-time children's laureate, poet and Radio 4 stalwart, Michael Rosen.

Benjamin Zephaniah - an early and loyal supporter

Michael, who will be appearing in one of the events being hosted to celebrate 40 glorious years (see footnote), had this to say about the shop in 2003:

Newham Bookshop is simply the best bookshop I know.  In the years I've had something to do with it, I've seen the way in which it is a place that reaches out to the people who live, work and study nearby. With meetings, signings and readings, the bookshop announces to the community that it is interested in ideas, people, history, education and life itself....

In Michael Rosen's view: "Newham
Bookshop is simply the best bookshop I know"

It is a showcase for what a bookshop should be about and I can only wish that many other booksellers ... would come and see what is possible, when you treat the people ...  with respect and interest. May the bookshop live on and all who work in it!"

Newham Bookshop's survival has been remarkable, and down to the dedicated staff and volunteers who work for and with it.  Consider the challenges it has faced over the last 20 years alone.

Until 1997 a scheme known as the Net Book Agreement (NBA) was in operation - which meant that all new books had to be sold at a publisher's fixed price in every shop and outlet. There was a level playing field in the industry , designed to protect small independents, like Newham Bookshop.

The scrapping of the NBA meant a free-for all in the book market. It saw the emergence of large chains such as Waterstones, who, along with established sellers like WH Smith,  could now bulk purchase, and sell new and popular books at discount.

Supermarkets jumped on the bandwagon too and handpicked pot-boilers and books from popular authors, bulk purchased and sold them - often as lost leads - at huge discounts, sometimes far below the price shops like Newham Bookshop could even purchase them at.

Unlike these 'pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap' competitors,  Newham Bookshop stocks a huge range of books on politics, history, literature and local interest and the children's bookshop is a must for relatives looking for books and educational toys and aids for the very young.

Vivian says that you can almost track the different waves of immigration coming into Newham, by the sales of the various bi-lingual dictionaries and phrasebooks sold at the store.

Vivian, surrounded by some
of the shop's many thousands
of books

Having ridden the storm of seeing the sale of best-sellers effectively taken away from them, independents, like the Newham shop began to face two more massive challenges as the 21st century changed people's leisure and shopping habits.

Kindles emerged a decade ago  - 'to make hard copies of books and their retailers redundant'. Newham Bookshop did not bow to the proclaimed inevitable, but persevered.  The result has seen "the dead Kindle in the cupboard" emerge, as readers have reverted to the hard copy book.

Kindle's manufacturer, Amazon, have not given up, however.  They are now the dominant force in the retail book market, and almost all the competition is suffering badly.

This fateful combination of negative book trade factors has had a dramatic effect.  Over 550 -almost half - of small UK bookstores have closed in the last decade.

On top of these factors , Newham Bookshop has had to overcome its own very local difficulty recently.

Twenty times a year the shop could count on a bumper sales day, as West Ham supporters, from near and far would descend on the shop on match-days, snaffling up some of the wide range of club-related books on sale - or perhaps to meet an old crowd favourite player who would cheerfully sign their autobiographies in the shop.

No more. West Ham's move from the Boleyn to the London Stadium in the Olympic Park has cut off that regular piece of passing trade. None of those associated with the new stadium will enable fans to buy what they want from the Bookshop there.

Despite the very formidable obstacles Newham Bookshop has encountered, particularly over the last two decades, the shop soldiers on.  And this is in no small part to the goodwill and contacts that Vivian has built up over that period.

So, on World Book Day, the shop will receive visits from possibly hundreds of local school children, ready to exchange the tokens they get for the occasion for books in the shop.  Last year they had 1800 visitors on the day. And all because the Bookshop has cultivated great relationships with schools in Newham, Redbridge and Barking over the years - bringing authors to schools and helping with school libraries and book sales.

CJ welcomes you to
World Book Day

Vivian has matched her great contacts in the book trade with one of Forest Gate's quirkiest ventures, to provide great evenings of local entertainment and education.  The, now regular, book events at the Wanstead Tap are almost guaranteed sell outs and big local crowd pleasers.

It is a real win:win:win:win combination. Authors love coming to the relaxed, invariably packed venue, and meet engaged audiences at the Tap, Forest Gate comes out in force for the events, Dan Clapton entertains, gets alcohol sales and cements his place on the map as the area's best events venue and the Bookshop gets sales. An almost ideal combination.  And as Dan says - "Viv lines 'em up, I say 'yes' and a great evening is had by all!' See footnote for details of forthcoming events.

Vivian's car is like a travelling bookstore.  In addition to author's events at the Tap, she regularly services events at Conway Hall, and for 5x15 sessions in Notting Hill, as well as other venues, across London.

As Michael Rosen has said, much of Newham Bookshop's success is down to its relationship with the communities it serves. So, the bookshop plays an active part in trying to retain the now-famous World Cup statue in its original home - just opposite the shop - rather than have it moved to the soulless London Stadium.

Of the community - campaigning for
the community in the fight
to keep this landmark local

Vivian is a trustee of a charity set up in honour of East End author, Gilda O'Neil, and as such is promoting Holding the Baby - sponsored by the charity, a travelling exhibition, around Newham's libraries sharing memories of childcare and parenting in the East End in the 1950's. It is launched today (1 March 2018 at 5.30 in Plaistow library) and will tour the borough's libraries for a year.

Vivian used her contacts and entrepreneurial skills to persuade publishers and authors to donated signed copies of their books to her, to auction, with the proceeds going to the survivors of Grenfell Towers.  Over £7,000 has been raised to date.

So, Newham Bookshop is in the community, and of the communities it serves. And it is this formula that has ensured its success against very formidable obstacles.  Long may it continue to prosper - for all of our sakes!

A busy shop window, for a busy shop

Footnotes 

1.Anniversary celebrations. Newham Bookshop has arranged a series of exciting events at the Wanstead Tap, to celebrate its anniversary.  Over the coming months renowned authors such as Misha Glenny (of McMafia fame), Michael Rosen, Stuart Cosgrove and Helen Pankhurst,  will be appearing, together with important evenings with authors discussing books on autism and others on the future of the Labour Party.For contact details see below.

2. Contact details Newham Bookshop is based at 745-747 Barking Road E13 9ER. Opening hours: Tuesday - Friday 9.30 - 5pm, Saturday 10 am - 5pm. Phone: 020 8552 9993.

Its website is https://www.newhambooks.co.uk, e.mail address: info@newhambooks and Twitter account (8,000 followers):  @NewhamBookshop.

3. Events bookings Tickets for events are sold via both The Wanstead Tap and Newham Bookshop websites. A handy hint: The Tap often sell out before the Bookshop. If you want to go to an event and the Tap says 'Sold out' - try the Bookshop - you may be lucky!