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Want to step inside an iconic rock’n’roll landmark? Next month you can do just that, as one of the capital’s oldest music venues, the Half Moon in Putney, is due to reopen after temporarily closing for refurbishment.
The pub has existed in its current form since 1903 and began hosting live music in 1963, smack-bang in the heyday of British invasion bands such as The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Small Faces, all of whom have performed at the 250-capacity venue.
A short walk from Putney Bridge and overlooking the Thames, the Half Moon closed its doors in mid-January for a huge makeover. In a statement released the previous November, the venue promised via a social media post: ‘While we’re modernising the space and adding an extra room, we’ll remain true to our roots and continue to build on our reputation as a legendary grassroots venue.’
It transpired that this involved extending the first floor to include a new terrace with a retractable roof and spiral staircase, plus a lick of paint and new equipment that would enable the owners to serve a wider range of food.
The revamp was approved by Wandsworth Council in 2023, with planning documents explaining that the move would ‘reinvigorate the public house, improving its popularity and customer base, and ultimately securing its long-term viability’.
While no specific date has been given for the relaunch, events are listed on the pub’s website from April 4, with rock’n’roll singer Laurie Wright performing as part of a day-long celebration of the annual Oxford and Cambridge boat race along the Thames.
Despite its association with British rock royalty, the Half Moon actually moved into live music with folk and blues nights, hosting the likes of Scottish troubadour Bert Jansch and Louisiana bluesman Champion Jack Dupree.
After the glory days of the swinging sixties, the pub continued to draw world-class artists at the start of their careers. Elvis Costello played a residency, reportedly earning 50p per gig – with a plate of sandwiches thrown in for good measure – while Kate Bush’ first-ever live performance took place there in 1977.
The Stones returned in 2000 for a private show and an unknown Ed Sheeran took to the pub’s stage in the early 2010s, just before mega-fame beckoned. Of Sheeran, a spokesperson for the pub told PRS For Music in 2014: ‘Almost every single person came up to us on the door afterwards to ask who he was!’
The venue also enjoys a reputation for comedy, with everyone from Harry Hill and Stewart Lee to James Acaster and Aisling Bea having performed there.
In recent years, the Half Moon has showcased emerging artists such as south London indie band YOWL, with live music events held at the pub every night. Just this morning, the pub’s Instagram page shared a link to buy tickets for its new music showcase New Moon Rising, which on April 24 will feature Man About A Dog, The Bad Shots, Midnight Moodies and Sable Rowe.
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