Putney boozer rescued from gastro-pub ignominy
Legendary London gigging pub the Halfmoon in Putney has been saved as a live music venue after the landlords bowed to pressure from a Facebook group.
The south-west London favourite, which has been hosting regular gigs since 1963, had reportedly been due to be turned into a gastro-pub at the end of January due to financial problems stemming from the recession.
However, a petition to preserve the pub’s current format was started in November of last year and grew into a Facebook campaign backed by 6,500 people. Pub tenant James Harris explained the motives behind the group to the BBC: 'This was never just about jobs but about a part of our music heritage'.
Mr Harris could barely hide his delight at the reversal of fortunes, stating: “We still face tough times ahead, but at least we can move forward now and my staff are thrilled and excited”.
The venue has played host to several highly distinguished acts in the past, including Kasabian, U2 and the Rolling Stones, and also has a reputation for giving opportunities to lesser known and fledgling acts.
Aside from live music, the pub also has also attracted some of the stars of comedy, with Harry Hill set to entertain patrons there this evening.
A statement from the James White, associate director of the landlord Young’s, told the BBC he was 'delighted to have agreed revised terms which will help the landlord run the business effectively and keep the Halfmoon as one of London’s leading independent venues'.
Image credit: Mark Hillary
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