Music fans' sadness as Kentish Town gig venue Bull and Gate is closed

 
P23 Bull and Gate Pub
Miranda Bryant13 February 2013

Fans and musicians told of their sadness at the closure of Kentish Town music venue the Bull and Gate, which helped launch the careers of top bands including Coldplay, Nirvana and Blur for more than 30 years.

Fondly described by one music boss as having the smell of “the gorillas’ cage at London Zoo”, it will close in May and reopen as a pub in the summer.

Coldplay had a number of gigs there in 1999, including the five-song set that got them signed. Manic Street Preachers and Keane also played the Bull & Gate. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin has previously said of the gig: “We were very new to the world.”

Keane drummer Richard Hughes said: “We got one of our big breaks at the Bull and Gate, Steve Lamacq came to see us and ended up playing us on his show.

“When we first walked in it felt enormous —the nerves really kicked in. We started there, and whatever they turn it into, I’ll always remember those gigs.”

Simon Williams, co-founder of independent record label Fierce Panda Records, who co-runs Club Fandango which has put on gigs at the Bull and Gate since 2010, said the move would rob generations of teenagers of easy access to live music. He said: “This is a mightily sad occurrence for generations of indie kids.”

BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Lamacq said the venue was “part of the furniture of London”. He said on his show: “No more live music at the Bull and Gate which is incredibly sad. It was the first place I saw the Manic Street Preachers.”

Comedian Susan Murray tweeted: “Can’t believe the Bull and Gate is closing. Did my first ever gig there.” Musician, writer, cartoonist and Tube busker Wayne Myers wrote: “Farewell then, the Bull and Gate... you were a toilet, but not a bad toilet; I saw some good gigs in you.”

The Young’s pub chain bought the Bull and Gate from Margaret and Pat Lynskey, who said: “We were very keen to sell to someone who would keep it as a pub and not turn it into flats or a corporate coffee shop.” Patrick Dardis of Young’s said: “Young’s has a strong track record of investing significantly in pubs at the very heart of communities and we are very excited about the potential for the Bull and Gate.”

VIDEO: Coldplay perform at the Bull and Gate in 1999

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