A sad day last night as John, after 15 years of being guv’nor, held the last music night at Booty’s before leaving. It’s a real shame – it’s an historic, charming, riverside pub with a vibrant (and successful – it’s not closing for recessional reasons) atmosphere, but not even John could stop the landlord from closing it down. I’m guessing luxury flats.
My heart is heavy at Booty’s passing. I’ve loved playing there over the years – from the crazy celebratory nights like John’s 14th ‘birthday’,through the warm, balmy summer evenings when the doors out onto the river were thrown open (even if it did get a bit noisy when the party boats went past) to the quieter, cosier winter evenings which had a real old-time feel, it’s felt like a second home to me. Not least because it’s the only pub I’m aware of that has a framed photo of Yours Truly on the wall:
It was good to see old faces one last time – including fabulous singer Paul Wood, with whom I toured France for seven years and who I don’t see nearly often enough, photographer Ian Dunnigan, the regulars who truly love the place (yeah, even the guy who I’ve never seen sober but who is extremely ‘enthusiastic’ about my singing…), guys like Martin, whose own birthday party was the nuttiest night I’ve ever played there and, of course John himself, who was on fine form last night.
Of course I’m hoping this isn’t the end. John’s already been offered other pubs and, after a well-earned break with his family, I suspect he’ll be raring to go again. Onwards and upwards. But as for Booty’s itself – well, yet another Docklands riverside pub is biting the dust for, as far as I can see, no good reason…
