How about a tale of a pub that embraced tourists. The Montagu Arms welcomed those heading to Dover. They were on their way to the ferry before cheap flights became available.
Let me introduce you to The Montagu Arms. This pub stood on Queen’s Road. It was more than just a place for a pint. It was a legendary music venue.
The Montagu Arms had a history stretching back to at least 1868. The building we know today was built around 1928-29. Truman’s Brewery constructed it. Peter Hoyle owned The Montagu Arms from 1967. Stan and Bet Pownall managed it until their deaths in 2012. Noel Gale took over in 2014.
Step inside The Montagu Arms. Imagine its eccentric decor. Old fishing boat lights once hung here. A 19th-century carriage held a stuffed zebra. An old diving suit stood guard.
Peter Hoyle regularly performed here. He played with Peter London as The Two Petes. They covered rock and pop songs. London sang and played keyboards. Hoyle played drums. They even released live albums in the 1970s.
The Montagu Arms wasn’t just about music. It hosted live comedy in the 1970s and 1980s. Mike Reid and Jim Davidson performed here early in their careers. Jimmy Jones booked entertainment. He even claimed The Rolling Stones visited to see him.
Paul McCartney once showed up. He met Jim Davidson on a plane. Davidson told him about The Montagu Arms. McCartney insisted they visit straight from the airport. He played a bunch of hits.
In 1989, Nick Cave, Mark E Smith, and Shane MacGowan held a round table interview here. It was published in the NME. They had an impromptu jam session. Cave played organ. Smith played guitar. MacGowan played drums.
The Gang of Four played a secret warm-up show here in 2005. They were preparing for their comeback tour. Gigwise described the decor. It was like a Harvester onboard a pirate ship.
After its closure in 2012, the decor was auctioned off. Ships’ fittings were sold. Large-scale models of ships went. A vintage diving helmet was auctioned. Tribal artifacts found new homes. Even the stuffed zebra was sold.
After reopening in 2014, The Montagu Arms hosted UK DIY punk and indie bands. Foreign touring bands also played here. Good Throb and Big Joanie graced the stage. King Krule and Goat Girl played here too.
In 2018, the managers had to make staff redundant. They cancelled gigs. The pub had been sold. A petition to save it as a music venue got over 9,000 signatures.
For its last three years, it hosted Passionate Necking. This was an LGBTQ+ friendly club night. Piñata was a monthly DIY comedy cabaret.
In May 2018, it reopened solely as a pub. It had a minimalist aesthetic. The iconic stage was gone. It focused on cocktails and games. Shuffleboard and table football replaced live music. It failed to draw enough custom and shut again in July 2019.
The building remains unused. A proposal to knock it down sparked public objections. A new planning application was submitted in February 2023. Permission was granted in November 2023. This ended hopes of it returning as a live venue.
The Montagu Arms was a place of music, comedy, and community. It was a unique and unforgettable London pub.