The Royal, Guildford

The Royal Hotel on Worplesdon Road, Stoughton once hosted gigs by Eric Clapton, U2 (1979), Queen (1973), and The Stranglers (1976). It closed in May 2009. The Strangler’s JJ Burnel told the Surrey Ad “We had a lunchtime residency at the Royal Hotel. It’s a shame to hear it’s closed down. I think the first time we ever played Peaches was there.”

1976 Flyer for Sunday night’s ‘Rock At The Royal’ organized and run by Ray “Bonza” Bradman.

In the 60’s it was run by the Swanborough’s. Then, in the 70’s, with Dave and Jenny Tomkins running the show; Ray “Bonza” Bradman put on ‘Rock At The Royal’ every Sunday while Stan Page was on the door. The Stranglers played ‘Rock At The Royal’ several times as well as a regular-ish Sunday lunch spot. Other bands to appear in the 70’s included The Flying Saucers and The Piranhas, who had a residency every Friday night, Golden Age of Metro, Jabber, Last Orders, House, Sad Sac, and Executives. The Vapors, as part of their Passport Tour, played The Royal on 18 May ’79.

17 November 1978: The Piranhas at The Royal, Guildford. Picture courtesy of Fred Pipes

The pub, which was a favorite haunt for soldiers from the nearby barracks and attracted a reputation for being ‘a little rowdy’, was owned in the early 1980s by the wrestler Mick McManus (he took over from Dave, Chris and Arthur Tomkins), who tried to improve its reputation by banning large groups of off-duty soldiers. McManus’ son Tony actually managed the pub on a day to day basis. McManus was one of the first Guildford landlords to be granted a license to have music and dancing until 1am on Saturdays.

Local band, UBz played The Royal many times, including on 29 November ’80, supported by The Rams and Zero Time. The likes of Eddie & The Hotrods played there in ’81, and Shoot! Dispute’s debut was there too. On 15 February ’81, The Time played the venue at which Oliver Gray reports ‘There was a terrible fight’. Just over 12 months later, on 27 February ’82, Shakatak walked into The Royal to perform. The following month, Dolly Mixture included The Royal on 27 March ’82 in the promotion of their single ‘Everything and More‘. On 17 April’ 82 Hi-Tension swung by The Royal and may have included Courtney Pine on sax, who they’d recruited around this time. Rudi, who’d supported The Jam previously and were on Paul Weller’s Jamming label, swung by The Royal on 1 May ’82 as part of a UK tour.

In 1983, the venue faced dual threats to its ‘live’ music venue status: In July ’83, McManis left and the new landlord refocusing on cabaret (which was short lived thankfully); then late entertainment was banned following allegations from neighbours of foul language, glue sniffing, public fornication and drinkers urinating on nearby homes – but the show went on, with earlier closing times. Promoters, like Judith Sawyer, put on live nights there on a regular basis. Some recall Clapton joining local musicians – notably House along with Graham “Cupcake” Cooper on guitar, the late Kirk Riddle on bass and Alan Watkin on drums (who was later in Grapevine) – onstage for a charity gig (pre Live Aid by a few years), packing the venue with Bruce Foxton of The Jam in the audience; a busy night for Keith Pilgrim and Coco on the door.

Advert for The Royal from 1979. Picture courtesy of Ben Collectors Records

John and Moira Cooper bought the pub from McManus in ’84 with Andy Davis managing the music. Screaming Lullabies‘ vocalist Simon George and drummer Kirk Kelly started a new club night on Wednesdays at The Royal in March ’84. This may have been the famed alternative rock club / night called “Animal House” and there was Wednesday night punk club, too. Meanwhile promoter Judith Sawyer’s Sawyer’s Club continued to control Thursday, Friday and Saturday. On 12 January ’84, neo-prog rockers Pendragon headlined at The Royal, with local Capricorn in support. Then on 2 February ’84, Southbound were originally to appear at The Royal with Backstage Pass who had to pull out and were replaced by Jokers Wild. The second Thursday, on 8 March ’84, found Capricorn opening for After Dark, followed on 9 March by Sleepwalker, who had Matrix support. The weekend contiued on 10 March with Addlestone’s Seducer warning up the crowd for Stray. An eight member Cardiacs supported Here & Now the Southbound were back at The Royal on 27 April and on 23 November supporting Jackie Lynton courtesy of promoter Tom Sawyer,

On 10 March ’84 Seducer supported Stray, and five days later, on 15 March, Cardiacs supported Here & Now. Just before they released “Somewhere in England” Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts, supported by Steamboat Willy, played the venue. The following night, 17 March ’84, two local bands: Station 360 and Kalibre, took to the stage. Bernie Torme, who’d played the 1900 Club at The Red Lion, Gravesend the night before as Bernie Torme’s Electric Gypsies, was supported by Jokers Wild on 19 March ’84. Reportedly, Jokers Wild were so bad one night at The Royal that they got booed. The band then challenged the audience to do better, at which point Ian Hunt and a couple of others took to the stage. On another occasion Jokers Wild’s bass player fell off the stage and tried to make it look like he meant to do it. Three days later the Jackie Lynton Band hit the stage, and Capricorn were to support but Berlin replaced them. The next night, 23 March ’84, Clive Burr’s Escape were supported by Jokers Wild and The Chuck Farley Band took to the low stage on 24 March, having been preceded by Kiowa. The following week, on 29 March, the Desolation Angels rolled up to headline with Ruff Justice opening, and the more local The Click held sway on 30 March. Southbound were back at The Royal on 27 April ’84 and Capricorn were back on 10 May, supported by Black Tiger. The following night – Friday – it was Cardiacs return gig, with Berlin and Blue Murder on the Saturday.

It was on a Saturday night, the 4 August ’84, that ADX (formerly The Adicts) played The Royal, supported by Capricorn; which reportedly left the pub smashed up by punters and police. A few months later, on 3 November, The Trudy were supported by !Action Pact!. We do know that, the day after Hurricane Jane supported Dumpy Rusty Nuts, on 8 November ’84, and Jokers Wild ended up headlining at The Royal on 9 November, and The Tease stepped in for Micky Moody’s Nightfly. The Swayer’s Club was closed the next day, kicking off again on 15 November ’84 with Marseille and Siege in concert. Around this time White Lightning appeared at the pub, receiving a positive review from Steffan Chirazi in Sounds. The Jackie Lynton band were supported by Southbound on 23 November ’84, courtesy of promoter Tom Sawyer. On 20 December you would have heard Mournblade, then on 21 December, it was the Jackie Lynton Band on stage again, and Jokers Wild were supported by Rough Justice the day after. Christmas Eve ’84 was headlined by Longpig, supported by Funtime and on 27 December ’84 Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts, supported by Hurricane Jane, rocked The Royal. The next night The Magic Mushroom Band took to The Royal’s stage, with Southbound taking the headliner slot the following night, 29 December, with Empyre in support.

Sadly John Cooper died a short while after taking charge and Frank and Rene O’Malley took over from ’85 until it closed. Chain Reaction were supported by Tour De Force on 10 January ’85, followed by Icemon [per the advert] the following night. The local Larry Miller Band held the fort on 12 January and Jackie Lynton returned again on 13 January ’85. Flow Motion, supported by new romantic Siere Novar, kicked off February ’85. Here & Now rolled through Club Royal on 20 February ’85, with Backstage Pass supported by Terranova the next night, and Press Any Key that Friday, 22 February and FFile supporting Jokers Wild on Saturday. The 26 February saw Horsham’s Icemon return to rock the pub followed by Siege on 27 February ’85. Capricorn were back on 6 April and Jokers Wild, supported by Siere Novar (which included Toby Burtons) played on 25 April. That Saturday – the 27 April, Peter Green played with his band Kolors. Midweek wasn’t that popular a slot, but Fungus took it on 1 May; with John Coghlan’s Diesel Band featuring Mick Moody (ex-Whitesnake), Johnny Gustafon (ex-Gillan), Mike Simmons (ex-Joan Armatrading Band), Bob Young who co-wrote “Down Down” with Francis Rossi as well as other hits, and of course Coghlan (ex-Status Quo). Violet White performed on 15 May ’85 followed by The Randy California Band, supported by Jokers Wild, as part of the Restless Tour having hit The Mean Fiddler, London the night before. The Larry Miller Band rolled in on 17 May and Five O’Clock High graced the stage on a Sunday afternoon in ’85 as well as on Tuesday 21 May, followed the day after by The Body Politic who played with an unknown support on 22 May. Richie Blackmore joined Jackie Lynton at the Royal for a 30 minute jam session.