In the 50’s, if you were lucky, you might catch Patrick McGoohan or Richard Harris grabbing a drink at The Vintners Arms. In the early-mid ’60s a folk club was held at this Guildford hostelry, whose landlord and lady’s names at the time were Nobby and Dolly. This was organized by Brian Dunt, who also performed at the club in the function room upstairs; he also performed at the folk club held at The Red House, Woking.
This folk club featured guest musicians from around the world as well as resident and local performers: Tom Dillon, Brian & Jean Dunt, Susan Bush, and Paddy Carrigys. In another connection to the local music scene, Reg “Robin Red Breast” Curtis, a past landlord’s grandson was Bert Curtis, the drummer with The Age Beaters.
On 22 May ’64, the folk club’s opening night, featured singer and concertina player Louis Killen. The Watersons, an English folk group from Hull performed mainly traditional songs with little or no accompaniment on 25 March ’66. The following week, Tony Rose – a London based teacher at the time – appeared on 1 April. Later that month, on 15 April, Margaret Barry, who appeared on the David Attenborough produced TV series called The Songhunter in the 50s, was accompanied by Michael Gorman, as she often was, and club regular Enoch Kent – he also performed in The Exiles. Flat picking guitarist Malcolm Price was joined by Roger Churchyard on 22 April ’66. The voice of the rag doll in Bagpuss, and co-writer with her husband John Faulkner of the music for the series, Sandra Kerr climbed the stairs to the function room at The Vintners Arms on 29 April ’66. Killen would return to the folk club on 6 May ’66, not long before emigrating to the United States. Australian, and future member of Fairport Convention and one of the founders of Fotheringay, Trevor Lucus made a triennial visit to the club on 13 May ’66. The next Friday, 20 May ’66, the club celebrated its second anniversary with: The Rakes, Gordon McCulloch, Bobby Campbell, and Malcolm Price with Roger Churchyard.
The venue closed in ’66, shortly after the folk club’s second anniversary and just over 150 years after opening. It was certainly there in 1823 and was helmed by licensed victualer Joseph Silver by 1855. The license had passed to George Smith by 1867, who lived there with his wife and five children, being replaced by Walter Costick in c’13, who was followed by Arthur Webb c’37, who may have been landlord when it was damaged by fire in ’32. Added to the Church of England’s property assets for $100k on closing, the building is still there at 36/38 North Street, used now as retail outlets. The folk club moved to The Star, Guildford.
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