Right on the edge of our catchment area is The Royal Oak in Hollywater, or Whitehill, or Passfield. It’s location was very much dependent on who you asked or which local rag you were reading – and you’ll find the pub listed as being in one or other of the three in our Gig Lists depending on the source.
Our earliest confirmed gig listing for the venue to date is 27 October ’79 when The Royal Hoax were booked and played The Royal Oak.
Urban myth has it that Led Zepplin’s Jimmy Page lived locally and would turn up and watch and sometimes jam with that night’s band. Well, Page did own a house nearby and one night Willie Austen’s Rattlesnake turned up, with ex-Camel bassist Doug Ferguson and guitarist Big Jim Sullivan. Sullivan was told to go out the back as there was someone who wanted to meet him…it was Page – Sullivan had once given Page guitar lessons. The legend came true that night and Page played with the band and the visiting bikers etc. loved it, although it is reported that Sullivan blew Page away with his superior playing.
On 22 March ’80, The Royal Hoax were back supporting The Manor Party Band at the pub, and a few months later, on 29 August ’80, Human Beings made a visit. While home brew wasn’t served at The Royal Oak, the Home Brew band did play there on 10 November ’80. Another band to appear at the venue a few times in the early ’80’s were Crosswinds. In ’81, Human Beings twice visited The Royal Oak, on 25 August and 16 October. Track Four appeared on 26 August ’83, followed by Rattlesnake on 27 August, and A Bit of Alright three days later on 30 August. The 2 March ’84 saw the aforementioned Rattlesnake at the venue, followed by Geneva on 3 March, Trick of the Light on 6 March, Urban Fox on 9 March, and Bag of Tools the following night. West One gave the venue a similar double tap, to Human Beings, on 22 July and 16 August ’86. The following year, on 9 May ’87, Mafia took over; then on 2 October ’87, it was the turn of Siege to attack the pub with sound. Frantic did too, on 14 October ’89, to a difficult crowd, who only really showed signs of life when teased with some standard rock riffs; but no sign of Page. In the build up to Christmas ’89, Stone Cold took to the floor on 15 December, followed by Live and Breathe the next night. Post Christmas, Rattlesnake played the 29 December and PDQ on 30 December.
A couple of years later Old Boy Network rolled into the venue on 26 July ’91 and Pretty Green were down the pub on 17 April ‘ 92. They were followed to the bar by Who Moved the Ground?, who walked in on 13 May that year, and Blue Velvet on 24 June. Lord Hippo played on 18 September ’92, WD40 the very next night, and PDQ appeared four days later on 23 September ’92. On 24 February ’93, Little Bones rolled in and later in the year, on 26 August, 14 October and 3 CDecember ’93, Bananafish played. Captain Pike, Rhythm Collision, Phoenix, Scully, and Drums and Wires have all also appeared at The Royal Oak.
Unfortunately, this became another lost venue c’2020, but after a long period of closure was reopened in November 2023, and now thank to new landlords Graham and Emma Symes is offering live music on Saturday nights.
Gallery:
Our Soundscene 