Sat on the Guildford Road, the Lion Brewery is another of those rare venues that hasn’t been flattened for flats, converted into a restaurant, or just no longer hosting bands. It is, and will hopefully continue to be, an active venue; and continue to be home to the Unplug the Wood acoustic jam and Unplug the Wood folk Sunday.

The Flying Tigers at Lion Brewery, Ash in 1986. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records

Many a local band have played here including: The Meatheads – who had originally only formed for fun and the one gig at the Brewery, The Flying Tigers, Bus Ryde, Frantic and Van Gogh and the Earlobes.

15 July 1986: West One first gig at The Lion Brewery, Ash. Source: West One

Salt Solution rocked into the brewery on 4 March ’86 and ‘Arf Cut were far from it on 31 March. Salt Solution returned on 16 April and twice in ’86, West One appeared at the venue: The Lion Brewery had the band in on 15 July ’86, then on 26 August ’86 they returned. It was also used that year for one of Backstage Pass‘ warm up gigs in the run up to their London Hippodrome gigs. Having filled the place the landlord told the band he wouldn’t be paying and that they should come back Sunday lunch to see “some proper jazzers” and that the band “might learn something” – after some encouragement they were paid.

Tarrow didn’t tarry when they launched into their set on 14 April ’88, but we must had downed a few to many at the bar in ’88 as our archive is very thin for the year. We don’t recall if Covers were a cover band or not, but they gigged at the brewery on 23 March ’89 and the Old Boy Network filled the spot nicely the next evening. The remainder of March ’89 was filled by Instinction on 26 March, The Hillbillies on 27 March, and The Little Piggy Bank on 29 March. On 12 December 1989, Who Moved the Ground? performed their third live performance there. How many bands have or go by the KGB moniker? One of them played The Lion Brewery on 14 December ’89, with Nobody Called Ruth providing the entertainment on 15 December and Rosettes on 16 December. Wildfire played a Christmas gig at The Lion Brewery, Ash in ’89 as did the Wildfire offshoot, the Rockit Men, on 28 December ’89 followed by The Press on 29 December.

The Rockit Men were back on 17 March ’90 making full use of the fox hunting subject matter on the curtain backdrop. A warm venue welcomed Cold Sweat on 11 April ’91 and Time Square played on 12 April, followed by Replay on 13 April and, on 18 April, Final Word. On 26 July 1991, The Press appeared at the pub once more.

The Lion Brewery hosted Capture the Light on 31 January ’92, then jumping to 16 April, The Blue Birds were followed by Feel the next day. The debut gig for Vox Pop went down well on 2 June ’92, with a repeat performance at the venue on 29 June, of which drummer Martin Smith noted “Ok, sound a bit shit!”; not that this stopped them returning again on 13 August ’92. Kaba were at the centre of the show on 19 September ’92 with the following night taken by the Hoi Polloli. Led by The Emeralds and Wishful Thinking‘s ex-drummer, The Brian Allen Band bought back memories of the 60s/70’s on 22 November ’92 and Stand & Deliver held the audience captive the following night.

29 June 1992: Vox Pop at Lion Brewery. Picture courtesy of Col Bird.

The Electric Blue appeared there on 18 February ’93, with the Brian Allen Band rolling in once more the next night and Strike-A-Lite on 20 February. A couple of days later Fishpaste spread some cheer followed by Sweet Hooligan the next day, 23 February ’93. Lost Roberts Blues Band found the Brewery on 25 February ’93.

26 July 1986: This Breed of Heroes at the first Ash Music Festival. Picture courtesy of Bruno Bannerman

The Ash Music Festival is a charity event, organized by Michael and Lyndsey of the Lion Brewery, on the last Saturday of July every year, with a large stage for many of the finest local music bands. The first Ash Festival was held on 26 July ’86, and the opening act was This Breed of Heroes.

Gallery:

26 August 1986: West One played The Lion Brewery, Ash. Source: West One

While the pictures of the band were taken at Lion Brewery, Ash, this Flying Tigers poster blank could be dated and put up in any venue. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records
The Flying Tigers at Lion Brewery, Ash in 1986. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records
The Flying Tigers at Lion Brewery, Ash in 1986. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records
The Flying Tigers at Lion Brewery, Ash in 1986. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records

Backstage Pass at The Lion Brewery, Ash c’86. Picture courtesy of Dave Hitchins
Wildfire at the Lion Brewery, Ash around ’89. Picture courtesy of Chris Turner
WildFire played a Christmas gig at Lion Brewery, Ash in 1989. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records
Who Moved the Ground? clipping from 7th December 1989 issue of Aldershot News. Source: Who Moved the Ground?
17 March 1990: Rockit Men were at Lion Brewery, Ash. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records
The Rockit Men at Lion Brewery, Ash at Christmas. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records

26 July 1991: Gig Listing from TBI local newspaper has The Press playing Lion Brewery, Ash. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records
The Rockit Men at Lion Brewery, Ash at Christmas. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records
23 February 1993: Sweet Hooligan at Lion Brewery. Picture courtesy of Tim Naylor.
Lion Brewery, Ash