Aitch’s Wine Bar, Godalming

Aitch’s, which made it into the 1994 edition of the Good Beer Guide, was situated close to the site of the old Gin Mill Club and The Angel, Godalming, in Angel Court, and was known by many a name over the years: Cafe Mila, Angels Wine Bar, Aitch’s Bar Café, JR’s (c’79-’81), Cheers Wine Bar (c’88), Harlequins, Carl’s Wine Bar (c’85-’87), Cobwebs (c’88), Glasshouse, The Grapevine, etc. It is now closed and was converted into a yoga studio with cafe in 2011.

Its heyday as a, paying, music venue was the early 90’s, when the likes of The Four Marys and The Sugar Plums appearing there, with the painting of Jimi Hendrix / Derek Griffiths (If you have seen it, you know what we mean) behind them on the stage.

On 19 September ’92 we found Backtracks filling the void with sound, followed by Ritch n’ Famus the next night. While this Soundcene writer was at The Cricketer’s, Westfield for Backlash and Peachrazor, Aitch’s Wine Bar welcomed Kambium on 9 October ’92, and Ritch n’ Famus would return on 22 November. FIB were on form on 21 February ’93, and Who Moved the Ground? made an appearance a few days later on 27 February. The Trifecta of Backlash, Summersalt, and Kambium made for a memorable night on 2 June ’93. Summersalt returned on 17 July that year to support Vox Pop.

On 5 January ’94, Aitch’s hosted Who Moved the Ground? with support provided by Backlash; and Crazy Face performed at the venue ten days later, on 15 January, then Nitch on 19 January. Bananafish traveled up from Portsmouth on 26 February and on 12 and 14 September ’94, b.l.o.w. (ex-Little Angels), who were regulars at The Anchor Inn, Godalming, where they also played, blew through. It was on the itinerary for Who Moved the Ground?’s promo tour for their second single, “The Chase”/”What’s That”, on 21 September ’94, when they were supported by Skipper.

It was also the location for a Guilfin fund raiser with Kava Kava – who had just released the “You Can Live Here” LP – and Serious Plankton on the bill on 10 May ’95. But it wasn’t just local bands who appeared at the upstairs venue; Bracket from the US, and China Drum from Ovingham also gigged there. There is also an as yet unverified tale that Doctor and The Medics were rocking there one night.

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