The Army & Navy sat on the corner of the Kings and Western Roads and opened in the 1850’s. It was very well known for its cellar bar disco, but it also featured live acts.
Local Opportunity Knocks winner, Billy Bacardi (Bill Watts) used to perform there at weekends and in the 80’s Spliff Riff often hired the cellar bar for rehearsals. In the early 90’s Who Moved the Ground?, The Flowers of Sacrifice, in early November ’91, and Thieves of Dreams roused the locals. The Army & Navy was in fact Thieves of Dreams home venue throughout ’91, a residency that saw the band perform on the 16 and 30 June, and 14 July ’91. Ten days later, on 24 July ’91, Who Moved the Ground? played the pub with Thieves of Dreams returning on 28 July and 18 August ’91. Who Moved the Ground returned again on 21 August. Thieves of Dreams performed two more times at the Army & Navy that year, the first on 29 September ’91 and lastly with Blue Velvet on 13 October ’91.
The next year, on 5 January ’92, Thieves of Dreams were once again at The Army & Navy, Aldershot and Blue Velvet would return the following month, on 9 February ’92. It was later called Hogans but closed in the late 90’s with planning permission to convert to flats granted in May 1999.
Gallery:
Our Soundscene 