Jazz breaking news: Save the Bull’s Head Jazz Club
Friday, July 5, 2013
The future of jazz is once again in doubt at the legendary Bull’s Head Jazz Club in Barnes following the retirement of Don Fleming, who has run it since 1982.
The lease of the pub has been taken by Geronimo Inns who have closed it for refurbishments for 3-4 months. It’s been reported that there are plans to turn the music room into a restaurant, although Geronimo say that music will continue at the pub. The future of the music room is uncertain, and a petition campaign has been launched at:
Don Fleming, who has run the Bull’s Head since 1982, has now retired and the lease taken over by Geronimo who are closing the pub for refurbishments for 3-4 months. It’s been reported that there are plans to turn the music room into a restaurant, although Geronimo say that music will continue at the pub.
The Bull’s Head Jazz Club was originally started by Albert Tolley in 1959 and grew to be an important venue for both UK and international names. Don Fleming took over in 1982 and in 2005 the music room was refurbished with support from Yamaha Music. In 2009 the club celebrated its 50th birthday and, alongside Ronnie Scott’s, is the world’s longest continuously running jazz club with a roster of names that have performed there running from Tubby Hayes, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Dick Morrissey (pictured above) and Humphrey Lyttelton to Guy Barker, Stan Tracey, Mark Lockheart, Charlie Watts and Peter King as well as rock names such as Jeff Beck, Mick Jagger and Gary Moore.
Jazzwise urges anyone who cares about live music to sign the petition now and make the photo shoot if possible in a concerted effort to keep this important and much loved venue open for the future.
– Jon Newey