During the 1950’s there was not a shortage of jazz venues around the area. Most provided jazz weekly but the Wood Green jazz club presented jazz on Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesdays. Others like Ware Drill Hall and St, Stephens would devote an evening to ‘ballroom dancing’ and feature skiffle as a kind of cabaret. Here is a list.
Wood Green Jazz club at the Fishmongers’ Arms - run by the lovely Viv and Art Sanders. St Stephen’s Hall Bush Hill - run by ‘Smithy’. Harringay Jazz Club at Manor House hotel - run by Ron Lesley. Ware Drill Hall - run by Charlie Ballans. The Hop Poles, Lancaster Road run by various promoters - with some msicians later to become seriously ‘famous’. The USAF base at Colliers End - run by the USAF. St Georges Hall Enfield Highway - promoter unknown. Welwyn Gdn jazz club at The Cherry Tree, - Barnet jazz club, - St. Albans jazz club, - Hatfield Jazz club at the Red Lion - all run by the Ken Lindsay, George Peacey and Ernie Farquart syndicate. The Barn Jazz club Enfield Highway - run by Tony Peters. Hornsey College of Art - run by the College Union. The Brewery Tap Jazz Club, Ware - run by a chap called Carl in association with Ted & Doris, the Landlord and Landlady. Can anybody jog our memories with any more?
