The Bohemian Coffee Bar, Fletcher Gate

[hippo girl 1,995]

Hi BR, think Babs has more up to date info on Clive....good times to be young ......

[FLY2 10,108]

Come on Babs, fill us in.

[hippo girl 1,995]

BR. You could ask Babs at the next meet up. Wednesday September 25

[FLY2 10,108]

Does anyone remember Nottingham Folk Club. It was on either George St or Heathcote St and held on a Sunday night.

There was a guy called Quentin Hood who was always the star attraction. He was quite good.This would be about 1966 or 67.

They didn't serve alcohol so we always left before 10.30 so we could get a last pint or two in.

In fact , many pubs closed at 10pm in the 60's

[PeverilPeril 3,284]

I used the Bo a few times in my duffle coat and college scarf days (C1956/9). I remember the steep stairs with a thick rope on the left to help haul ourselves up. It was dodgy getting back down when slightly inebriated. Sometimes we would just sit around on the floor eating carrots How bleddy stupid can you get?

[Bennerley 19]

I came across the Bohemian Coffe bar quite by accident I lived in Sneinton, I was between fifteen and seventeen and I remember climbing the steep stairs, peeping round the door and thinking this is it, this is where the beatnicks are - the bohemians, of course I knew nothing of the "beat scene" at that age but I had seen portrayals of beats in the movies and I became fascinated with all things "beat". I visited The Bohemian whenever possible until it became (I think) The Pancake House, by this time I was becoming more interested in the Three Tons and it's fine Newark Ales until I managed to get my nose broken - but that's another story!

[Blondie 1,392]

I rememeber the Belvedere Club and the Bohemian Club around the Lace Market, Bottle Lane area where the beatniks went too, around 1961/62, that dark staircase and dark room at the top ......I came from Hucknall but hung around at that time with 2 girls who attended the Art College called Carole Taylor from Gotham and Jennifer Wagg from Hucknall, there was also a Carole Inger from Broxtowe - they were very bohemian in their dress, it was called being 'way out' back then....... ....I sometimes found these places a bit scary with the beatniks smoking reefers lounging around on the floor, I was only 16 and very niave then........Carole loved this kind of life and often frequented Loughborough College with beatnik style students.........I know Jennifer died 2 years ago, but lost touch with Carole Taylor and have been trying to find her for years, does anyone remember her ?........There was also a Janis White, later on, she lived on Western Boulevard, loved to party and live dangerously, late 60's.........

Can also remember going to the L shaped rooms, Don Juan, the Toreador, the News House and also went to the Bamboo Cafe on Mansfield Road a lot after the dance halls, Ice Stadium and Bowling Alley closed, had a late nightcap before going home, mid 60's era........... Can remember a few names mentioned on here and it is good to be reminded of them again, I had completely forgotten these people and places...............

[spike woods 9]

Hi there - I'm Spike Woods. Me and Conny Constantine used to play and sing at the Bohemian every week. In the fifties I had a skiffle group who played at the Fiesta on Hucknall road. That's where I met Graham. He invited me to play at the Bo and we had some rare old times there. I remember we played in an alcove raised up from the floor. Usually there was me, Conny (banjo), Wocko, Quentin Hood, Gil Harper, Al Odonnell, sometimes Sunny Seymour and several other up and coming musicians from the Art College. As mentioned, we played lots of my own compositions along with blugrass, folksongs, bawdy ballads, lots of Leadbelly and Jack Elliott stuff etc etc. I went on to play at the Lafonda nightclub below the castle every Saturday. I played at virtually every coffee bar in town - the Mistral, the Brief Encounter, the Toreador, one down by the Sherwood rooms and many others. I started the Nottingham folk workshop at the Coop with a Scotsman, Alan Macloud. I'm still in touch with many of the musicians. Gil Harper is in West Bridgford, Quentin Hood is still around. Lots of my songs are on www.reverbnation.com, including several of the Nottingham songs I wrote. Someone mentioned Rimas Vainorious, my old time friend. He's now moved back to Nottingham and I keep in touch regularly. The bloke in leathers became Vince Eager from Newark! I last saw Graham at the cafe he ran down by the station on Arkwright St. He said he was moving to Canada. Things move on. I went out to Pembrokeshire, then to Bristol and I'm now living in Wotton under edge in the Cotswolds. I still play and sing. I have some poor recordings from the Bo somewhere! It was like a cave, very dark and poky, but a great atmosphere. Lots more memories later. Sithee yoth. Regards Spike.

[hippo girl 1,995]

Hi Spike, I mentioned Rimas, as he is not only a talented guy but also a friend..... He is now living back in Nottingham....

Vince is still performing with his backing band the Memphis tones , who also perform as Tristram Shandy.

[Cliff Ton 10,470]

I never knew the Bohemian Coffee Bar (not old enough), but I've just noticed that it is described as being above the Three Tuns pub on Fletcher Gate.

[Michael Booth 7,364]

Welcome to Nottstalgia, Spike. I look forward to reading your posts and sharing your memories.

[FLY2 10,108]

I remember Quentin Hood from the Nottingham Folk Club. Very good.

[spike woods 9]

The entrance to the Bo was the door to the left of the main entrance. Up the stairs to the second floor. Does anyone remember Brian Tinkler? He was a regular at the folk sessions and could play and sing a little. Last time I saw him he was living in Long Eaton.Wocko (Lloyd Watkins), another friend, when he was back from Uni in London, ould come with me to the sessions. He's my oldest friend. I have a photo of us together in the same pram. He's now living in Market Raisen. I forgot to mention Dave and Pete Turner. Dave ( now sadly passed on) used to coe up the Bo sometimes. He was just learning to play, and learnt a lot from me and Sunny. He was an avid reader of Mad magazine, and started to write the absurd and surrealist songs which he became famous for.I was at the Art college studying Fine Art and Printmaking, and it was a hotbed of new ideas.Many are the nights I rushed away from the College to play, sometimes with Rebecca Ohara. I remember playing at the Victoria hotel one time, still in a disheveled state from the sculpture room. Rebecca used to sing with the Saints, a skiffle outfit who played a lot at the Toreador. I forgot the Don Juan in my listing of coffee bars. Did any body go to the Arts balls we put on at the Sherwood rooms? A lot of hard work went into the decor of the dance hall - three days all day and night, and plenty of benzedrine. Wocko and I are from Toton and also Anne Briggs. We had a folk group called the Toton folk trio for a short while. Then I was asked by Ewan Maccoll to be liaison officer for the Nottingham part of Centre 42, a socialist movement to get folk music to the masses. I rallied round lots of performers, and we got gigs at Raliegh and other factories. Anne met Ewan then, and he started off her career as a prestigious fol performer. She now lives near Oban. Yes, I do remember the Kardomah - sitting there for hours with one cup of tea, watching the world go by. I recently happened on a 78 record sleeve advertising Nequests, the music shop near the Empire. Is it still there? I also worked at set design in the old Playhouse with a bloke called Voytek. Does anyone remember him? A great set designer.

[Cliff Ton 10,470]

I recently happened on a 78 record sleeve advertising Nequests, the music shop near the Empire. Is it still there?

I detect you've been away from Nottingham for a long time ! Nequests and the Empire and everything else around there have all been gone for many years. However, this might bring back a few memories.

[davep5491 360]

Blondie #32

A Carole Inger lived near me on Lindfield Road, Broxtowe, good looking girl married a lad from my junior school class Geoff Gamble.

[FLY2 10,108]

Sorry to hear of Dave Turners sad demise. He was always a joker and one for pranks. I was in my mate Mick Johnson's mini late one night after leaving the Belvedere and Dave threw a smoke bomb into the car. God, it took ages to clear and even longer for our eyes to get back to normal. Hey, it's all good fun. Great memories.