Rhyming With Orange in the George

Short notice, but I am one of the special guests mentioned on this flyer. The George is on the corner of Duke Street and Cemetery Road and has just reopened after a while. I've no idea whether there's real ale - soon find out! Should be fun anyway.

No Rhyming With Orange

Cancelled!

I'm sorry to report that the gig by local band, Rhyming With Orange, which was to take place at The George in Duke Street, Southport, this Friday 4 December has been cancelled. This is because the pub has closed down again and is all locked up and in darkness. It is sad news for the pub that it seems to be on the brink of permanent closure yet again, but pubs in suburban areas do seem to be at particular risk, a subject I wrote a post about last month.

A certain support act, Nev Grundy, is reported to be devastated. Perhaps there'll be another time.

Blanket Apology at the George

An old Whitbread sign in the George

This Saturday, 22 September, local band Blanket Apology will be playing at the George Hotel, corner of Duke Street and Cemetery Road from around 8.30 p.m.  Blanket Apology are basically a blues-influenced rock band led by guitarist Mick Cooper, and with a  new lead singer, Sue Raymond - well fairly new now. I wrote about the band in more detail in June. They've asked me to do a couple of songs too, which I'm looking forward to.

The George is a nice pub but unfortunately it doesn't sell real ale, so it looks like it will be Guinness for me.

George Hotel & a relic of Whitbread

I was in the George Hotel last night for an open mike night run by Mick Cooper; it turned out to be a good, varied evening with local band the Runnies, Pete Rimmer and Bill Hackney, and me (well, you can't have everything). There were also several enormous plates of free sandwiches, courtesy of the management and very welcome.

The pub is a friendly local, pleasant inside with some original, or at least fairly old, features, and a completely separate taproom. If only it sold real ale ... So I drink the Guinness in there, which generally tastes as good as anywhere else I've drunk it, and better than some, so I assume they keep their lines clean. I did catch the last bus to the Guest House for a couple of pints of the real thing.

It used to be a Whitbread house, shown by this large stand-alone trade mark screwed to the divider between two seating areas. No one laments Whitbread, notorious for their tour of destruction of dozens British breweries, and infamous for Trophy Bitter, a mediocre keg beer. They sold their breweries and pub estate a good few years ago, and now claim to be "UK's largest hotel and restaurant company". While they're not missed, many of breweries they closed still are, such as Higson's of Liverpool.

It is a nice trade mark though, steeped in history. It's a pity a brewing legacy of more than 250 years is besmirched by the memory of their predatory antics during the last half century.

George Rides Again

I've just received an e-mail from Mick Cooper reminding me that the acoustic open mike night in the George is on again this Saturday. The George is on the corner of Cemetery Road and Duke Street, and it begins at around 8pm. Free admission. Mick and his band will be acting as hosts, and they are well worth listening to in their own right.

This week is a busy one. Here are some other events in Southport:

• Singaround in the Mason's on Anchor Street tomorrow evening (Wednesday). Free.
• Claire Hamill at the Bothy on Thursday. Park Golf Club, Park Road West.
• Singers night at the Bothy on Sunday - performers get in free.

Click here for a more complete list of events.

A Blanket Apology, by George!

Another music night with local band, Blanket Apology, in the George Hotel on the corner of Duke Street and Cemetery Road this Saturday the 29 May from around 8pm. The band will feature two lead singers, Derek and Jan, and there will also be an opportunity for you to perform during the open mike spot. As well as all that, there will be authentic belly dancing from Maryem, who is from Egypt. (You can see a small picture of her if you click on the "Events" link to the left.)

The music is always good from this experienced band with - on this occasion - two great singers, and I'd be there myself clutching my guitar if I wasn't away for my sister's birthday in Hampshire. The George is a friendly local, much improved from the old reputation it used to have; if only it had real ale, but the Guinness is well kept.

We can do it all again next week ...

Great night at the George last night.  Blanket Apology played a variety of songs, including rock and R&B classics, such as Take Me To The River, with Derek Boak giving his best powerful vocals. They even let me play half a dozen 50s and 50s pop and rock and roll classics, although whether they were classic after I'd finished with them is another matter. The band joined me for some of the songs.  They plan to perform in the George regularly on the last Saturday of the month, but will be playing an extra gig next weekend on Easter Saturday.

I like this pub, a real local, from which the scallies who gave it a bad reputation have been banished. If only it sold real ale...

So that's Easter Saturday in the George Hotel on the corner of Duke Street and Cemetery Road. Free; begins around 8-30pm.

Valentine's Day at the George: rock ... and belly dancing

This coming Sunday there is a Valentine's Day special in the George Hotel on the corner of Duke Street and Cemetery Road.  There will be live music from Blanket Apology, a local rock band that performs both covers and original songs - they've played in the George before and have even lent me a guitar on occasion to bash out some old time rock & roll.  Good musicians and some fine material.

Also performing is Maryem from Egypt who will be doing some authentic belly dancing, so this will definitely be a night out with a difference.  It's on this Sunday 14th February (of course), runnning from 8.30pm to around 11.00pm.

Rock at the George

Local rock guitarist Mick Cooper is running another of his music nights next week at the George (corner of Cemetery Road and Duke Street).  His band will be playing, although I'm not sure under which name, as Mick plays with more than one line up.  There will be some opportunities for other singers in an open mike format.

The George is a friendly local pub, recently refurbished, although it doesn't sell real ale.  Still, the Guinness is well-kept.  It's on Thursday 3rd December from around 8 PM.

Mick says, "Anyone who wants to do a couple can just drop by, or for a longer spot can email me in advance."  Click here for his e-mail address.

Music at the George

Tomorrow night will see another music night at the George Hotel in Southport, led by local rock band Blanket Apology, with other guest performers. Come along and support good local live music in a friendly pub. Free, and begins at around 8.30 p.m.

Gig at the George

I have learned that there will be live bands at the George this Thursday evening ~ Shot In The Dark and Next To Nothing are playing their mixture of originals and cover versions. If you can, drop in to support local bands and live music. The George is on the corner of Duke Street and Cemetery Road in Southport. (postcode PR8 5DH)