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JUG OF ALE TURNS FLAT AS LANDLADY QUITS

06-05-2008

The landlady of Moseley’s legendary pub rock venue the Jug of Ale has admitted she’s in the dark about the future of the landmark building when it closes at the weekend – but fears it will be demolished to make way for flats. In an exclusive Stirrer interview, Anne Garside also revealed she’s been given less than a fortnight to leave her home of 20 years.

Following speculation on our Message Board, we confirmed yesterday that the pub will call time forever after Sunday’s final gig by local heroes Misty’s Big Adventure (see link here).

In an effort to find out what happens next, we popped by to share a pint with Anne, and found her in a downbeat mood after being forced to put all her belongings into storage.

“I only found out last Thursday that I’ve got to get out,” she explained.

Still shellshocked by the news, and struggling to come to terms with her sudden change in circumstances, she shrugged and added: “This is the place where I’ve bought my kids up, but when they want you out, you’re out.”

Although Anne has seven years remaining on her lease, the owners of the pub have been trying to winkle her out for years (see link here).

The legal battle has drained her resources, and after a mediation meeting last week, he decided that she couldn’t afford to continue the fight.

That’s led some regulars to speculate that she’s been made an offer she couldn’t refuse – “Someone reckoned I’d got £3.5 million” she laughs – but in truth, she’s simply had her initial investment on the lease returned.

“I’m going to stay with a friend, and then I’m going to have to go and get a job just live everyone else” she says.

Anne hasn’t been told what the Jug’s future holds, but expects that before too long, one of Birmingham most significant musical staging posts will have been knocked down and replaced by a new apartment block.

As for the venue’s musical legacy, which Anne helped develop with the help of legendary local promoter Dave Travis and more recently Arthur Tapp, she’s proud of all the major acts who’ve passed through on their way to stardom – Oasis, The Verve, Mega City Four etc – but feels that concentrating on the big names rather misses the point.

“I think the best thing we’ve had to offer is a place where local bands could perform.  Most of them might not have gone on to be in the charts, but they’ve become good musicians.

“Where are they going to play when we’re gone?”

WHERE CAN NEW BANDS PLAY IN THE WEST MIDLANDS? AND WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES OF THE JUG? LEAVE A COMMENT ON THE STIRRER FORUM.