Sunday 13 September 2009

The Two Puddings



The 'Puddings' was my Mum and Dad's pub in Stratford E.15 and where we lived in the 1960's. The 'Devil's Kitchen' was a nightclub/dance hall above the pub and run by my Dad and his brothers and was decorated like a psychedelic ghost train with day-glo murals of ghouls and monsters all lit with ultra-violet light. It made a massive and indelible impression on my young mind and I loved playing in there during the day. Not too many pictures of it's interior remain but this old poster is very evocative...

28 comments:

  1. Fabulous! I remember your 21st birthday there.
    xxJane

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  2. where can i find the remaining pictures of the interior?

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  3. I remember the Two Puddings. I lived on the Kingsmead estate in the '60s and was a regular there.

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  4. Do you remember Ginger (Johnny) Noakes who played the records and Roger the bouncer??

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  5. trying to contact Micky Johnson as a matter of Urgency
    i can be contacted on stukfar@gmail.com

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  6. Hi Anon - I've passed on your message.

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  7. i was a regular at the two puddings from the late eighties to the mid nineties,.. i would love to see more pictures of the interior. whatever happened to the twins that used to do karaoke showtime???

    email me pls: iainl711@gmail.com

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  8. I remember going in the two pudding to watch the group the Falcons.Do you remember them.

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    1. hello,im Roy lead guitarist the Falcons,good you remembered us.Were still all alive and still playing .All the original members.

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    2. Hi Roy, don't know if you remember me, I'm Margaret and my cousin Linda married Johnny Challenger. Loved the Two Puddings, spent most of my night in there especially when The Falcons were on. Have bumped into Dave a couple of times, he know calls himself Gary, but will always be Dave to me. Lol. Glad your OK and still playing. Dave and Pete played at The Stratford Town Hall recently, shame you were not there. I didn't go but saw it on line. It was called the Boys are back in Town 2 run by Eddie and Kenny Johnson.

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    3. Yes really enjoyed when Falcons were playing in the Puddings my friend came down to Clacton when u & ur friend John stayed in a Caravan I lived in a prefab off Forest Lane if I knew how to send Pics I would when we came down for the Day !!!
      Can’t remember the other group that played in the Puds same time
      Mostly Beach Boy numbers pleasing to kno ur all still around cheers🍻🥂

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  9. I was a go-go dancer at the Two Puddings and was a member of a group called Black Velvet - can't remember the name of the guy who we worked for. Hard work but I never forgot it - I am 60 now

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    1. Hi Rachel,
      I think the DJ your referring to was Frankie Morgan. I was in touch with him for a while after the puddings closed, but then lost contact with him. I remember the dancers well.

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  10. Used to go to Puddings from S. London every Fri. nite. Jammed solid. Great music from "This Band of Mine" who played Beatles and Beachboy's music. This was 1966 and 67.
    Used to drink a few Mackeson and ciders (poor mans Black velvet) (mixed!!!).
    One nite, came out and the whole lot came up infront of the two coppers that stood outside. As it hit the pavement, it splattered all over their boots. They just looked at me in total dis-belief. Just then my mate pulled up in his motor and we jumped in and sped off !!
    What a great nite ;))))

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  11. Friday nights there were more people outside than inside! I was the Falcons vocalist and we used to alternate with Sean Buckley and the Breadcrumbs and This Group of Mine. Sean is now an actor. I did some recording with John Dalton, from TGOM a few years back. Roy Skinner, bass player and amazing voice of TGOM now lives in Australia.

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  12. Met my future husband there Derby day June 2nd 1976 so always a special place in our hearts xxx

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  13. Thanks for all the warm comments about the Puddings. I'm sure it will interest you to all to know that 'Tales From The Two Puddings', a book of Eddie Johnson's memories of his time there in the 60's, will be published later this year by the 51st State Press. More details on here when properly finalised...

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  14. would love to read it have many happy memories of frisday nights there in 1965-1966
    used to travel there by train from manor house
    with my friend Jean,found my first love there
    at 18 thought i would never get over it!!!! haha

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  15. Living in Stratford and reading 'Tales From The Two Puddings' now, as a distraction from the corporate monstrosity that is the Olympic city (I point out that I didn't get permission to use that word, so I apologise if you get hit with a 'cease & desist' notice). I bumped into your blog looking for an exterior photo of the pub. I must delve deeper, later.

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  16. "This group of mine" is the group I remember - they played covers that sounded better than the originals ! I was there in 65-66.
    I've now bought the book and look forward to reading it.

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  17. Puddings Groups 65-66. This Group of Mine..great authentic Beachboys and Jan and Dean sound.
    "Breadcrumbs"...recording band including one track with Jimmy Page(Led Zep). Toured Germany and all over UK. Backed Adam Faith I think.
    "Falcons"(my band) worked for Ken Johnson agency and also played all over, ........ also played Green Gate, Bethnal Green and were resident at Rose and Punchbowl Stepney(the sweatiest pub in the world), but as Kenny used to say the hotter it gets the more they drink. After a huge fight broke out in the Puddings one night Kenny told us always to keep on playing as if nothing was happening! Loads of musical memories, including being introduced in the bar to Clyde McPhatter,legendary lead vocalist with The Drifters, who I guess was appearing next door in Stratford Town Hall.

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  18. just read 'tales from the two puddings',....... fascinating book, ive found a 'TWO PUDDINGS PUB STRATFORD appreciation group' facebook group. few photos of the place and of a stratford long gone.

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  19. So...I'm driving in to work this morning when I hear a voice on Radio 4 and I think.....I remember that slightly cultured, East-End twang......"Oi, you lot! Who pissed in my dustbin?" (Turned out it was Ross, who paid for a new bin). The Anglia is long gone Andy, along with Mark's mini and my hair.
    Hope you and yours are well and I'll deffo buy the old fellas book. Up The Os!
    Al.

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    1. Haha - hi Al - what a surprise! Forgot about that bin story. Was thinking about our camping trip at Grindleford (?) recently. You can e-m at mail@seeingthings.org

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  20. In addition to my post on 31 May @ 16:32, Does any one remember "Norman" who diligently worked behind the bar on Friday nights in the '66/67 era? A stocky fella who was the best barman I think I ever saw working a very busy Pub.
    He had a brilliant knack of noting who was next in line for service and kept the panting customers happy with his speed and accuracy.
    I always treated him to a drink before the place got crowded to see TGOM. Your hard work not forgotten, Norman :)

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    1. Norman was a great bloke and a fantastic barman. Eddie Johnson mentions him in his book, which is a great read.

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  21. I was the lead vocalist with a group called The Beat Syndicate. we played a couple of times downstairs in the bar of The Two Puddings in 1965, what a great gig it was. The difficulty was protecting your gear when bottles started flying. The last time we appeared there was the night that Sean Buckley and The Breadcrumbs played their last gig upstairs before going on Ready Steady Go.

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