Pub saved as new era begins (From Andover Advertiser)
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Pub saved as new era begins at Talking Heads in Southampton
11:22am Monday 13th February 2012 in Hampshire Business
Guy Benfield, left, and Martin White outside Talking Heads
ONE of Hampshire’s best-loved music venues has been saved, the Daily Echo can reveal.
The Talking Heads is set to reopen next month after a Southampton duo rode to the rescue of the iconic city pub, which closed in early January.
Businessman Guy Benfield, 52, has signed a lease with the landlords to take over the venue.
He will run it will business partner Martin White, 54, a school pal who has worked in the music and the entertainment industry for decades, including a stint as the Talking Heads’ sound engineer.
Previous names linked to rescuing the venue included Isle of Wight festival supremo John Giddings and Radio One DJ Rob da Bank.
As reported in the Daily Echo, previous proprietor Mark Hughes ceased trading blaming financial pressure caused by the recession.
The doors closed despite an online campaign, backed by around 4,000 people, to keep the Portswood Road venue going.
Mr White, who teaches live event production at Southampton Solent University, said he was confident the venue would be put back on its feet.
He said condition of the building and its amenities had deteriorated over the past few years and the venue would remain closed while remedial work and refurbishments are carried out, including a possible new beer garden.
The beer cellar will also be renovated and a selection of top real ales put back on hand pumps.
Mr White said he hoped the venue could reopen as early as the middle of next month as an “attractive venue for all kinds of events”, including music, p r o d u c t i o n , drama and dance workshops.
He said the front bar would open from noon as a traditional pub.
The 260-capacity club is renowned for staging an eclectic mix of musical genres from folk, reggae and jazz to indie and punk as well as welcoming comedy, drama and poetry. It has helped launched the careers of many up and coming acts.
Over the years the Talking Heads has hosted gigs from such acts as The Script, The Damned, Juliette Lewis, The New York Dolls and Southampton-based trio Band Of Skulls.
Mr Benfield, who is in the final year of an archaeology degree at the University of Southampton, said he was grateful for all the support shown to the Talking Heads.
He said: “It’s an important venue, an important place for Southampton, and it’s very exciting to be reopening it as quickly as possible.”
The pub is owned by Southampton-based property firm Bajar Estates Ltd, which paid £351,000 for the freehold nearly eight years ago.
Comments(21)
vag
says...
12:11pm Mon 13 Feb 12
Mikkaelson
says...
12:30pm Mon 13 Feb 12
Steady Eddie
says...
12:34pm Mon 13 Feb 12
Download their Cd now for free - http://youngastronau
t.co.uk/
Stillness
says...
12:56pm Mon 13 Feb 12
Mikkaelson wrote:If that is your main consideration perhaps you should stick to outdoor events, as long as it doesn't get too sunny and hot for you that is.
I will never go to a gig at The Talking Heads again until they sort out their air conditioning!! Priority one refurbishment need.
OSPREYSAINT
says...
1:06pm Mon 13 Feb 12
mack chinnon
says...
1:39pm Mon 13 Feb 12
Mikkaelson wrote:Good.
I will never go to a gig at The Talking Heads again until they sort out their air conditioning!! Priority one refurbishment need.
jamjar
says...
1:49pm Mon 13 Feb 12
freefinker
says...
2:24pm Mon 13 Feb 12
Stillness wrote:.. or to cold
Mikkaelson wrote:If that is your main consideration perhaps you should stick to outdoor events, as long as it doesn't get too sunny and hot for you that is.
I will never go to a gig at The Talking Heads again until they sort out their air conditioning!! Priority one refurbishment need.
Mikkaelson is Goldilocks, me finks
Stillness
says...
2:45pm Mon 13 Feb 12
freefinker wrote:Goldilocks was a thief and should be made to do porridge. The bear faced cheek of the girl.
Stillness wrote:.. or to cold
Mikkaelson wrote:If that is your main consideration perhaps you should stick to outdoor events, as long as it doesn't get too sunny and hot for you that is.
I will never go to a gig at The Talking Heads again until they sort out their air conditioning!! Priority one refurbishment need.
Mikkaelson is Goldilocks, me finks
Beer Monster
says...
3:01pm Mon 13 Feb 12
jamjar wrote:Amen to that :-)
Fantastic news! Even better there will be real beer!!
8089
says...
3:03pm Mon 13 Feb 12
Mikkaelson wrote:Perhaps you should stay in your oxygen tent instead!
I will never go to a gig at The Talking Heads again until they sort out their air conditioning!! Priority one refurbishment need.
What FANTASTIC news!! Glad someone has finally saved the great Talking Heads.It's a brilliant venue!!!
Xgipper
says...
4:25pm Mon 13 Feb 12
sarfhamton
says...
5:18pm Mon 13 Feb 12
RonnieSoak
says...
6:09pm Mon 13 Feb 12
sarfhamton wrote:I wouldn't at the moment. AVG is reporting that it's been infected with a nasty.
Isnt this old news? Log into Mintsouth for up to date news
RadicalEmu
says...
6:44pm Mon 13 Feb 12
.
Will be interesting to see what bands are going to be booked now.
andysaints007
says...
12:36am Tue 14 Feb 12
sarfhamton wrote:always one whinger for every story - go away u donut
Isnt this old news? Log into Mintsouth for up to date news
MaxGreenwood
says...
8:59am Tue 14 Feb 12
As for the air conditioning...I don't go to gigs to be comfortable.
And it always did have "real beer" ales galore in fact! And was one of the few venues to serve Stowford Press.
Making it more awesome.
Congratulations guys, best of luck in the future.
threaterino
says...
4:28pm Tue 14 Feb 12
threaterino
says...
4:28pm Tue 14 Feb 12
Matt Probert
says...
5:40pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Rhombus says...
11:41am Mon 13 Feb 12