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*London’s “Lost Music Venues”-Part 4-the “Ruskin Arms”-East Ham and its Mod & Metal connections

Posted on August 6, 2020 by Geoff Clements Posted in Blog, Music, Pubs .

This week ‘London Shoes’ didn’t have to travel too far to reach its subject matter location – just a short 15mins train journey from my home base to East Ham–London E12.

The topic in question represents Part 4 of the London Shoes series entitled “London’s-Lost Music Venues” and takes a look at a place that I was fully aware when growing up nearby, and a venue that I actually frequented a couple of times myself in my early 20’s.

The venue itself has been closed for quite a while now, but its legacy will forever be etched in rock music history – it’s the legendary “Ruskin Arms” pub in High Street North-East Ham-E12.

The Ruskin Arms pub situated on the corner of Ruskin Avenue and High Street North, first opened its doors way back in 1899, at a time when East Ham was considered quite an affluent and posh area of east London, with a high density of residential and commercial properties.

Structurally, this magnificent 3 storey building displayed all the architectural features of the pubs that were built during the late Victorian period – with timber frames, large oriel designed windows and plenty of small gables.

The Ruskin Arms soon became one of the east end’s most popular boozers, and its design and position made it a noticeable landmark in the East Ham area.

As the decades progressed through the 20th century, the pub was acquired by the large ‘Bass Charrington’ brewery chain.

But it is in terms of ‘music’ that the Ruskin Arms wrote itself into the history books.

In early 1965 two local aspiring teenage musicians by the names of Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane had a chance encounter with an older local lad by the name of Jimmy Winston.

Marriott & Lane mentioned to Winston that they were in the process of forming a ‘band’ with their mate Kenny Jones – and Jimmy Winston just happened to mention that he too was in a band that actually had a regular residency at a local pub – the Ruskin Arms in High Street North-East Ham.

In fact, Jimmy Winston’s family actually owned the Ruskin Arms at that time – and so it was convenient and easy for Jimmy’s band to perform gigs at the pub.

Steve Marriott was already familiar with the Ruskin Arms as his Dad ran a fish stall directly opposite the pub.

Seeing an opportunity to secure a venue for their newly formed band, Marriott & Lane ventured down to the Ruskin Arms to check out Jimmy Winston and his band performing on the pub’s stage – and apparently, as legend has it, by the end of that evening Steve Marriott ended up on stage accompanying the band on harmonica.

Following that nights events, Steve Marriott & Ronnie Lane asked Jimmy Winston if he would like to play keyboards in the new band that they had formed with their drummer mate Kenny Jones.

Although Winston was a few years older than Marriott, Lane & Jones – his appointment to their band came in very handy, as Winston’s brother owned a van, which could be used by the band to transport their equipment from gig to gig – also, they could use the Ruskin to rehearse in, and also do a few gigs in there whilst cutting their teeth.

And that is how the now legendary iconic ‘Small Faces’ were born.

The Small Faces used the top floor of the Ruskin Arms as their rehearsal base – and in their very early days, played many of their gigs down in the Ruskin Arms bar, slowly building up a large and continually growing audience and fan base.

The Small Faces rise to fame was very swift, particularly when the legendary promoter ‘Don Arden’ (e.g. Sharon Osborne’s dad) became their manager.

Sadly, as the bands reputation and popularity grew, Jimmy Winston’s position in the band was soon in jeopardy, and by the end of their first year in existence, Don Arden had recruited the more accomplished ‘Ian (Mac) McLagan’ to replace Winston as keyboardist for the Small Faces.

The rest, as they say, is history.

The Small Faces were (and still are in many respects) considered one of the legendary forerunners of the ‘Mod’ movement and genre of music – and of course, Ronnie Lane – Kenny Jones  & Ian McLagan went on to join Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood to form the brilliant ‘Faces’ who were extremely successful all over the world.

Following the demise of the Small Faces and the Faces, the Ruskin Arms still clung on to its music heritage – because in the late 90’s the pub started to host annual Small Faces Conventions – which were really popular and well attended by ex-Mods from all over the country.

However, the Small Faces were not to be the only band to put the Ruskin Arms on the music map – because move on a decade to the late 70’s, another iconic band to be, cut its musical teeth down at the old Ruskin Arms.

In the mid 1970’s a local lad by the name of Steve Harris formed a heavy/hard rock band – that he named after a medieval torture device – and that band is the now globally renowned “Iron Maiden” who to date, have released over 40 albums, 12 of which have been ‘live’ recordings – an output that also includes EP’s, singles, bootlegs, compilations, box-sets and music videos.

Back in 1975 Iron Maiden had secured a residency at the Cart & Horses pub in Stratford–London E15 and were building up a big reputation for their brand of heavy metal music.

By 1978 Iron Maiden had made their debut at the Ruskin Arms – and throughout the immediate following years they made many appearances down at the Ruskin, drawing in punters from far and wide.

Throughout the 1970’s & 80’s the Ruskin Arms was run by former champion boxer ‘Joe Lucy’.

East ender Joe Lucy held the British Lightweight championship belt between the years 1953 to 1955 & again in 1956 to 1957.

Now – this is where I personally have a sort of tenuous link to the Joe Lucy (and the Ruskin Arms), because back in the early 1950’s, my dear old late dad Bill, claimed that he did his National Service at the same Royal West Kent Regiment’s barracks in Folkestone, as boxer Joe Lucy.

My old dad was a good story teller, and he claims that when he newly arrived at his barracks, he was showed to his billet and introduced to his fellow billet residents.

The story goes (as relayed to me many times by my old man) that his new billet colleagues set my dad a sort of initiation task, and that task was to ‘have a word’ with the bloke down the end of the hut, and tell him to turn his bloody radio down or off, as the constant noise was getting on everyone’s nerves. So – being an obedient chap, and wanting to impress his new fellow soldier colleagues, my dad wandered down to this guy’s area of the billet and asked him in no uncertain terms to turn his radio off – to which this fella calmly squared up to my dad and lamped him one on his ‘boat’ knocking my dear old dad out sparko – and of course, that person just happened to be the one and only Joe Lucy!!!

Now – I don’t know how true that tale is, but I have no reason to disbelieve me old dad, and so I felt that this little diversionary tale was worthy of inclusion in this article – albeit a very tenuous link.

Turning back to Iron Maiden and its association with the Ruskin Arms – the pub soon became one of London’s go-to places to hear ‘live’ metal music and throughout the late 70’s and throughout the 1980’s, bands from all over the country would play the ‘Ruskin’ drawing in punters from all over the place – putting the venue well & truly on the music history map.

However, as time progressed, so did music tastes and fashions, and by the late 1990’s the popularity of ‘live’ metal down at the Ruskin Arms started to fade, and the pub started to diversify its ‘live’ entertainment more toward stand-up comedy.

Sadly the Ruskin Arms closed down completely as a pub in 2008.

There were attempts to revitalise the building by turning it into a hotel  and high-end eatery, but to be fair, the surrounding area wasn’t really the ideal place for such project – and so that venture was short lived.

However, this impressive local landmark pub building is still in situ today, but is now sadly all boarded up and abandoned, and looks a sorry state.

Now – followers of ‘Shoes’ will know that I usually end a blog visit by taking in a ‘cheeky’ beer at a pub near to the subject matter – however, with the Covid19 pandemic situation still lingering about, I didn’t really fancy entering into any unknown East Ham pub.

However, having spent time photographing the Ruskin Arms, I thought that I would walk just a little further down High Street North to check out the site of what was once the East Ham branch of Barclays Bank, located on the corner of Sibley Road and High St North – a place where I worked as a Personal Loans Officer for a couple of years in the mid 1980’s – a role I thoroughly enjoyed and a branch that holds happy memories for me.

The bank building dates back to 1909. The Bank branch actually closed some years ago, at which time the premises was converted into a pub with the great name of ‘The Overdraft Tavern’. Sadly the pub is now closed too, and from what I could see, the premises now appears to be some sort of spiritual healing business – but, just like the old Ruskin Arms, at least this structurally unique old building is still standing and not redeveloped into flats.

So – that completes the ‘Ruskin Arms’ blog – an old closed down pub building in today’s world, but with a fantastic heritage, that makes it a bit special as one of London’s “Lost Music Venue’s”.

Hope you enjoyed this piece.

_______________________________________________________

See below the full gallery of photographs accompanying the Ruskin Arms blog

East Ham tube station – on the District Line – the nearest station to the old Ruskin Arms pub

 

High Street North-East Ham – which runs from the Romford Road in Manor Park, right through East Ham and beyond – and is where the Ruskin Arms pub can be found, as well as the old Barclays Bank East Ham branch building

 

The Ruskin Arms pub as it was when it first opened in 1899

 

The Ruskin Arms pub – as it stands today

 

Me – outside the legendary but now abandoned Ruskin Arms pub

 

The Ruskin Arms pub as it was in 1962

 

The Ruskin Arms pub is situated on the corner of Ruskin Avenue and High Street North – E12

 

The original design structures of this magnificent 3 storey building displayed all the architectural features of the pubs that were built during the late Victorian period – with timber frames, large oriel designed windows and plenty of small gables

 

Me – outside one of the old entrances to the Ruskin Arms pub

 

Another view of the now abandoned Ruskin Arms pub

 

Reminders of better days, can still be seen on the walls of the Ruskin Arms pub

 

One of the old entrances to the Ruskin Arms pub

 

Me – outside the bar entrance to the Ruskin Arms pub

 

In the late 90’s there were attempts to revitalise the old Ruskin Arms building by turning it into a hotel and high-end eatery, but to be fair, the surrounding area wasn’t really the ideal place for such project – and so that venture was short lived.

 

One of the very first promo shots of the ‘Small Faces’ – with original keyboard player ‘Jimmy Winston’ 2nd from the right 🙂 From L to R:- Steve Marriott – Ronnie Lane – Jimmy Winston – Kenny Jones

 

Another early promo shots of the ‘Small Faces’ – with original keyboard player ‘Jimmy Winston’ 1st left From the right 🙂 From L to R:- Jimmy Winston – Kenny Jones – Ronnie Lane – Steve Marriott

 

By late 1965 at the end of the 1st year in existence of the Small Faces – the experienced Ian McLagan had replaced Jimmy Winston on keyboards. From L to R:- Ian McLagan – Ronnie Lane – Kenny Jones – Steve Marriott

 

Following the demise of the Small Faces, Ronnie Lane-Kenny Jones & Ian McLagan recruited Rod Stewart & Ronnie Wood – and the excellent ‘Faces’ were born 🙂 From L to R:- Rod Stewart – Ian McLagan – Ronnie Wood – Kenny Jones & Ronnie Lane in front.

 

Just a short walk away from the Ruskin Arms pub – the legacy of the Small Faces and their past association with the area – still has an influence today

 

A photo of me taken earlier this year – in ‘Ronnie Lane’ Manor Park

 

 

Throughout the 1970’s & 80’s the Ruskin Arms was run by former champion boxer ‘Joe Lucy’. East ender Joe Lucy held the British Lightweight championship belt between the years 1953 to 1955 & again in 1956 to 1957

 

In 1978 Iron Maiden made their debut at the Ruskin Arms – and throughout the immediate following years they made many appearances down at the Ruskin, drawing in punters from far and wide.

 

Into the 1980’s, and now an extremely popular act amongst ‘metal’ fans – Iron Maiden never forgot their Ruskin Arms roots

 

An old photo from the 1980’s that shows just how popular ‘live’ metal music was down at the Ruskin Arms – coach parties and tour buses parked outside every week

 

London Shoes – Blogs Published by Geoff Clements · 2 hrs · Edited · As Iron Maiden’s success ascended, they never forgot their Ruskin Arms roots:-

 

Despite changing times the Ruskin Arms clung on to its music heritage – and in the late 90’s the pub started to host annual Small Faces Conventions – which were really popular and well attended by ex-Mods from all over the country

 

A view of a Covid19 impacted ‘High Street North’ looking south towards East Ham – photo taken from outside the Ruskin Arms pub

 

Just a little further down the road from the Ruskin Arms pub is the site of what was once the East Ham branch of Barclays Bank, located on the corner of Sibley Road and High St North – a place where I worked as a Personal Loans Officer for a couple of years in the mid 1980’s

 

The lovely old Barclays Bank East Ham branch building dates all the way back to1909

 

Another view of the site that was once the East Ham branch of Barclays Bank, located on the corner of Sibley Road and High St North – a place where I worked for a couple of years in the mid 1980’s

 

When the Barclays Bank East Ham branch closed and moved to a new location in High Street North – the premises was converted into a pub with the great name of ‘The Overdraft Tavern’. Sadly the pub is now closed too

 

Me – outside the entrance to what was once the East Ham branch of Barclays Bank – where I worked for a couple of years in the mid 1980’s

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12 Comments
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12 Responses

  1. Neil says
    August 6, 2020 at 8:39 am

    Superb piece. The sad demise of so many of London’s grand and historic pubs is quite shocking. Memories such as you have shared in this wonderful blog are so important. Agree with you about the Faces and Small Faces, both brilliant and super influential

    Reply
    • Tracy says
      November 11, 2020 at 6:40 pm

      Hi Neil it’s tracy remember Trevor who did your lights and road crew

      Reply
  2. Paul says
    August 6, 2020 at 8:39 am

    Absolutely brilliant – if you’re a Marriott fan, look up the Small Fakers when live gigs start up again, a tribute band but the best I’ve ever seen

    Reply
  3. Jude says
    August 6, 2020 at 8:39 am

    Wonderful evocative piece of writing thanks Geoff

    Reply
  4. Gill says
    August 6, 2020 at 8:40 am

    Love this Geoff. One of my favourite bands Small Faces not Iron Maiden

    Reply
  5. Dave says
    August 6, 2020 at 8:42 am

    The Ruskin reopened as a hotel and events (weddings etc) venue in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics, but I know it wasn’t as successful as intended. Sometime afterwards, the pub “proper” also re-opened, though more of what I’d call a bar. It did feature memorabilia that gave a nod to it’s past and also had live music at weekends. We drank in there a couple of times during weekday afternoons – it was OK though nothing to make a effort to go to regularly. Sadly, it lost it’s licence a few years ago due to serious “trouble” outside one night. We walked past The Overdraft Tavern a couple of weeks ago and it was certainly open with “punters” drinking inside. When it first opened quite a few years back we tried it, but were “underwhelmed”.

    Reply
  6. Joan says
    August 6, 2020 at 8:42 am

    I spent a week with the Small Faces in a hotel in Torquay when I was 15 lol

    Reply
  7. derek Sparrow says
    August 6, 2020 at 9:58 am

    Great work again Geoff.
    The Ruskin Arms was just ONE of my local pubs I used frequent between the years 1962 to 1973, and I spent many a Saturday night at the Ruskin with my then neighbours.
    As I told you when you kindly did my ‘The Real Del-Boy’s London’ blog, I too had a run in with Joe Lucy, who fortunately ended up apologising to me.
    Also, I knew nothing of the music going on at the Ruskin Arms (I was probably to drunk), and my evenings in there would always without fail, end up with us all going back to one of our houses in Sheridan Road to continue our partying.

    Reply
  8. Peter Lemon says
    August 6, 2020 at 1:50 pm

    Thank you again for a great article to read. It did bring back a lot of memories for me as I used to visit the pub for the music. One was an all girl group who’s name I can’t remember but they were good.

    Reply
    • Geoff Clements says
      August 6, 2020 at 7:01 pm

      Thank you Peter, I’m really pleased you enjoyed the blog – and thank you too for sharing your own personal memories of the pub – you never know, there may be a another reader who remembers the name of the girl group you mention.
      Cheers…..GEOFF (London Shoes)

      Reply
  9. Mick Colquhoun says
    February 21, 2021 at 4:10 am

    The Small Faces revivals at the Ruskin Arms were fantastic.
    What a good time we had.
    John Helier and Molly made an event to look forward to each year and the two memorials of Ronnie’s and especially Steve’s at the Astoria will never be forgotten – Good times.
    “We are the mods we are we are the mods we are we are we are the mods”.!!!!

    Reply
    • Geoff Clements says
      February 21, 2021 at 3:47 pm

      Thanks Mick for sharing your own personal experiences and memories of the Ruskin,especially the Small Faces ‘revival’ events – I’m envious 👍

      Cheers……GEOFF (LONDON SHOES)

      Reply

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