Music pub may close

6th June 2003 - The Maidenhead Advertiser

A LIVE music venue in Maidenhead could close because its owners are in negotiations to sell it.

The Newt and Cucumber, in Bridge Street, has become well known as an alternative live music venue providing a unique place for local and national bands to air their material.

Manager of the pub Paul Kilford arrived over a year ago and declared he wanted to make it Maidenhead’s number one live music venue. He has succeeded in attracting major tribute bands, a regular Cafe Jazz session, as well as a weekly goth night. Kid Galahad from Maidenhead, whose album has been well received by the national music press, have also performed there.

This week Mr Kilford said he could not comment on the situation because he w as still waiting to hear from his bosses, Greene King, about the future of the pub.

But Bob Barker, who runs LineOut records and organises many of the gigs at the Newt, is now looking for another venue and said his last gig would be on June 25.

He said: “We cannot get any where else in Maidenhead and will be looking at going to other towns such as Reading.

“I have been promoting some of the guys I know, but we have also got some fairly big bands down from other parts of the country. The Gary Numan tribute band was excellent but I cannot book anyone else now because it is too risky.”

Mailing List

Music pub may close