The Old Railway - Curzon Street
Sadly I haven’t really been able to find any information on this gem of a now demolished pub, other than to state the obvious that it was named in recognition of Curzon Street station which stood opposite the site until 1966 (and if recently unveiled high speed rail plans are forged ahead, may well again!).
My first recollection of the Old Railway was in 1985 when a teacher at my school – who knew I was learning to play drums and was into rock music – told me his son’s band Hostage were gigging at the pub and that he’d put me on the guest list! At 15 it was the first gig I’d ever been to and I’d never heard of Curzon Street but found my way there and it certainly confirmed my conviction that playing in bands was what I wanted to do. Several months later I found myself there once more to watch the first gig of a local band called Fayre Warning after bumping in to their bass player on a number 27 bus in West Heath.
The pub itself was quite run-down and consisted of a small bar connected by a short corridor, which could also be entered directly from the Curzon Street side of the building, to the room that used to house gigs. The venue part was small – I would estimate it held a couple of hundred standing people at the most – with a stage at one end, alcove for mixing desk the other, and bar the length of one side with a small ‘dressing room’ for bands accessed from behind the bar via a hatch at the stage end of the room.
Legend has it that Robert Plant and John Bonham from Led Zeppelin – and a whole host of other Brum-based musical notaries – frequented the place back in the 70s but during my time there I recall mostly local rock/metal acts, such as Shy, Briar and Tobruk, regularly gigging there and/or propping up the bar. I also attended an all-day rock festival there sometime around 1986/7 which was fun as I was working at Musical Exchanges then and so knew a lot of the musicians who were playing during the day.
Also in 1986/7 I played a gig there myself with my band Lost Cause (prophetically named) and I seem to recall that the landlady was called Gail and whose partner was a very amiable Rasta whose name escapes me!
Some time in the late 1980s I recall the Old Railway closing as a pub/gig venue and being turned into a Mexican Restaurant and by then Edwards Number 7 & 8 was in full swing as a rock gig venue and that was the end of my association with the place. I do, however, understand it reopened once more as the Old Railway towards the end of the 1990s but, as can be seen from the above photograph, is once again no more. Subject of a compulsory purchase order as part of the City’s Eastside redevelopment the pub, along with its surrounding area, lay derelict for a time until demolition began in late 2007.
If anyone reading this used to frequent the Old Railway, played there in bands, or has any information that would add to this article, please get in touch.
I visited the Old Railway pub many a time to see the band “paradox” play who also supported Country Cross-ovre star Dianne Solomon whenever she toured. Have also seen Raymond Frogget there
I used to go to the Railway back in the 70’s from about 74 – 78. The Steve Gibbons Band played there every week on a Wednesday for about a year in 74. Other bands there in the mid-late 70’s were Magnum, Trevor Burton Band, Raymond Froggatt, Spitfire which included Roger Hill and members of Wizard.
I can confirm that Robert Plant and John Bonham occasionaly called in.
It was quite a legendry pub gig back in the day and attracted a good crowd of people, don’t remember ever seeing any trouble. Had some really nice nights there.
We went loads of times in the 70’s
mostly to see Jameson Raid and Virgo.
It was a great place with bags of
atmosphere.
I went there many times in the 80s and saw local bands including pop-metal teenagers, Fayre Warning, a talented ac/dc tribute band (possibly called live wire), and, most importantly, Wolfsbane, who played every gig as if it were Madison Square Gardens and not a boozer down the back of Digbeth. A lot better than the other no-hopers who regularly passed through. A great unprentious pub venue.
I frequented the railway regulary in the eighties. i remember seeing the trevor burton band there and hansom beast amongst others, I spent more time in the bar with my bike parked up outside. Bikers could be found there often but never any trouble. Other regular haunts in that area included the ashted hamlet and the white towers. Good old days, sorely missed.
I used the railway between 1976 and 1978. mostly on saturday night when ‘Beau Flyer’ used to play. They were very good.
my friend and I formed a band and stole a couple of there numbers, –
‘paris alley walkers’ was my favorite .
I still have a couple of pictures of them playing there. the posters on the stage wall show ‘ slender loris’- ‘Mongrel’ – Sorahan’ – and ‘Gritt’
happy days
best pub in brum , i was in a band called eves attic , used to play there regulary in the mid 90,s alond with bands like summerland , the sheds , one eyed jacks , franklin trevor burton , steve gibbons , dave onions , flaming june …i so miss that pub
Does anyone remember the rock band Assassin, who regularly played at the Railway in the 80’s. They were good friends of another rock band who also played there called surface.
Hi Debra – I remember the name put can’t put faces to the members; I remember Surface well however and knew Jamie the drummer and his sister Tammy. Perhaps someone else will be able to fill-in the blanks?