It's upon us... Bugger knows how!
Remembrance Day has been and gone. In one more week, Leighton's streets will be aglow with festive lights, illuminating the enchanting potholes and sparkling Post Office 'For Sale' signs and the usual annual traditions have begun: being shocked that it's dark at 4 o' clock, eye-rolling the Daily Mail reading public's latest tantrum about black people in Christmas adverts (um... we have some news about Jesus that you may wish to sit down for), and wondering if it's still too early to stick a Terry's Chocolate Orange in your shopping basket. Any further attempts to fight it are futile.... Ready or not, Christmas is coming!Â
Now don't get me wrong, it's still November and I have absolutely no desire to mend my last-minute, slap-dash ways, but this year, with everything that has been going on behind the scenes at The Crow, I feel even less prepared than normal. Whilst our new lease has been agreed, the paperwork continues to be tediously time consuming and we have Crimbo decs and events to organise, a panto to start rehearsing, New Years Eve plans to finalise, next years calendar to book and Mariah The-Squirrel-Whisperer Carey warbling out of every supermarket speaker as a constant reminder that time is ticking away, can frankly sod off!
Our evening events are starting to fill up with large groups of work outings and overdue-friends-catch-ups, which adds some nice bustle and energy to the room and (of course) money in the till. But the influx of the once-a-year-trade is not without its downsides...
Whilst I haven't yet had any incidents that have pushed my patience to its limits, the PTSD flashbacks of Christmas Trade Past, is filling me with trepidation. I am already ridiculously tired and busy and am unlikely to muster the tolerance required to deal with the inevitable wave of sparkly stiletto-clad gonks with their Turkey teeth boyfriends, bowling in, shouting requests at the band and looking aghast that the bar serves weird foreign beer (albeit brewed in Burton on Trent). Â
We don't have many rules at The Crooked Crow Bar and I'd like to think that the 6 we do have are pretty much common sense...Â
1 - The basics: No drugs, no fighting, no bullying, no kids, no dogs when it's loud, no unwanted perving!
2 - No outside drinks (and no outside food during the bands)
3 - You can stand on the floor or pews but not the stage (during events), bar, tables, chairs or other furniture not designed to endure your drunken antics.
4 - Don't stand in the way of the doors or use the fire exit if there's not a fire and try to keep the doors closed when it's loud.Â
5 - Be mindful of your drinks near our equipment (don't put your drinks on the stage or the speakers or dangle your pint over the monitors)
6 - Be mindful of the others in the room (ie - don't pick your mates up &/or spin round like a t*t, as you're likely to hit someone and don't leave your handbag on the floor as it's not a 1970s disco and someone will trip over it)!
I like to think all our rules are fairly standard and that they could all be simplified into 1 generic rule: 'Just don't be a d*ck'... But the influx of the once-a-year-drinkers seems to have me running around, trying not to unleash my inner Grinch, explaining these fairly basic rules to grown adults as they look at me like I'm some power-obsessed killjoy! We had two separate dogs and owners appear last weekend after 10pm while the band was on - I mean what in the hipster hell is that all about?! I had to tell three groups of people that it wasn't okay to pick their mate up off the floor, two people not to use the fire exit, 1 person that they couldn't come in with a pint from another venue and countless people not to put their drinks on the stage and that the band would prefer you not to shout sh*t song requests at them as we are not a Costa Del Yobbo Karaoke bar! And it isn't even December yet!!!
But moaning aside, we have had some immense events of late: Our last Drag Cabaret of this year from Now That's What I Call Drag, The Big Fat Quiz Of The Crow, Castle Comedy ft Zoe Lyons, The LB Film Festival from Buzz Cinema, some fantastic Halloween shenanigans, Blockbuster Film Club has returned, Sunday vinyl DJ sessions, and (of course), more epic live music than you could shake a stick at! And we've plenty more to come before the end of the year...Â
Thurs 21st Nov: The Clothes Swish
THE DROP: 15:00-19:00
THE SHOP: From 20:00
Bring up to 10 items of clothing*
£2 ENTRY FOR CANCER RESEARCH UK (PAY ON THE NIGHT)
☆ FREE new wardrobe
☆ Complimentary cocktail (between DROP & SHOP, 7-8PM)
☆ Supporting Cancer Research
☆ Take home new-to-you clothes
☆ Bar is open until 11pm.
*Adult clothes, good condition, only clothing items can be accepted
All leftover items will be donated to Cancer Research UK. 18+
FRIDAY 22nd NOVEMBER.
THE JOHN OTWAY BAND
John Otway is an English singer-songwriter who has built a sizeable cult audience through extensive touring, a surreal sense of humour and a self-deprecating underdog persona.
Playing all his hits (and non hits!) you can always expect a fantastic show!
Indoor/standing gig.
Tickets holders only.
Doors: 8:30pm
Last few tickets are available here:
Every Saturday 12-6pm: BYO Vinyl
Great decks (Technic 1210s)
Great Studiomaster sound system
Relaxed, friendly atmosphere
All genres welcome
No pre booking needed
No time slots, just pop down & play
Adult space
Dogs welcome
Outdoor food allowed
Pool table/board games
Great beers and coffee
Free entry
Happy Hour every Saturday 8-9pm (followed by free live music).
Selected beers £3.50 a pint (Pravha, Aspalls, Tring) & optic spirit + mixer (Vodka, Bacardi, JD, Captain Morgans, Malibu, Gordons Gin).
Saturday 23rd November, 9pm: The Reformers
Mashed up, rocked up, dance-friendly pop from the boys in the red suits! Free Entry. 18+
Sunday 24th November, 12-4pm: Ska From The Bar
DJs Double Deckers will be spinning the finest Ska, Soul, Punk & Rock n Roll vinyl, perfect vibes for a chilled Sunday afternoon!
Wednesday 27th November: Castle Comedy Night
A Mystery WIP Special from one of the UK's finest comedians+top support act.
Mystery Act: He has hosted Live at the Apollo & appeared on Have I Got News For You, Would I lie to You, a regular on Backstage with Katharine Ryan, Comedians Giving Lectures, The Mash Report, Mock the Week & Question Time! With sell out Edinburgh shows and 2 UK tours under his belt.... this is shaping up to be a cracking show!!!
Tickets available from our website:
Friday 29th November: The Elastic Cats
Live 90s & 00s rock, perfect for hitting the dancefloor after The Xmas Festival shenanigans in town! 9pm. Free Entry. 18+
Saturday 30th November: Sweet Revenge
Epic hard rock and metal classics from this female fronted, powerhouse of a band! Free entry. 9pm start. 18+
Sunday 1st December 12-4pm: Alternative Crimbo Disco!
As the town is getting festive, we've decided, if you can't beat them, join them!!! With alternative vinyl providing the perfect soundtrack to a Sunday afternoon, hot spiced apple juice and boozy hot chocolates available at the bar and the usual board games and pool table available to play. Free entry, dogs welcome, outside food allowed, 16+
Wednesday 4th December 8pm: Blockbuster Film Club Special
Join us for a special candlelit screening of The Lost Boys.
Grab a cushion and some popcorn and boozy hot chocolate/beer from the bar and settle down in the old Blockbuster Video unit to watch this 80s cult, vampire classic...
When a recently divorced mother and her two teenage boys move to a coastal town to stay with her father, it doesn't take long for the brothers to realize the area is a haven for something much more sinister than party-going surfers.
Tickets are £5 from our website. 18+
Friday 06th December 9pm: Talkin' Loud
Dust off those dancing shoes and get down to The CCB for a night of the finest RnB, Funk and soul. This fantastic 10 piece band will be live from 9pm. Advanced tickets are just £5 from our website. 18+
Saturday 07th December, 9pm: High Point Players
We are SO excited for this gig! Back at The Crooked Crow Bar by popular demand, female fronted soulful rock & pop covers that are guaranteed to blow you away. Free entry. 18+
Sunday 08th December 12-4pm: Old Skool House
DJ Wout will be manning the decks, spinning some old skool House vinyl, the perfect soundtrack for a Sunday afternoon. Free entry. 18+
Wednesday 11th December, 8pm: The Big Fat Quiz of The Crow
Thursday 12th December, 8pm: Candlelight Blues Sessions ft Robert J Hunter
Saturday 14th December, 9pm: Hard Rock, Live & Loud from V8
Sunday 15th 12-4pm: The Lounge Buzzardz - Eclectic, chilled vinyl beats
Sunday 15th 6pm: Kopy Katz, live neo Rockabilly
Wednesday 18th, 7pm: Castle Comedy Christmas Special ft Robert Deering
Thursday 19th, 8pm: Khepera debut gig
Friday 20th, 9pm: Live music from The Zeroes
Saturday 21st, 9pm: Live music from The Corsairs
Sunday 22nd 4pm: Crow Christmas (Carols with The LB Philharmonic Marching Band followed by Die Hard on the big screen).
New Years Eve with The Fret Heads: Tickets now on sale from our website.
PLUS... We are on the hunt...
We are looking for music loving heroes & weirdos to join our bar crew on a Friday & Saturday night.
Must be 18+
Must be able to commit to a regular weekly shift.
Bar experience preferred but not essential.
And we are looking for some new pool players....
League Pool takes place on a Tuesday night from 8pm at various venues in LB & surrounding areas.
If you would like to join the team or want any further info, message our page: thecrookedcrowbar@gmail.com
Fancy doing something wonderful this Christmas? Why not come and take part in our GIVING TREE
How it works:
1. Pop into The Crooked Crow Bar and choose a tree-shaped gift tag from our wall
2. Check the back of the tag and see the name and age of a child and the gift they have requested
3. Purchase that gift and attach the tree tag (please don't wrap).
4. Bring the gift to the Crow and hand to bar staff for safekeeping before the 18th December
5. We will deliver to KidsOut when they call in collections
6. KidsOut ensure the gifts get to the children for Christmas
The recipients are children who have escaped domestic violence, being forced to flee their homes quickly and leave all possessions behind, as well as children who are living in the highest areas of deprivation in the country and are living with a disability, serious illness or life-limiting conditions.
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