The Crown in Ferry Road, Rye blasted into action last weekend with Miss Bea-Have on double bass and a huge horn (shown above at rear at an earlier Jazz Festival in Rye) and Ms Kitty (in front) on vocals and piano in the lead for the Fabulous Red Diesel.
They pulled in a full, healthy and happy crowd in contrast to a few years back when a police car was often parked midway between the pub and the warehouse by the level crossing – which once contained a club with a reputation amongst the youngsters, but is now expensive flats. The crowd in the Crown was very much there for the music.
I and a few others even danced, though I had a problem with my trousers staying up. Serious surgery 18 months ago to tackle bowel cancer has increased my waistline and I really need braces (with buttons) to hold up my jeans.
The Waterworks was also very busy the day after, Sunday, with some of the cheeseboard crowd having to leave early for an afternoon gig up at the brewery on top of the hill (a strenuous 20 minute walk from the Waterworks, but worth it) to see Freddie Hall perform a wonderful selection of Motown and RnB classics including Tracks of My Tears, Stand by Me, Ain’t no Sunshine and Proud Mary, his soulful voice joined by many in the audience.
There’s lots of space outside and on a good day it is very sunny, while inside the band, and the gents, are on your left and the bar is to the right – and you can be sure some brews are really fresh!
Some male locals remained though in the Waterworks to play cribbage I think (but I stand to be corrected) with some Ashford women, until at least one card seemed to have a double and the taxi drivers did not seem to be complaining about business being busy. Another Bank Holiday approaches, with perhaps more 60s style dancing in the Cinque Ports garden. My son, down for Easter weekend, disowns me on such occasions – and actually neither wife was keen on my dancing either.
One of the most skilled couples dancing in the Cinque Ports gardens at Easter also appeared at the Crown for Fabulous Red Diesel so perhaps that pub will become all the more livelier – but for good reasons which overcome its former reputation.
Image Credits: Kenneth Bird .