Frog & Frigate

[Dicko]

Walked past it yesterday & it was closed, I hadn't heard it had shut down

 

Another classic Southampton joint hits the buffers, bit gutted, had some amazing nights in there over the years

 

Does anyone have confirmation that it's officially finished?

[Robsk II]

Yeah, it has. I found this out a week ago, was surprised as had half planned to go there that night. was in there 3 weeks ago, no word about it then. It was owned by the bloke who owned the Hobbit, the guy that died, so maybe it closing is linked to that in some way. Seems a bit odd, I can't imagine they don't do pretty well. Shame.

[swannymere]

Great venue, ideal if you were completely wasted on a friday or saturday night as it would be so rammed you would'nt fall over

[Elmore]

Yeah, it has. I found this out a week ago, was surprised as had half planned to go there that night. was in there 3 weeks ago, no word about it then. It was owned by the bloke who owned the Hobbit, the guy that died, so maybe it closing is linked to that in some way. Seems a bit odd, I can't imagine they don't do pretty well. Shame.

 

Was that the same guy who played the acoustic guitar? I used to work with one of the guys who painted the mural on the upstairs wall.

[Hatch]

Another classic Southampton joint hits the buffers, bit gutted, had some amazing nights in there over the years

 

 

+1

 

but going back 20 years or so though

[swannymere]

Was that the same guy who played the acoustic guitar?

 

I think that was Derek, but i think he left a few years back?

[hypochondriac]

I was told that the previous owner is considering making an offer so it could reopen.

[miserableoldgit]

I well remember the opening night many years ago. In fact we went to a private Pre-Opening Night party the night before the official opening. It was the first (I think) venture by The Ringwood Brewery into owning and running their own pub, with a micro-brewery downstairs. Was a great pub.

[hamster]

Great pub, famous the world over.

 

I was thinking just the other day as I drove down Burgess Road, how so many of our decent pubs had gone. Just on Burgess Road there was the Black Cat, The Gate, Crown & Sceptre and The Bassett, only The Stile remains and I'm not sure that that is technically in Burgess Road.

 

I really do hope that is does re-open, and it always seemed busy. Maybe someone has seen the potential of developing the site into a few more 'luxury apartments', we need more of those don't we!

 

You can't beat a decent pub thread on a Sunday afternoon to whet your appetite for a pint of 49'er, shame I am still hungover from last night in the Brigh****er. Maybe it's people like me ****ing it up in Wetherspoons that has actually brought about the demise of the great British boozer. Discuss.

[TopGun]

+1

 

but going back 20 years or so though

 

Great venue, ideal if you were completely wasted on a friday or saturday night as it would be so rammed you would'nt fall over

 

Or dance on the tables so you could fall over!

[amsterdam]

Bizarre, was just thinking about the Frog the other day - anyone remember the songs? (I seem to remember the guitarist was called Derek - I would have been a regular around '82/'83)

 

I used to love screaming Thin Lizzy's "Whisky in the Jar", and there was the alternative lyrics of "Sloop John B." - sure there were some Sex Pistols ones that always ended in in one of the tables collapsing - "Pretty Vacant"? Christmases were great too - "F**k off you big fat b*stard, I ain't going to pull your sleigh"...

[Lets B Avenue]

I well remember the opening night many years ago. In fact we went to a private Pre-Opening Night party the night before the official opening. It was the first (I think) venture by The Ringwood Brewery into owning and running their own pub, with a micro-brewery downstairs. Was a great pub.

 

October 1981 approx. I was going there from the beginning and the beer was the best in town. The original brewer left after about 6 months to run his own pub in Skatesville and it was never as good after that.

 

I used to go there with a fellow postee, who in those days wasn't afraid to walk the streets (Hi, Dicky!!) and one of our crowd got a job behind the bar. This was very useful on Friday nights as we got served despite being well away from the bar.

 

They took on a pianist, a very tall West Indian, and there were some great evenings, including lock-ins over the Xmas and New Year. There was a barmaid called Cheryl who my mate got a dose off and another old dyke who was also a cabbie. It was rumoured later that the pianist got put away for kiddie fidddling. :mad:

Great pub, famous the world over.

 

I was thinking just the other day as I drove down Burgess Road, how so many of our decent pubs had gone. Just on Burgess Road there was the Black Cat, The Gate, Crown & Sceptre and The Bassett, only The Stile remains and I'm not sure that that is technically in Burgess Road.

 

Black Cat?? Its the Hampton Park matey. Really Hamster, I thought better of you. The Stile (or shall we call it The Hedgehog & Hogshead) is in University Road. The poor citizens of Burgess Road have no boozer, but they do have a Tesco Express and also a choice of 5 chinese take-aways in the space of 100 yards.

[swannymere]

Bizarre, was just thinking about the Frog the other day - anyone remember the songs? (

 

Crocodile Rock - Elton John

Come up and see me - Steve Harley & ****ney Rebel

A bowie song but can't remember which

A Nirvana song

[amsterdam]

Crocodile Rock - Elton John

Come up and see me - Steve Harley & ****ney Rebel

A bowie song but can't remember which

A Nirvana song

 

 

Yes! I remember the first 2!

The Bowie one was "Starman", I think?

 

Can't remember the Nirvana one.

 

Ones I sort of remember, but as senility starts taking hold I can't be sure, were:

 

Simon & Garfunkel ("The Boxer"? "Mrs Robinson"?)

The Beatles ("Saw Her Standing There"? "Twist & Shout"?)

Rolling Stones - "Get Off My Cloud"?

Kinks - "You Really Got Me"?

 

And I'm sure there was a Hendrix one?

[Dimond Geezer]

Many happy memories of drunken Friday nights in the Frog. We had ‘our’ table and there was always a group of ‘old gits’ (40 year olds) stood under the stairs. I remember when it was bitterly cold outside & so hot & sweaty inside there would be a mist in the stairwell going down to the gents.

 

Spilt blood & lost teeth in there – not because of any trouble, my dentures flew out whilst singing my little heart out one night & I cut an artery in my finger whilst flicking the nipple off a Grolsh bottle top, it pumped blood up the wall and across the bar.

 

Memorable songs:

The Boxer – Simon & Garfunkle, Billericay Dickey – Ian Dury?, Daydream Believer – Monkeys, Cover Me – Springsteen., She’s 16 (she’s Jail bait & She’s mine)– Ringo Starr, Starman - Bowie

 

I often catch myself singing alternative lyrics to songs when the come on the radio, It can be embarrassing sometimes.

 

When to Frog originally closed (1992 ish) Derek played at a number of other places, Jesters in Bevios Valley, The Hedgehog & Hogs Head (Stile) in Burgess Rd, but best of all was a pub called the Gaol House in Poopey – that was an interesting night out.

 

We’ve been talking for some time about paying the old place a visit, the intention was to be one of the old gits under the stairs, I guess it wont be happening now.

[amsterdam]

I know what you mean about alternative lyrics, DG! Having spent most Friday nights for 2 years singing (OK - shouting tunelessly...) "I feel so f**ked up, S**T! I wanna go home" I'm always surprised that the Beach Boys know an alternative version!

 

Daydream Believer is a good shout - brings warm, happy memories of mad evenings! It's true what you say about the lack of trouble though - I remember a few "handbags" but it never got seriously out of hand, which is surprising really when you think about how much everyone was steamed up and "buzzed"? I seem to remember that Newcastle Brown was my ale of choice - not for any fashion or taste reasons, just it meant you didn't lose so much beer when people fell over you!

[hamster]

I had a great drunken snowball fight outside the Frog way back when. I seem to remember it being a New Years Eve (could be mistaken, for obvious reasons), but was definitely on a night when a group called 'Spatz' hade played a set.

[Dimond Geezer]

I seem to remember that Newcastle Brown was my ale of choice - not for any fashion or taste reasons, just it meant you didn't lose so much beer when people fell over you!

 

Newky Brown or Newquay Steam Bitter (£1.50 a bottle I think), for the same

reason, you wouldn't have much more than half a pint left in a glass by

the time you'd fought your way back to your perch.

 

They used to brew their own beer, called Frog Or Frogger, I seem to

remember it was pretty rough stuff, somewhere in my loft is the T-shirt

they produced with the tag line ‘one pint of frog and you’ll never

frigate’. I think one pint was enough for anyone.

 

This got me & Mrs Geezer (also ex-frog) thinking last night and we’ve come up with this little lot:

Leaving On A Jet Plane (f*** Knows when I'll be back again),

American Pie,

Homeward Bound,

Sweet Home Alabama,

Ziggy Stardust,

Do-Wah-Diddy,

Wish you were here,

Bye Bye Love,

Meet Me On The Corner,

Cecilia,

Caroline,

Mrs Robinson,

Olivers Army,

Wild Thing,(you make my ring sting.....you make everything sticky...come on baby sit on my face, and wiggle),

And loads of Beatles:

I Wanna Hold your hand,

Hey Jude followed by Show Me The Way To Go home (sung at lightning pace),

Yellow Submarine (We all w**k in a tub of margarine, a tub of margarine),

Back In The USSR,

I Wanna Hold your Hand,

I saw her Standing There,

Can't buy Me Love,

Ob-la-di Ob-la-da (and in the evenings he's a singer with Duran Duran).

 

Loads of blured memories here.

[Trevor in Vancouver]

Had a great night there back in 1990. Still have the t-shirt! Think I still have a croaky throat from singing at the top of my lungs!

 

Road to Nowhere - Talking Heads

Hey, You've Got to Hide Your Love Away - Beatles

[ribbo]

geezer, you left out nelly the elephant!

[richie]

Gordon Brown will be pleased as he is determined to kill every pub in the country and instead hopes we line the pockets of Tesco by buying hideously cheap booze. ****.

[Saint Richard of Woolston]

 

I used to go there with a fellow postee, who in those days wasn't afraid to walk the streets (Hi, Dicky!!) and one of our crowd got a job behind the bar. This was very useful on Friday nights as we got served despite being well away from the bar.

 

They took on a pianist, a very tall West Indian, and there were some great evenings, including lock-ins over the Xmas and New Year. There was a barmaid called Cheryl who my mate got a dose off

 

Kenny Carew, you bar steward. I only said it would not be safe to walk the streets if I was foolish enough to buy Saints!!

 

I would also like to point out that whilst spending many a night in said establishment in the jovial company of Lets B Avenue back in the days of lord knows when, it was not me who caught the dose off of the otherwise attractive Cheryl.