A Grade II-listed building located at 152 King’s Road in Chelsea, southwest London, the Pheasantry featured a rock club that put on shows by the likes of Queen and Hawkind in the early 1970s.

In 1969, both Ambrose Slade (aka Slade) and Mott The Hoople played here but most of the bands appear to have been up and coming unknowns.

It’s not entirely clear when it started to host rock music as it’s been difficult to find any local newspapers that advertised the venue. UK music magazine Melody Maker did advertise the venue but only on a regular basis in 1970 and there are still many gaps in the listings.

Together with the Mechanical Orange (a club in a crypt in a church) and the Café Des Artistes (both in Chelsea), the nearby Overseas Visitors Club (OVC) in Earl’s Court, plus the Pontiac club in Putney, this was a popular rock music venue in the area.

Guitarist Mike Piggott has confirmed that his group, Junior’s Conquest, fronted by future Bob Marley guitarist/singer Junior Kerr (aka Junior Marvin) frequently played here sometime in late 1968 and/or early 1969.

I’d be interested to hear from anyone who can add some more musical history to this venue during the years 1968-1970, particularly any missing gigs and whether there are any local papers that advertised the venue.

1968

Chelsea News and General Advertiser’s 29 March edition has an article entitled ‘Pheasantry reopens with a full house’, which notes that the basement now has a disco and dance floor. The club opened on the Monday (25 March).

According to Stefan Granados’ excellent article on The Majority in Shindig magazine, The Majority played at this venue just before Pete Mizen joined in October 1968. 

27 October – Yes (Peter Banks’ website)

According to the Chelsea News and General Advertiser’s 20 December edition, Viv Prince was socialising in the club the previous week. On the same night, the band Giant was playing, managed by Alan Dale, former manager of Vamp, Prince’s old group.

16 December – My Dear Watson (Chelsea News and General Advertiser) This was apparently the Scottish band’s London debut

17 December – Toast (Melody Maker)

Westminster & Pimlico News’ 20 December edition has an article on the club and mentions the following bands playing there: Gethsemane, Clouds, The Majority and Village. 

1969

There are very few listings for 1969, so I’d welcome any additions and memories.

11 June – Clouds (Time Out)

16 June – Clouds (Time Out)

21 June – Ambrose Slade (Time Out)

25 June – Clouds (Time Out)

29 June – East of Eden (Melody Maker) Interestingly, this is not in the list for 30 June below

30 June – East of Eden (Melody Maker/www.eastofedentheband.co.uk/GIGS.html)

18 July – Black Velvet (Time Out)

15 August – Clouds (Time Out)

21 August – East of Eden (Time Out)

23 August – Grail (Time Out)

28 August – East of Eden (Time Out/www.eastofedentheband.co.uk/GIGS.html)

27 September – Stray (Time Out)

11 October – Joe Cocker (Westminster and Pimlico News)

13 October – Skin Alley (Time Out)

15 October – Skin Alley (Time Out)

27 October – Mott The Hoople (Time Out)

24 November – Stray (Time Out)

1 December – Gracious (Time Out)

8 December – Gracious (Time Out)

15 December – Gracious (Time Out)

1970

The gigs below seem to suggest that shows took place from Monday-Saturday although the listing here is far from complete and has huge gaps.

18 February – Rosko International Road Show (Melody Maker)

19 February – Imagination (Melody Maker)

20 February – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

21 February – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

2-3 March – Jon Hendricks (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

4 March – Spencer Mac (Melody Maker)

5 March – Imagination (Melody Maker)

6 March – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

7 March – Bronco (Melody Maker)

9 March – Heatwave (Melody Maker/Martin H Samuel’s programme)

10 March – Emperor Rosko (Melody Maker)

11 March – Legend (Melody Maker)

The programme lists If not Legend

12 March – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

13 March – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

14 March – Patrick Dane (& The Frontline Band) (Melody Maker)

The programme lists Balloons not Patrick Dane

16 March – Heatwave (Melody Maker/Martin H Samuel’s programme)

17 March – Rosko International Road Show (Melody Maker)

18 March – Bronco (Melody Maker)

19 March – Imagination (Melody Maker)

20 March – Trader Horne (Melody Maker)

21 March – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

23 March – Heatwave (Melody Maker/Martin H Samuel’s programme)

24 March – If (Melody Maker)

25 March – Rosko International Road Show (Melody Maker)

The programme lists If on 25 March and (Emperor) Rosko on 24 March so other way round

26 March – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

27 March – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

28 March – Balloons (Melody Maker)

30 March – Heatwave (Melody Maker/Martin H Samuel’s programme)

31 March – Rosko International Road Show (Melody Maker)

1 April – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

2 April – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

3 April – Lloyd (Melody Maker)

4 April – Patrick Dane (& The Frontline Band) (Melody Maker)

6 April – Earthquakes (Melody Maker)

7 April – Heatwave (Melody Maker)

8 April – Spencer Mac (Melody Maker)

9 April – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

10 April – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

11 April – Legend (Melody Maker)

13 April – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

14 April – Patrick Dane (& The Frontline Band) (Melody Maker)

15 April – Demon Fuzz (Melody Maker)

16 April – Sir Percy Quintet (Melody Maker)

17 April – Legend (Melody Maker)

18 April – Trader Horne (Melody Maker)

20 April – Earthquakes (Melody Maker)

21 April – Spencer Mac (Melody Maker)

22 April – Patrick Dane (& The Frontline Band) (Melody Maker)

23 April – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

24 April – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

25 April – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

27 April – Spencer Mac (Melody Maker)

28 April – Anqeleque (Melody Maker)

29 April – Sir Percy Quintet (Melody Maker)

30 April – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

1 May – Train (Melody Maker)

2 May – Sugar (Melody Maker)

4 May – Locomotive (Melody Maker)

5 May – Custers Track (Melody Maker)

6 May – Westland Steamboat (Melody Maker)

7 May – Sarah Gordon’s House of Bondage (Melody Maker)

8 May – Patrick Dane (& The Frontline Band) (Melody Maker)

9 May – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

11 May – Locomotive (Melody Maker)

12 May – Pebbles (Melody Maker)

13 May – Sugar (Melody Maker)

14 May – Legend (Melody Maker)

15 May – Love Children (Melody Maker)

16 May – Syrup (Melody Maker)

18 May – Locomotive (Melody Maker)

19 May – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

20 May – Patrick Dane & The Frontline Band (Melody Maker)

21 May – Legend (Melody Maker)

22 May – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

23 May – Syrup (Melody Maker)

25 May – Locomotive (Melody Maker)

26 May – Pebbles (Melody Maker)

27 May – Westbound Lounge (Melody Maker)

28 May – Legend (Melody Maker)

29 May – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

30 May – Syrup (Melody Maker)

1 June – 67 Park Lane (Melody Maker)

2 June – Crazy Mabel (Melody Maker)

3 June – Margarine (Melody Maker)

4 June – High Broom (Melody Maker)

5 June – Syrup (Melody Maker)

6 June – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

8 June – Calum Bryce and Poppa Ben Hook (Melody Maker)

9 June – Legend (Melody Maker)

17 June – Westland Steamboat (Melody Maker)

18 June – The Crew (Melody Maker)

19 June – 67 Park Lane (Melody Maker)

20 June – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

22 June – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

23 June – Brotherhood (Melody Maker)

24 June – Legend (Melody Maker)

25 June – High Broom (Melody Maker)

26 June – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

27 June – Syrup (Melody Maker)

29 June – Angelique (Melody Maker)

30 June – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

1 July – Heatwave (Melody Maker/Martin H Samuel’s programme)

2 July – Catapilla (Melody Maker)

3 July – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

4 July – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

6 July – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

7 July – Bagge (Melody Maker)

8 July – Quincy (Melody Maker)

9 July – Catapilla (Melody Maker)

10 July – Love Children (Melody Maker)

11 July – Pussyfoot Tram (Melody Maker)

13 July – Syrup (Melody Maker)

14 July – Pure Wings (Melody Maker)

15 July – Eureka Stockade (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

16 July – Catapilla (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

17 July – Ritual (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

18 July – Gift (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

20 July – Charge (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

21 July – Westland Steamboat (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

22 July – Spencer Mac (Melody Maker)

23 July – Catapilla (Melody Maker)

24 July – Portrait (Melody Maker)

25 July – Crew (Melody Maker)

27 July – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

28 July – Greasy Bear (Melody Maker)

29 July – Pure Wings (Melody Maker)

30 July – Catapilla (Melody Maker)

31 July – Magic Roundabout (Melody Maker)

1 August – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

3 August – Free Design (Melody Maker)

4 August – Magic Roundabout (Melody Maker)

5 August – Catapilla (Melody Maker)

6 August – My Cake (Melody Maker)

7 August – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

8 August – Eureka Stockade (Melody Maker)

10 August – Free Design (Melody Maker)

11 August – Custer’s Track (Melody Maker)

12 August – Catapilla (Melody Maker)

13 August – Crew (Melody Maker)

14 August – Blonde on Blonde (Melody Maker)

15 August – Guest group (Melody Maker)

17 August – Robbie Ray & The Roundabouts (Melody Maker)

18 August – John McFlair Band (Melody Maker)

19 August – Catapilla (Melody Maker)

20 August – Heatwave (Melody Maker)

21 August – Angelique (Melody Maker)

22 August – Mirrors (Melody Maker)

24 August – Free Design (Melody Maker)

25 August – Robbie Ray & The Roundabouts (Melody Maker)

26 August – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

27 August – Portrait (Melody Maker)

28 August – Noir (Melody Maker)

29 August – Legend (Melody Maker)

31 August – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

1 September – Big Bertha (Melody Maker)

2 September – Manderin Craze (Melody Maker)

3 September – Arcadium (Melody Maker)

4 September – Ginger (Melody Maker)

5 September – Patrick Dane (& The Frontline Band) (Melody Maker)

7 September – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

8 September – Heatwave (Melody Maker/Martin H Samuel’s programme)

9 September – Pure Wings (Melody Maker)

10 September – Spencer Mac (Melody Maker)

11 September – Angelique (Melody Maker)

12 September – Crew (Melody Maker)

14 September – High Broom (Melody Maker)

15 September – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

16 September – Quincy (Melody Maker)

17 September – Crew (Melody Maker)

18 September – Angelique (Melody Maker)

19 September – Mako (Melody Maker)

21 September – Portrait (Melody Maker)

22 September – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

23 September – Heatwave (Melody Maker/Martin H Samuel’s programme)

24 September – Consortium (Melody Maker)

25 September – Spencer Mac (Melody Maker)

26 September – Legend (Melody Maker)

28 September – Love’s Children (Melody Maker)

29 September – Barley (Melody Maker)

30 September – Robbie Ray & The Roundabouts (Melody Maker)

1 October – Crew (Melody Maker)

2 October – Orange Air (Melody Maker)

3 October – Elton Chess (Melody Maker)

5 October – John McFlair Band (Melody Maker)

6 October – 67 Park Lane (Melody Maker)

7 October – Custers Track (Melody Maker)

The programme has Osibisa not Custers Track

8 October – Almond Diamond (Melody Maker)

The programme lists Almond Marzipan

9 October – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

10 October – Growth (Melody Maker)

The programme lists Merlin not Growth

12 October – John McFlair Band (Melody Maker)

13 October – Justin Tyme (Melody Maker)

14 October – Heatwave (Melody Maker/Martin H Samuel’s programme)

15 October – Legend (Melody Maker)

16 October – Orange Air (Melody Maker)

17 October – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

19 October – Portrait (Melody Maker)

20 October – Spencer Mac (Melody Maker)

21 October – Magic Roundabout (Melody Maker)

22 October – Free Ferry (Melody Maker)

23 October – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

24 October – Orange Air (Melody Maker)

26 October – Satisfaction (Melody Maker)

27 October – Patrick Dane & The Frontline Band (Melody Maker)

28 October – Crazy Paving (Melody Maker)

29 October – Love Children (Melody Maker)

30 October – Orange Air (Melody Maker)

31 October – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

I don’t have any listings for November and December but I am pretty sure it was operating during these months as the club continued in 1971 and beyond.

1971

10 February – Heatwave (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

10 March – Heatwave (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

29 April – Heatwave (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

11 August – The Crew (Martin H Samuel’s clipping)

18 August – Heatwave (Martin H Samuel’s programme)

27 August – The Crew (Martin H Samuel’s clipping)

Copyright © Nick Warburton.  All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author.