I was really saddened to hear of the imminent demise of one of London’s longest-serving music stores, Chas E Foote Ltd in Golden Square, London W1. (Update: the store reopens in Store Street, Jan 2013)
Founded in 1920 by Charles Ernest Foote and ‘run by musicians for musicians,’ the store has stocked drums, percussion, woodwind brass and string instruments for over 90 years, mainly in the former Premier Drum Company’s premises it took over in the 1930s.
I’ve used the store many years, on and off, and have always found it a friendly place to get the latest drum gear and parts, or just pop in for a chat.
Sadly, rising central London rents and the relentless growth of online sales mean that Foote’s days are numbered, with the shop expected to close for good in the next few months.
Although the famous Foote’s shop will soon be gone, some of the staff are hoping to open up another, smaller shop fairly close by. I wish them good luck.
[Foote’s music store]
10 Golden Square, London, W1F 9JA.
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This is very regrettable (as we say in Malawi)
Hi David.. afraid you’ve jumped the gun a bit here… Footes is not closing.. it is relocating. The rent at Golden Square and the squeeze of the recession mean we are moving premises in the Autumn.. still in Soho so we can continue to provide the excellent service we’ve been renowned for since 1920 … if you email us your details [email protected] we’ll let you know when and where we’re opening… great to know you rate us!!!
JOHN MILTON TAYLER gave me my first. Drum lesson in around 1960 in Bristol on my first ERIC DELANEY DRUM KIT for kids with the first plastic , not leather head which cost £ 9 which i paid in monthly instalments from my half a crown weekly pocket money. He was playing with the Eric Winstone orchestra , invited to Clifton College public school where i was a pupil. He taught me the Mummy Daddy drum roll and accompanied visiting musicians at the Dorchester hotel and sat in for Eric Delaney and as tympanist with classical orchestras. He had a Packard Convertible sports car with electric boot , windows etc and a young 32 yr old Japanese wife , half his age and his sister Joy ran then the Royal Academy of Dancing school in Bristol and still alive in Islewotth Middlesex. Spoke with her in around 2008 and also later.
Let me know where your going tooo
We’re please to announce that we (Foote’s) are open again now at 41 Store Street London WC1E 7DB, here’s some recent press form ITV: http://www.itv.com/news/london/2012-12-19/pink-floyds-drummer-steps-in-to-save-his-old-drum-shop/
That’s great news Rob! I’ll try and pop in soon and say hello.
The new store is awesome! Glad to see you’re back open!
Hi. Will it still be possible to hire a small studio with drums in the new store. So pleased you are not going permanently. I used your store as a teenage drummer in the 60s. Good luck with the relocation
I used to Visit the Chas E Foote shop while at Kneller Hall Mil Collage of Music, I met Frank King who used to teach there in 1969 /70 he had just started the International Drummers Association. I still have the membership card and Tie pin (LOL) it was the in scene to get the latest drum kits etc. I was saddened to hear that Frank passed away in 71 he was a lovely chap full of knowledge on drumming. I think it was he who set up the drum clinic hosted by Louis Bellson when he came over to do the recording of Louis in London. I sat next to Ginger Baker and remember him snapping his sticks in frustration watching Louis play some brilliant single stick rolls. I had the LP until a few years back complete with the drum scores.