Situated close to the northern end of the cable car running from North Greenwich is a long-derelict pub with a fascinating history, The Tidal Basin Tavern.
Once known as ‘The Dug Out,’ this sizeable public house was constructed around 1862, and managed to live on after being bombed in the Blitz.
Catering to the once bustling docks trade, and latterly kept busy serving workmen involved in the regeneration of the nearby docks, the pub’s end was hastened with the discovery of serious structural defects.
The establishment closed for good in 1990.
The Tidal Basin Tavern hosted punk gigs in the late 1970s, hosting new wave luminaries such as Siouxsie and the Banshees, and the gender-challenging Wayne County & the Electric Chairs, while strippers kept the day time drinking crowd amused.
The pub had a reputation as a rough house at the time, as rtgrant recalls:
I used to be in a blues/rock band that had a residency here for about 3 months. They had two massive German shepherds that would drink the slops at the end of the night and during one gig the place was raided by the drugs squad in the middle of our set and the landlady’s partner was hauled off. We never stopped playing or missed a beat the whole set, and we got paid as usual. I have so many weird and happy memories of this place. It was a toilet, but it was *our* toilet.
There was also a rumour of a someone being shot dead at the bar in 1978.
The pub also featured in the closing scenes of the cult-biker movie The Leather Boys which featured Colin Campbell, Dudley Sutton and Rita Tushingham.
Read more on Derelict London. Also: Landlord history.
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As a merchant seaman I shipped out of the Royal Docks during the 1950’s / ’60’s and spent many happy hours in the Tidal Basin pub. It’s a shame to see so many places like this closed and derelict but that’s what happens when the dockers and seamen left. The Royal Docks are now an alien place to me and others connected to the area from those days.
Did you know a Frank Young??
Mid to late “70”s as a young detective spent some good times mixing with the locals who also knew who I was at that time.
rough old place
If u want to know about the real tidal basin 1963 to 1975 get in touch
Hi I would be interested very much if you have any history etc as i believe my grandmother was born in this pub, thanks Mark.
Hi Alan, I would love to get more information about the tidal basin if you’re still available; it’s for a research project about music in Newham from the 1960s onwards. Any information such as key dates, types of music, the type of crowd, etc. would be a huge help.
Thank you
A. Logan
My mum and dad owned the tidal basin from 1963 to 1975 why has no one asked us about our memories wot a good book don’t make them up get facts
Feel free to post them up here….
Hi Alan – I’ve just bought one of the (tiny) new flats in the tower that now sits bang on top of the site of the Tidal Basin Tavern. The history of the pub and area is fascinating. Please post your memories here, and photos! And is it true someone was shot dead inside in 1978? Are the tapes of the Siouxsie and the Banshees gigs?
Hi Alan,
My parents must of taken the pub over when your parents left. My family lived in the Tidal Basin from Dec 1975 through till Feb 1977.
This pub will always remain my favourite from all the pubs in London that they run.
I believe we were both lucky to have shared part of this legendary pubs history.
Garry
Hi Alan my Husband stayed with you Mum and Dad in the early 1970,s he was Woking for a roofing company I had to send Clotted Cream up from North Devon every week for your Dad , they were working in Chobham Farm , are your Mum and Dad still around ? Paul often talked about his time with them and yes you could wright a book
Hi I am Alan’s sister I remember your husband and the others he worked with a relation was one. My younger brother thought the world of Paul I believe you were courting at the time. I don’t know if Alan has answered but I am sure he will remember Paul my husband does. My Dad died a couple of years after leaving the pub had a heart attack at 57 but mum only died five yrs ago in January at 92. Say hello to Paul and any others that lodged at the pub.
Apparently this was the local of the infamous Irish writer Francis Stuart, who lived in Canning Town in the mid-1950s.
Does anybody know or have any information on Joan and Horace Noke? I believe they ran the pub for a while in the 50’s. Theresa Smith was an Irish barmaid there? Frank Young, he was a bosun down London Docks and a regular at the pub. If any of these names seem familiar or ring a bell, PLEASE message!!!!!!!!
I use to live there in the 60is the person who had it before my mum and dad was a friend of my dads and they were Peter and Grace Jones. The people your asking about got to be passed away by now.
Yeh they are long gone. My mum was born in 1959 when they lived in the pub. I was just wondering (hoping) someone may have known of them. Theresa Smith, an Irish lady who worked there and Frank Young, a bosun from the docks and pub regular, were both named as godparents to my mum.
The dad left when she was born. Her mum died a few years later. Don’t know what happened to her godparents – (especially when your 7 year old goddaughter is left orphaned!) I guess it was a long shot but thought I’d ask.
I found a book about the docks which mentioned Frank Young and Dougie Boyd but the author didn’t know any more.
Hi Carly – I can’t help with your questions, but if you are not already a member can I suggest you join the Facebook group “Silvertown & North Woolwich Past & Present” (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1784201155135922). If you do a search in that group for Tidal Basin Tavern you’ll find that quite a few members (including me!) have posted comments about the pub in the past, and you could also put your questions in that group of 2000+ members. Kevin
Amazing! Worth a shot! Thanks so much!
Welcome. You’ll need to wait for an Administrator of the group to accept you, but it’s a very active group so I doubt that will take long!
I’m already waiting on approval! Haha! Thanks again!
Hi Carly I know Frank Young and Dougie Boyd very well I did work behind the bar for mum and dad for awhile around 67 68 I have a memory that’s brought a tear to my eye. My dad and Dougie one Xmas dancing with the policeman on the dock gates helmet on to Rolf Harris record two little boys.
I will ask if I can join that FB page. I remember so much back then.
Omg! Yes join the page, they allowed me access very quickly. There are lots of people on there – I fact, someone only mentioned earlier about Peter and Grace who had the pub before your family. Looks like a great place for sharing memories – you may even reconnect with old friends on there!! I would love to speak more with you. I’ve been trying to trace Frank Young for years!!! (I assume he has passed away by now, but anything you could tell me of him could be important)
Do you know anything about who he worked for? Which line? His family?
I’ve messaged you on Facebook, but it will be in your hidden other folder as we are not FB friends
Thank you!!!