The Hope and Anchor

The rock music pub that spawned Stiff Records

Location: 207 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 1RL

Description: During the late 1970s this pub was one of the first to embrace pub rock and went on to become a leading venue in the punk rock movement.

The actual performance space at the Hope and Anchor was, at the time, a spartan and rather grubby basement space, alternately dank or overheated, and always smoky, but this in many ways suited the anarchic ideals of late 1970s live music.

Two of the movers and shakers Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman (aka Jake Riviera) were well-known London music business characters, who formed a record label at the recording studio here, forming Stiff Records in 1976.

The first record was by Nick Lowe and they went on to release records by Madness, The Damned, and Ian Dury.

Frankie Goes to Hollywood reputedly shot an early promo video for Relax in the basement featuring bondage gear that the venue's manager accused them of making a porn film here.

Tours: Music: off the beaten path

Themes: Pub Pub Theme