Forum Topic

Market Halls Fulham Broadway

Anyone interested in a small venture out of Putney, the old underground station booking hall at Fulham broadway has been converted into a food outlet called Market Halls.Maybe 5 or 6 options of food incl a new Sri Lankan outlet and the old original booking office is now the bar.Nice and fresh, also with many of the old features remaining.Been there several times and a decent experience.https://www.markethalls.co.uk/market/fulham

Paul Game ● 2595d18 Comments

I've been to the Victoria Market Halls.Didn't realise they had renovated the old station entrance at Fulham Broadway. I think it was previously a food market hall like Barkers at High Street Kensington, but I believe that closed a few years ago.https://www.markethalls.co.uk/market/victoria

Mike Essam ● 2595d

Well as it seems I will have to go to Fulham Argos after November, to replace the gas cannister for my Sodastream, look forward to re-acquainting myself with the area I lived in for several years … 25 years ago!!

Bunny Payne ● 2594d

I guess you had a great time socially around Fulham Broadway and Chelsea when you grew up Bunny?I have childhood memories of standing in the queue at Fulham Broadway tube station with my Dad in the mid 70's, so for me to go back to that exact ticket booth in Market Halls and buy a beer instead of a ticket brought back some wonderful memories.I often walk along the river to Imperial Wharf or along the Kings Rd to Sloane Sq.I can imagine you did plenty of Kings Rd when you were younger?When I walk from Putney to High St Ken I normally pass The Boltons or walk through West Brompton cemetery along the route.A beautiful walk if you take in some back streets along the way.I guess the Boltons must be the 2nd most expensive road to live in after Kensington Palace Gardens in London. Amazing architecture.You have to have a few ££££££ to live there though lol

Paul Game ● 2594d

Thanks Paul. I've used some of the facilities in the new station entrance hall precinct - cinema, Pret,  Pizza Express, Oyster Rooms pub - but didn't notice this. Frequented the Fulham pubs in the 1970s (music in the Golden Lion, Greyhound, Nashville, ...) when I was in a flat share in Earl's Court ... 

Michael Ixer ● 2594d

Hey Michael, You mentioning a few pubs from the 70's, if you're interested in looking up old pubs that are no longer there I have found a website which is pretty good for old pubs in London.http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/london.htmlIt's amazing how many corner plots/buildings in the built up areas of London streets used to be a pub, but are now often a converted shop instead. Quite fascinating.Also Michael, worth a mention as you enjoy the Albert Hall from time to time.  I went there this afternoon for the Skyfall film on a screen with a full live orchestra. Very enjoyable afternoon and a great idea and concept by the hall team.I think they have also followed the same theme with Star Wars and Harry Potter films.

Paul Game ● 2594d

We used to go to those pubs for music too in the late 70s.  Bob Kerr's Whoopee Band at the Golden Lion was our most regular haunt.

Philippa Bond ● 2593d

@Paul. Thanks for this. So many pubs have gone. I also find it strange how some have change. I remember going to the Nashville Rooms (near West Kensington station) to see bands. It's now the Three Kings, usually a sports bar, but the past three years it's been the evening venue in June for the Risk and Network Threat Forum following the daytime Information Security Expo & Conference at Olympia. Times change!Yes, I saw the RAH is being used for films; Facebook has been telling me about a Jimi Hendrix special with footage from his original performances there in the 60s. I'm not convinced how suitable a venue it is for film? Some of the seats are rather challenging for music given the excessive reverb and angles of view, and distance from stage: I'd feel a bit self conscious using opera glasses at the cinema! 

Michael Ixer ● 2593d

@Philippa. I'm impressed; can't say I remember the names of bands or performers I saw there, none of them were very famous (I saw most big names at concert halls) but now you mention it Bob Kerr's name does around familiar ...

Michael Ixer ● 2593d

Bunny R.Dyas used to sell them, not sure if they still do.

Barbara Stevens ● 2593d

@ Michael, I agree with you about the seating in the RAH. As you said, your personal experience is all about the angle of the view, and distance from stage.We recently went there for the Billy Ocean live concert and we had a great view in the stalls so hence we really enjoyed the show.Then for the Maria Carey live concert we were up in the rousing circle with a restricted view to the stage and left at the interval as it wasn't a great experience.Christmas carols next for us, in row 4 on the stalls so should be a great experience lol I'm amazed they manage to fit a tennis court in the hall for the early December veterans tennis matches.Must take some shuffling around with the furniture in the stalls! Anything else planned for you this year at the RAH?

Paul Game ● 2593d

@Paul. We mainly go to the Proms at the RAH, so nothing much planned there but quite a lot coming up at the ROH, ENO and Barbican. I don't do much non classical stuff these days, if I do it's mainly at gigs with ex-colleagues playing, or arranged by a friend, at the Hope & Anchor, Islington, the Water Rats near Kings Cross, etc. Last well know names I saw were Brian Wilson and Al Jardine at the West Cliff Pavilion two/three years ago playing Pet Sounds and other Beach Boys oldies - went with a US friend, who grew up in California, on her  birthday. Great gig and as we went for lunch in a nearby veggie restaurant first got there early enough to get into the venue's free parking for the Zipcar!For classical gigs I like the centre of the Rausing Circle - you get the direct sound plus balance reverb, and the distant view isn't a problem with opera glasses - in fact one gets a good bird's eye view of the orchestra and any choirs; anyway, there are no stalls during the Proms 🙂 In my student days my mate and I watched classical concerts from the gallery and got tickets in the choir stalls for rock stuff behind bands like the Band and Family - before Deep Purple fans got rock concerts banned at the RAH!https://flic.kr/s/aHsm74StqFhttps://flic.kr/s/aHskD7nSwe(No idea who owns the Buick, whether it was a Beach Boy fan or just a coincidence it was parked there 'cause that's what people Southend-on-sea drive ...)

Michael Ixer ● 2593d

Went for my first visit this afternoon.Thanks for the tip off - very pleasant afternoon drinking beer and eating pizza.

Mike Essam ● 2583d

Oh nice one Mike.If you've watched the film 'sliding doors' with Gwyneth Paltrow there was a scene filmed in the booking hall at FB.Also there were some scenes by the river in Hammersmith in this film, at a pub called the Blue Anchor which I've been in a few times. Worth a watch :-)

Paul Game ● 2583d

Watched this film a few times and never realised this.Must watch it again now if some of the filming was quite local to Putney.

Mike Essam ● 2583d

Bob Kerr may be still around.  We've seen them more recently at The Half Moon and at The Bull's Head and the Ealing Jazz Festival.  There were several last ever Christmas performances.  We stood in a queue years ago at the Nashville Rooms for this singer called Elvis who we'd never heard of but gave up because the queue was too long.  That was Elvis Costello and years later we would see his large American motor in the area.  I would love to know who the group was at the Golden Lion who sang a song which started with Tense Nervous Headache (like the advert) who I really liked but wouldn't now remember.We shopped in North End Road market a lot and ate burgers at Strikes with the spinning dishes of three different coloured relishes - green, yellow and red - cucumber, sweetcorn and tomato.  Eating out was a novelty that I discovered on moving to London.  There was a good material shop where I bought furnishing fabric for more than one flat.Thank you for the info.  We'll have a look at what's new when we are back there.

Philippa Bond ● 2583d

Yes Philippa, It's amazing how many famous people you can spot sometimes. I've seen a few over the years in London.I've seen Alistair McGowan cycling in Putney a few times and one time I was cycling along the river when I saw a runner ahead having a wee against a tree.When I got closer I realised it was Gordon Ramsey and I googled him when I got home to find out at the time he lived in Wandsworth :-)Seen Roy Hodgson twice when he was England manager in Chelsea and Battersea park.Funny story you mentioned about Elvis lolMichael may be able to help you with your Golden Lion query.

Paul Game ● 2583d

Paul, Philippa. Sadly the names of the bands performing at the Golden Lion and other venues in the 1970 have slipped away over the years 😞

Michael Ixer ● 2581d

Don't know if this helps as a memory jogger?http://www.45worlds.com/live/venue/golden-lion

Michael Ixer ● 2581d