Half Moon, Herne Hill facts for kids
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The Half Moon is a very old and important building in Herne Hill, London. It's a special kind of pub that's on a national list of historic pub interiors. Many famous people have visited it, including the poet Dylan Thomas. For almost 50 years, it was also a popular place for live music, and even the famous band U2 played there three times in 1980! The Half Moon is considered an important local landmark by the council.
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History of the Half Moon
An inn, which is like an old hotel or pub, has been on this spot since the mid-1600s. The first official pub called "The Half Moon" was built in 1760 by Joseph Miller.
Early Days and Famous Visitors
In 1844, a very old tombstone belonging to Edward Alleyn, who founded Dulwich College, was found in the pub's skittle ground (a place for a bowling-like game). It was thought to be helping with the sewer! People believed finding it brought more visitors to the pub. The Webb family owned the Half Moon for almost a century, starting around 1824. In 1851, the owner, Mr. Webb, had five staff working for him.
In 1868, the Half Moon was put up for sale. It was described as having many rooms, including an assembly room, and a large tea garden. It was rented from Dulwich College for £95 a year.
A Popular Spot in the 1800s
By 1878, the Half Moon was known as a favorite place for working people from London to gather. It was especially famous for its beautiful flower and tea gardens. The famous English writer John Ruskin often walked by the Half Moon. Before the local river was covered over in the 1800s, you had to cross a bridge to get to the pub.
The area around the Half Moon was quite rural in the early 1800s. In 1805, during the Napoleonic Wars, army training even took place nearby! The pub was also mentioned in a fictional book from 1895 as a key "line of defence" in a made-up invasion.
Rebuilding the Half Moon
Between 1894 and 1896, the old Half Moon was rebuilt into a larger hotel by architect James William Brooker. This new building was very grand, partly because it was near the end of a horse-drawn bus route into London. Not everyone was happy about the old pub being torn down. A poem in Punch even complained about it!
In 1897, a new owner, Thomas Cason, bought the Half Moon for a huge amount of money – £64,000! This was a massive sum, especially since houses nearby cost less than £1,000 at the time.
In 1908, a barmaid named Edith Smith described the Half Moon as a "large house" with six bars. She said the main public bar was very open, without screens.
Twentieth Century Events
In 1921, the Brixton Chess Club started meeting at the Half Moon. They even invited a famous Russian chess player, Eugene Znosko-Borovsky, to play against many people at once!
In 1930, a large fight broke out at the Half Moon involving 500 people. Police had to come and make arrests. This happened on a holiday when rival Irish hurling teams had played nearby.
The Half Moon is a very special building because of its detailed decorations and its well-preserved historic interior. It's one of only 270 pubs on a special list for its important history. The pub still has beautiful stained glass windows that advertise its past activities, like billiards and snooker.
The famous poet and writer Dylan Thomas used to live nearby and often drank at the Half Moon. His friend, Evan Samuel, said that Dylan would join the London Welsh rugby players at the pub after their games. The rugby club used the Half Moon as their unofficial clubhouse because alcohol wasn't allowed at their playing field.
A Famous Music Venue
For almost 50 years, the Half Moon was a legendary place for live music. Many bands who later became huge stars played there early in their careers, including The Police, Van Morrison, and U2. People even say that Frank Sinatra once dropped by to visit his old chauffeur, who became the landlord!
Folk and Pub Rock Eras
In the early to mid-1960s, the Half Moon had one of the best folk music clubs in South London. It attracted large crowds every Tuesday night. Famous folk musicians like Bert Jansch played there.
In the 1970s, the Half Moon became a key venue for "pub rock" bands. Groups like Dr. Feelgood and Eddie and the Hot Rods performed there. Local musician Stevie Smith also started popular Sunday jam sessions, where many talented musicians would play together.
U2's Early Gigs
The Half Moon holds a special place in rock history because it's where Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records, first saw U2 play. He watched them perform for only about 12 people on June 8, 1980. However, by their next gig on July 11, 1980, U2 sold out the venue for the first time in the UK! U2 played one more time at the Half Moon in October 1980.
New Wave and Beyond
The early 1980s were a very exciting time for music at the Half Moon, with many "new wave" bands playing there. Groups like The Stray Cats, The Triffids, and Billy Bragg all performed. Music writers often said the Half Moon was a "testing ground" for bands who would go on to achieve greater fame.
Even more famous acts returned to play at the Half Moon, like Steve Marriott in 1984 and Grammy Award winner Albert Lee in 1990. In 1998, the poet and performer John Cooper Clarke also appeared.
More recently, from 2006 to 2013, artists like Paloma Faith, Kate Tempest, Wilko Johnson, and Turin Brakes played at the Half Moon. La Roux, a Grammy Award winner, even started her singing career at the pub when she was 17, performing at open mic nights. The pub is also well-known for its live blues music.
Other Fun Activities
Besides music, the Half Moon has hosted many other types of entertainment.
Comedy and Theatre
It has been a regular spot for comedy shows, with famous comedians like Mark Lamarr, Eddie Izzard, and Jo Brand performing there. Jo Brand said the Half Moon was "always the centre of the universe" for her when she was a student nurse nearby.
The pub has also been a venue for theatre productions. A play called Botallack O'Clock premiered at the Half Moon in 2011 before going to the Edinburgh Festival and New York City.
Sports and Fitness
The Half Moon has even had a boxing gym upstairs! Danny Williams, who famously knocked out Mike Tyson in 2004, trained there as a child. The gym was run by former boxing champion Clinton McKenzie. A charity called London Community Boxing was even started by people who met at the Half Moon gym. The pub has also hosted Rollapaluza cycling events.
The Half Moon in Media
The Half Moon has appeared in various forms of media.
In 1988, the pub's bar was featured in an advertisement for Red Rock Cider, starring the actor Leslie Nielsen.
The Half Moon is also shown in the graphic novel From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell.
In 2007, Madness frontman Suggs visited the Half Moon for a TV show to interview boxer Clinton McKenzie in his gym.
Scenes from the 2011 British movie Treacle Jr. were filmed inside the Half Moon.
Recent History and Reopening
In August 2013, the Half Moon was flooded and had to close for several years. In 2015, the pub was officially recognized as an "Asset of Community Value" by the council, meaning it's very important to the local community.
In January 2016, a brewery called Fuller's Brewery took over the lease. The Half Moon finally reopened its doors on March 20, 2017!
In April 2016, a funny picture of the pub's "barred list" (people not allowed in) went viral on Twitter, making international news!
While it's no longer a regular music venue, the Half Moon still hosts live entertainment for special events. It celebrates Dylan Day each year to remember Dylan Thomas's connection to the pub. It's also a venue for the annual Herne Hill Music Festival and the Herne Hill Free Film Festival.
In 2018 and 2019, the Half Moon won several awards, including being named the best pub by Fuller's Brewery.
Images for kids
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The Half Moon Tavern, 1880
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Photo of the tiled entrance to the Half Moon Hotel in Herne Hill, London.
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The stained glass windows of the Half Moon Pub in Herne Hill still advertise its previous activities.
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Inside the Half Moon, Herne Hill
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