"The pub as musical hub" - BBC Radio Bristol at the Coronation Tap, Clifton

“Pub is the Hub” was an initiative set up in 2001 by The Prince of Wales. It encourages breweries, pub owners, licensees and local communities to work together to help retain and enhance rural pubs. The idea was that providing new services from the pub, such as a post office or a shop, either keeps an essential service in the village or brings a new one in.

My local, the Coronation Tap, could never be called a rural pub, as it is only about a mile and a half from the centre of the city of Bristol. However it could be called a village pub, as it is in the area generally called Clifton Village. “Whatever”, as they say: the principle of “pub is the hub” is fulfilled superbly by the Coronation Tap, except that it’s a musical hub.

When I first came to Bristol five years ago, I was fortunate that in my first week here a friendly local told me about the CoriTap, as it is often called. I soon discovered that Jan and Mick Gale, the licensees, had built up an enviable reputation for the quality and variety of the live music, and also for the friendliness of the pub.

Since then they have gone from strength to strength and last week I was there at an unusual time, Monday morning. The occasion: BBC Radio Bristol was broadcasting live from the pub for two hours, because the following day Jan and Mick were going to the Grosvenor House in London for the award of the “Publican” trade paper’s “UK Music Pub of the Year”. The CoriTap had made it to the last six.

One reason for this success is that it’s not just the punters that enjoy the live music sessions here. Without exception, musicians line up to describe it as their favourite venue; this despite the fact that in terms of space it’s less than ideal. Atmosphere is hard to specify, but this pub has it in spades. An appreciative clientele is another reason why Jan is constantly being approached by new acts, some from beyond our shores, that have heard about the CoriTap legend from fellow-musicians and want to come and see what all the fuss is about.

Jan and Mick didn’t win this time; I believe that we came joint second. But there is always next year. This is the first time that the pub has entered the competition, so to have reached a national shortlist at the first attempt is some achievement. I am confident, and so are all the customers and musicians who love this venue, that next year the title will come to Bristol!

http://www.thecoronationtap.com/calendar.php

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/newsid_7959000/7959612.stm

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-s-CoriTap-running-UK-s-best-music-pubarticle-591011-details/article.html