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Home > London > E8 > Earl Of Zetland

Earl Of Zetland

Picture source: Charlie Goodwin


The Earl Of Zetland was situated at 50 Lee Street. This pub was established some time before 1854.  It was a Whitbread Brewery pub and it closed in 1993 for conversion to a ‘Honeymoon Hotel’.  Perhaps the backstreets of Haggerston had limited appeal to honeymooners as by 2006 the former pub was again closed and boarded-up, and it was demolished in 2008. New flats now stand on the site.
 
We were called Stone Free the band was made up of me - John Hoye bass, Adrian Smith guitar and vocals, and Dave Murray guitar, (Adrian and Dave went on to be in Iron Maiden and still are today)
I can't remember who was on drums. We entered this big talent contest at The Earl Zetland. It was only our third time we played to an audience, we first played at my school end of term dance, then a talent contest in The Adam & Eve pub on Homerton High St. E9. which we won. We were about 16 or 17 years old.
It was a Saturday night everyone dressed to the hilt, sharp as a pin, Dunhill cigarettes, gold lighters, signet ring on your pinkie and enough cologne to make you giddy.
This was the final night, and it was big money for the first prize, this attracted all the pros, most of the acts were more or less Tom Jones or Frank Sinatra types, and us scruffy, long-haired rockers and much younger. I think we played one or two songs - Whiskey in the Jar, went down so well as it was a classic at the time and we played it well thanks to Dave’s lead guitar (some of the lead parts played using his teeth), everyone knew the song so well. We came second which was a feat for us in a non-rock pub.
John Hoye (July 2024)

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Contacts
Make email contact with other ex-customers and landlords of this pub by adding your details to this page.
Name Dates Comments
Dawn Westley 1983/1987 I worked behind the bar, had many a great night in there. Jean and Joe owned the pub
Tracy Manley 1983/1989 Worked behind bar and had great times. I remember Dawn and others including Joe, Kerry, Sandra, Julee; it was a great pub.
Arthur Galea 1973/1978 Used to be my local remember the manager Joe who died suddenly I lived in Harlow house haggerston road e8 good times
 
Other Photos
Date of photo: 2006

Picture source: Stephen Harris

Site of The Earl Of Zetland, 2015

Picture source: Colin Price