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Picture source: Paul Frost

Syd's Bar was situated on Church Street. This pub opened in March 1971 and later became known as El Syds.

Thanks for this opportunity to reminisce about one of my old, and beloved haunts. My memories are vague, probably because I've spent too much of my spare time in pubs in North Staffordshire. I can't recall whether my first visit to Syd's was before I was old enough to drink or in 1977 after I flunked university aged 18 years. My Mum was working behind the bar in Syd and Edna Duffield's dance school that adjoined the bar. She got me a job behind the bar in the dance school (easy shift, mostly spent reading the NME, ZigZag and classic american novels in between serving the occasional half-of-shandy and Babycham). I also did a regular shift in the main bar, which was very busy on Fridays and Saturdays. The landlord was Jim Chesters, a spivvy and money-concious (i.e. tight) bloke, but with a warm side that he revealed once he trusted you. I worked behind the bar with Bill, Daisy, Big Sue (sorry Sue), Gwen and others who I can't recall. Spent some fantastic evenings with fine people, some of whom I'm still great friends with to this day (if you read this you know who you are) and others with whom I've lost touch - Phil Hargreaves, Keith Robson (sadly no longer with us), Chris Bailey (also sadly no longer with us), Middo, Neil, Skinny Sue, Fenella, Vicky (went out with her), Kath (married her), Paula (would have married her given half-a-chance!), Martin, Kevin, Val Bourne, Rose, Steve (archetypal punk) and his missus (snogged her), Ursula (unrequited love), Mary, Bill, Sarah (another unrequited love), Mick, Nick, Dagenham Dave, Grant, Charlie, Simon (went out with Vicky after me) plus many others whose names I can't recall at this moment, but will regret not adding to my list if they come across these ramblings. I have to admit that I didn't meet all of these lovely people at Syd's as the Student's Union at Stoke Poly was also a favourite stomping ground, but it became the place to meet for those with a slightly alternative take on life, whether you were a grebo, hippy, punk, bohemian or just wanted a good night out. Syd's Bar boasted a victorian theme, even down to the toilets being labelled Victoria and Albert! The decor was traditional, and when I first drank there, Bill, the head barman, wore a uniform consisting of a fancy waistcoat over his shirt and tie, plus those springy things that hold up your sleeves (can anybody tell me what they're called?). It sold 'real ale' before it was common place such as Bass, Pedigree, Pollard's, Boddington's and a classic strong ale called Owd Roger brewed by Marstons, which was a favourite of the Greasers who occupied one end of the bar. I once sold (foolishly) a yard of Owd Roger to a biker who knocked it back in one and then promptly threw it back-up all over his mates! When I first went to Syd's it was used by all ages and types, but over a short(ish) period of time became the hangout for younger customers. At this point the chronology becomes a little blurred, but at some point in '77 or '78 Jim Chesters' opened El Syd's in a room above the ladies toilets. Depending on your point of view, it became notorious for its 'Punk' or 'New Wave' nights, which I recall were on a Tuesday. These were sweaty, slightly dangerous affairs, with a 'disco' provided by Geoff Love and the occasional live band. The music was eclectic, thanks to Geoff's slighty dodgy taste and requests from the broad mix of people that sought the place out. The door was managed by Freddie Jones (harder and less communicative than Dirty Harry and sadly passed away) plus former local Councillor Mick Dolman, who as well as being one of the good guys, gained a reputation for wearing a toupe for special occassions that came in handy when an unruly customer grabbed his hair (or somebody else's as it turned out!). As the pub became the haunt of a younger crowd, Jim Chesters' capitalised on this by introducing 'exciting innovations' such as a video jukebox and a burger bar. To my mind this was the beginning of the end at which time it began to lose it's charm and I no longer felt it was my pub. The nail in the coffin was when it was 'refurbished' in an 'olde worlde' style with fake castle walls and a mock portcullis between the main bar and the area used by the greasers. Time to move on! El Syd's hosted great local bands that went on to achieve little or nothing in the scheme of things. Does anybody remember the teenage garage band from nearby Alsager that performed a song with the lyric 'my life is like a trash can' in the style of the Velvet Underground? Priceless! I have so many fond memories of a never repeated time of meeting exciting new friends, gorgeous girls, good beer (sometimes), fresh music and the sense you were part of something special, plus the opportunity to give my close mates cheap drinks! For a short period I was an integral part of Syd's Bar and Syd's Bar was an integral part of my life. If you were there, tell me what you remember.

Nick Hackney

I too was a regular in Syd's and remember many of the people you mention. I worked out of an office at the other end of The Midway and was a Syd's regular until I moved to Felixstowe in about 1982, not long after the burger bar started (just a coincidence!). Jim had 2 daughters, both of whom were going out with customers at one stage. Bill left and went driving taxis after he & Jim had a falling out, and was replaced by Peter Hurd. Pete was a good barman and as gay as a very gay person (unusual to be so "out" in those days, particularly with a clientele & reputation like Syd's had!). He soon christened one of the other bar staff - Dave somebody - "Daisy" and the name stuck, poor bugger. I was good mates with Mick Dolman and his wife Linda. Sorry to hear about Fred, he was a good bloke and your description of him brought a smile and some happy memories! I remember Jeff Love (and his wife) - Jeff was threatened with the sack by Jim one night for playing that song of mass anarchy "Free Nelson Mandela"! How times change... They had heavy rock discos too, which were a bit less packed and a much less edgey atmosphere. I remember being upstairs about 3 nights a week at one stage and getting up for work was a struggle some mornings. Happy days.

Phil Andrews

Jeff used to do a sixties disco on Saturday nights in El Syds, which he alternated with someone called Nigel. Great night out. Mick The Doorman wore his toupe on sixties night, but not on punk night, or futurist night. I always liked Syds for the mix you got, punks, rockers, mods, hippies, everyone.  In 1979, the BBC put Magical Mystery Tour on TV, a few nights later, I was in Syds with some friends and we did the I Am The Walrus walk from the film when that song came on the jukebox ... out one door, in through the other, lots of people. Great. the whole place got ruined once Alan Hudson got hold of it ...

Shelley Whitney (March 2011)

Syd's bar was like a second home to me as a teenager. In fact, it was more or less my first home. I remember Jim Chesters very well and his wife ( Betty ) ? Jim's eldest daughter Gayle went out with my friend Brian Colley for quiet some time. I think Jim's other daughter was named Julie. There are so many faces that I can recall from back then but I can't always put a name to them. Chris Bailey I remember well and Steve The Punk, who remains true to his name to this day. Pete Hurd left eventually to run a night club in Manchester somewhere. I have never met a man as proud to be gay as Pete. If the bikers hadn't drank up after closing time, Pete would threaten to come from behind the bar and give them all a big kiss. That normally emptied the place pretty quick. I think Pete did a stint at the now demolished Sutherland Arms as well. "Daisy" was really Dave Garrett. He was married to Christine but got divorced later on. Bill Philips ( the bar manager before Pete ) could be a surly old geezer at times and had a long suffering wife named June. Liked his beer though did Bill. I had the misfortune to be involved in a car accident a fortnight before my 18th birthday and my name was in the local paper. Unfortunately for me, it also gave my age and I was banned for two weeks. Lot's of names come to mind  Dave Walker, Dave Cotton.......Rod and tall Tom............Cockney Jim.  Jane Murphy (?) ( joined the police ).............Dave Hitchcock and the plastic pig ! Almost the entire cast of The North Staffs Youth Theatre........where are they all now.......Katie Birks, Sue Pod, Mick Gruenbeck Simon Lewis, Foz, Ian Clarkson et all...................... ?  great memories for me. Old school friends like Pete Lamb ( and sister Jo ) were frequent imbibers too. Trench coat John who used to drink me under the table more often than not. The pub had a large single room  with a dominant bar for congregating around and a single coat stand, which would get larger and larger as the night wore on and the coats piled up.  In the early days there was subtle piped piano music. With speakers hidden under the seats. Later on the truly awful video juke box arrived. But the pub maintained it's Victorian decor until very nearly the end. ( When it became known as The Merlin Tavern ) I confess to being addicted to the Space Invaders machine and an electronic Yangtze game on which I won many free pints. There was a pool table as well which attracted it's own peculiar "competitive" type of customer. Alan Hudson the footballer took it on after Jim and managed to destroy the pub completely. He banned most of the regulars ( well........he banned people from wearing leather jackets actually, but the result was the same ) he was highly disliked. The atmosphere was lost and ultimately, so was the pub. The pub had numerous traditional ales. Pedigree was the regular and the Owd Roger which saw an early end to the evening for many an unsuspecting drinker. Wilson's. Pollard's, Sam Smith's and Bank's were also regular beers. Food was restricted to chicken rolls............very nice they were too. I lived off them for years. The pub didn't open until 6.00 in the evening and it was not a rare sight to see people standing outside waiting. ( Must have been the lure of the chicken rolls ) ! Phil Andrews, I see has written of his fond memories of the place.    Hope you have fond memories of me as well Phil,  being as I lived in your house for most of the early eighties.   How the Hell are you Phil ????? Do you still make yourself the world's biggest Lamb and Leek casseroles ? If you ever read this Phil, wherever you are............. I hope life has treated you well.  If my memory isn't playing tricks with me, I think the pub was called "The Talbot" before Syd and Edna took it over. They ran a very successful dancing school next door to the pub. Syd's Bar was, for a time, the only place to be in Newcastle. I met and made friends with many diverse people there. It was home to many a character. Punks hippies, bikers etc..........Oh, and a Teddy Boy named Muz ? And three wonderful old retired gentleman who could whinge for Britain............marvelous. In a time before mobile phones and e mail etc, people would just head for Syd's Bar and see who turned up. The disco upstairs made for many a late night. I recall playing in some very under rehearsed bands up there. I think that there was even a wine bar at one point. Jim Chesters ran a great pub ( for a while ) and deserves credit for doing so.  If I stretch my memory to it's limits, I think Jim had been working in South Africa before taking on the pub. He was an accountant of some sort.........Possibly..........it's a long time ago now. It's a shame that everybody didn't have a "Syd's Bar" to go to when they were young.  It was a great place to hang out and to meet some memorable people. Not always memorable for the best of reasons either. Great times. Great pub

Dave Hill (May 2011)

In the late 1970s the then owner allowed he use, for free, of an upstairs room in this pub for the hosting of a "disco" for the local punks who were then a small but growing group. The place soon garnered a reputation for playing all the newest music as well as having a friendly atmosphere. It once was attacked by a group of bikers who were successfully repelled by the bouncer and pretty much everyone else in the place.

Mick Gruenbeck (September 2011)

What an amazing place for youngsters to hang out in the late 1970's and early 1980's. I spent the best part of my life in there as it had everything for Punks, Hippies, Mods and Rockers alike. Rarely if ever any trouble and kept everyone of the streets unlike today. I feel sorry for teenagers (16+) these days as they have nothing like this where you could hang out and drink underage without ID. It was really more like a youth club especially once El Syds opened. I still see most of the people I hung out with: Jon Plant, Steve Hall, Ronnie Foulkes, Jock, Giz Eastwood, Dave Walker, Fozzie, Clarkie, etc. etc. Love on y'all

Ian Brindley (January 2012)

I just wanted to add to the Syds Bar info with a link to photo blog i am in the process of creating - early days yet. sydsbar.blogspot.com

William White (February 2012)

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Name Dates Comments Hal Wise 1977-1980 Thanks for reminding me of the electronic Yangtze (Yahtzee) game machine. Remember somebody asking Jim if (Harry) could hold his birthday party in "El Syd's" yeah no problem said Jim, what is it his 21'st, no 18th say's me. Mark Rowley 1978-1980 Great pub - fab memories ... just looking at those photos had me laughing, until I spotted myself, considerably worse for wear! Grant 1980s Customer. Great pub, great people. Paul Snape 1976/77 Customer.

Other Photos

Picture source: Shelley Whitney