Public Transit: British Rail -- Twickenham
Stones played there: 1963
Eel Pie Island is in the River Thames 10 miles southwest of central London. The Eel Pie Island Hotel was built in 1830. The island was formerly called Goose Eyte or Twickenham Ayte. The hotel served eel in pastry and the name Eel Pie stuck. It has also been said that Henry VIII used to stop at the island for lunch when he was out hunting. Rumor also has it that King Henry took women to the island for an afternoon of sport.
During the 1960s many now famous rock bands got some of their first gigs at the hotel. The Stones had to push their equipment over a footbridge. That was the only way to get to the island. In the 60s the footbridge was so old and worn that only three people were allowed on it at one time.(For a picture of the new bridge designed by Stuart Holdsworth, see below.)
The original club closed down in 1967 and was reopened by new owners as Colonel Barefoot's Rock Garden in 1969. Genesis had one of their early gigs at the Rock Garden.
A suspicious fire demolished the hotel in 1972. Neighbors petitioned against having the hotel rebuilt and an apartment building was put in its place. The island is now mostly residential. There are quite a few artists still in residence even without a nightclub.
These days Eel Pie Island most famous as the home of Pete Townshends' recording studio, Eel Pie Recording Productions Ltd. The Who guitarist also has a home in Twickenham which once belonged to Alfred Lord Tennyson.
Source:
Glinert, Ed & Perry, Tim, Rock & Roll Traveler Great Britian and Ireland, Fodor's Travel Publications Inc., London, 1997.
Prints of the Eel Pie Hotel are available for sale at Par-Ici.
Photo of the new Eel Pie Island bridge courtesy of Stuart Holdsworth.
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