More of your memories of beloved Nag’s Head in High Wycombe

The piece was very popular and prompted even more of you to share your recollections of the once-renowned night spot.

The much-loved London Road venue was a favourite with music fans in its heyday in the 60s and 70s, with thousands cramming into the pub to hear the latest hits from big names, who would often sign the famous green room wall.

It hosted many celebrated bands including Thin Lizzy, Sex Pistols, Status Quo, Police and U2.

The venue was turned into flats in 2018. The plans for the legendary site were controversial, with music fans calling it the “end of an era” and dozens of objections were submitted to the then-Wycombe District Council against the proposals.

But that did not stop many of you remembering the good times had at the pub. 

Many readers commented on the story from earlier this month, with one writing: “There’ll be many yet alive who’ll remember The Nag’s with great fondness, and some of us even played up in the old Blues Loft on occasion.

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“In the 60s, most of our parents forbade our visiting that alleged “den of iniquity”, which of course prompted us to make a beeline for the place.

“In fact, it was a bit rough round the edges but generally a very good time was had by all.

PICTURED: The famous Nags Head in 2012

“Ron Watts’ autobiographical book ‘Hundred Watts’ is arguably guilty of a little – I think forgivable – self-aggrandisement, but nonetheless well worth a read for anyone there at the time.

“He was always charming to me and I remember him fondly.”

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Another reader commented: “Who could forget the Nags Head? Ron Watts the band promoter was the best in the business at the time,” to which a reader replied: “Indeed. Ron was usually ahead of the game and had a keen ear for good music.”

Paul Kilkenny wrote: “Fantastic pub. Spent many a night listening to the blues shakers, the mafia and more. [A] real shame”, while Tony Dean said: “I remember when the folk club was in the Nag’s Head, and ‘spooks’ dressed in ‘mufti’ (How Wolfie Smith looked) came in to check what us dangerous subversives were up to.”

The legendary nightspot was a favourite with music fans in its heyday

Another reader commented: “Saw some great bands play here. I even signed my own name in the loft on the wall. More as a joke than anything.”

Members of the BFP’s We Grew Up in Wycombe Facebook group, where the discussion originally started, also shared more of their memories of the infamous venue.

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Penny Upchurch said: “Every Friday our mates all met there to see Blues Shakers,” while Matt Moon wrote: “Swinging from the rafters in the blues loft watching Billy Idol with Generation”, and Julie Kidby commented: “Spent my youth there watching so many punk bands.”

Haydn Wortmann wrote: “We used the Nag’s all the time. We more or less run the place. Me, Paddy Dalton and Martin Kelly got the old landlord 67 to get a jukebox. We picked the records.

“That’s where the Acid came from. Then Ron Watts started getting bands.”

Martin Percival added: “A fantastic venue. Much, much missed”, while Sur Turner recalled seeing it during the day, saying it looked “completely different”.

She said: “I used to go to the Nag’s Head for the folk sessions, but always had to leave before the end to catch the last train home.

“When I left school, I worked in some offices just down the road and we went there for Friday lunchtime drinks – it was completely different in the day.”