The Fighting Cocks is a music venue built prior to 1890 active since the 1930s and located in Kingston upon Thames, the administrative centre of the Royal Borough of Kingston, southwest London, England. It specializes in rock and roll, punk, metal, folk, ska, alternative, rockabilly, electro, comedy, and cabaret performances. It was conspicuous for hosting touring jazz acts in the late 1930s and in the 1940s. It is now a standard on the London live circuit. It was a popular watering hole, and host to many jam sessions including such artists as Eric Clapton, Shirley Collins, Frank Turner, Gallows, The Stupids, June Tabor and The Rolling Stones. Since 1992, it is also a live-audience training platform and term assessments venue for Kingston University's drama and music students.
History Unsigned, underground, as well as established artists have been invited to perform. The last management of the Cocks opened its doors in 2000. The Fighting Cocks is cooperating with Banquet Records promoters based a few minutes walk away in the town centre, formerly part of the Beggars Banquet Records retail chain. Banquet Records is also home to Gravity DIP music management.
Comedy performers The music venue has a long history of comedy performers especially since it has transformed into the award-winning Outside the Box comedy night on Mondays. Comedians who have performed there include: Comedy couple Lucy Beaumont and Jon Richardson first met one another at the Kingston venue's weekly comedy night.
Music performers Past performers include: PerformersCountryPerformersCountry Andrew Koji Shiraki : United States Polar : Norway Crossfaith : Japan The Peacocks : Switzerland Cancer Bats : Canada Fucked Up : CanadaGay for Johnny Depp : United StatesNew Found Glory : United StatesThe Stupids : EnglandThe Flatliners : CanadaFrank Turner : EnglandHundred Reasons : EnglandLower Than Atlantis : EnglandRolo Tomassi : England Voodoo Glow Skulls : United States Marmozets : England Guttermouth : United States Johnny Foreigner : England Gnarwolves : England Lonely The Brave : England The Menzingers : United States The Skints : England Against Me! : United States Every Time I Die : United States Polar Bear Club : United States Strung Out : United States The Unseen : United States Municipal Waste : United States Teenage Bottlerocket : United States Star Fucking Hipsters : United States Four Year Strong : United States Knuckle Puck : United States Cerebral Ballzy : United States Walter Schreifels : United States H20 : United States Letlive : United States Terror : United States Madball : United States The Blackout : Wales Time Again : United States Anti-Flag : United States The Hard Ons : Australia Hot Club De Paris : England Gallows : England Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly : England The King Blues : England Jim Jones and The Righteous Mind : England Young Guns : England Drenge : England The Wedding Present : England Blood Red Shoes : England Blitz Kids : England Capdown : England Sonic Boom Six : England Wargasm : EnglandTherapy?Northern Ireland
The Fighting Cocks on film The Fighting Cocks was featured as a filming location in Season 2 of Disney's Loki television series. In it, Hiddleston’s Loki catches up with his old star-crossed lover Sylvie (Sophia Di Martino) to discuss a return to the Time Variance Agency. Regulars might be perplexed by the décor: the pub is actually standing in for a watering hole in 1980s Oklahoma – though the leopard print and pool table will ring some definite bells. The pub has put a plaque down to mark where the God of Mischief once propped up the bar and sipped a bourbon.
Sources
External links The Fighting Cocks website The Fighting Cocks on Instagram. The Fighting Cocks at Time Out. The Fighting Cocks at Mayor of London's 'Visit London'.