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Do you remember the Rat Trap cellar club in Maidstone in the 1960s?

Colin Judge is writing his memoirs - "So I'll have something to pass on to the grandchildren."

But he's stuck. He remembers going to a club when he was a 21-year-old in Maidstone, but he can't find any reference to it.

Colin Judge in 1962
Colin Judge in 1962

He said: "As I recall it was called The Rat Trap and was in the basement under a coffee bar shop at the far end of King Street.

"The coffee bar was modelled on The 2is in Soho and had previously been a grocers shop run by the Smith family.

"The club was a tiny place, always packed, and certainly would have been a death trap let alone a rat-trap had a fire broken out."

He went to see live bands there.

He said: "It would have been before 1967 when the G-Ranch opened in Rose Yard. I think it was only open about six months."

Opening night at The G-Ranch 1967, with Tony Bathurst singing with Factory
Opening night at The G-Ranch 1967, with Tony Bathurst singing with Factory

Mr Judge, now 75 and living in St Mary's Bay on Romney Marsh, would dearly love to hear from anyone who can confirm his memories and perhaps add further detail.

In those days, Mr Judge fancied himself as a bit of a musician himself, playing guitar with his friend Tony Brooks. Later he gravitated to DJ-ing and he worked the turntables on the opening night of the G-Ranch itself on September 1, 1967.

He subsequently went into radio and also appeared on the Southern TV show Dad You're A Square, which was recorded at the Central Hall in Chatham.

Tony Bathurst was also at the G-Ranch on its opening night. Now 77, he was the lead singer with Factory, pictured above, with tony proudly sportin his black polo neck sweater and a 'tache.

He remembered the Rat Trap as the name of a coffee bar on the ground floor of the building, with the cellar club below.

It was the era of Mods and Rockers. Colin Judge is third from the right in this group of Mods
It was the era of Mods and Rockers. Colin Judge is third from the right in this group of Mods

He said: "It was opposite Albion Place. The Kingfishers played there a couple of times, as did Jackie Lynton, who had just recorded Over The Rainbow.

"It was run by Ted Tap, but it was a terrible place - crowded, hot and would never have passed a health and safety inspection today!"

Mr Bathurst said: "There were a lot of small clubs in cellars in Maidstone in those days. There was one beneath the Bower Inn in Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, called the Cat's Crypt, which was run by the McConnell brothers.

"There was another called Highfield House on the London Road opposite the old 'Stones ground, which was a great venue for trad jazz."

We'd love to hear from anyone who remembers the Rat Trap, and particularly anyone who has a photo of it. Please email Alan Smith on ajsmith@thekmgroup.co.uk

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