The Keith Moon Bar

The Keith Moon Bar is in The Astoria, central London. This Astoria is not to be confused with The Astoria namechecked in 'Long Live Rock'. That venue was in Finsbury Park, North London.

The Astoria first opened it's doors in 1927 as a cinema. In 1976 it was converted into a theatre. Ten years later it was being used exclusively as a music venue.











The Keith Moon Bar was opened on the venue's second floor in 1988, as part of a major refurbishment by new owners. Zak Starkey donated one of Keith's 1975 Premier drum kits to the bar, and the walls were adorned with assorted Keith Moon memorabilia.













As far as I'm aware, The Who never played at The Astoria, but two Who conventions have taken place here. The first, in 1998, was very much a tribute to Keith. Members of his family were in attendance, there was a premiere screening of a documentary about his life, and in the Keith Moon Bar author Tony Fletcher launched his book about Keith, 'Dear Boy'.














In 2000 the lease for the Astoria was purchased by the Mean Fiddler organisation, with the stated aim of "securing the future of live music at one of London’s most famous rock ‘n’ roll venues".

Last year it was announced that the Crossrail Corporation were seeking a Compulsory Purchase Order on the premises - which was granted in October of this year. They will be demolishing The Astoria to allow them to construct a ventilation shaft for a new underground rail link. Shops and offices will be built on the site currently occupied by the venue. Work on the project will start in 2010.

So, for the next year or two, The Keith Moon Bar can be found in The Astoria, at 157 Charing Cross Road, London. The nearest tube station is Tottenham Court Road.