The Goldsmiths Tavern was a pub and venue for both live music and comedy located at 316 New Cross Road, in the New Cross area of the London Borough of Lewisham in south-east London.
The pub was originally named The New Cross House. Nathan Dews' book The History of Deptford from 1884 refers to a pub of that name "at the top of Clifton Hill", and so presumably in roughly the same spot.[1] An issue of the Berkshire Chronicle from 16 July 1825 also refers to an establishment of that name in Deptford.[2] In the 1960s Goldsmiths University students ran a folk club there.[3]
It was the original venue of Vic Reeves Big Night Out, a live comedy night he started there in 1986 before moving it to the Albany Empire in 1988, and also where Reeves met future comedy partner Bob Mortimer.[4] [5]
Whilst generally attracting a mixed clientele, it held gay nights in the 1980s and was considered an LGBTQ friendly space.[6] [7] Paul O'Grady would also perform there.[8] A club night named The Gift, calling itself "The only London Gay Alternative Club", ran there in the mid-1980s and hosted bands such as The Love Act and The House of Love.[9]
The building is still a pub, though now once again named The New Cross House.[10] [11]