BEER, BOWIE AND SPOOKS ON THE A3... THE TALE OF A PUB
Tim Harrison
- Regions:
- London, Surrey
- Notice Period:
- Short (maybe less than one month's notice)
- Type:
- Published Author/Journalist/Historian
- Fee:
- Paid: £140 including travel expenses
- Category:
- History
- Updated:
- 16th February 2026
- Tagged:
- Pubs | David Bowie | Spies | Social History
WHAT DO David Bowie, Cold War spies, Hitler’s invasion manual, Edward & Mrs Simpson and John Lennon’s dad have in common? Find out as Tim Harrison shares the extraordinary, couldn’t-make-it-up tale of life in the bars, kitchen and function room of the Toby Jug pub, a dodgy roadhouse on the A3 with an incredibly colourful past. It achieved music legend status when Bowie picked its back room as the launchpad for Ziggy Stardust, in front of 60 bewildered locals, and it was where, in April 1969, Led Zeppelin broke off an American tour to fly home and play a gig.
Views: 16 | Enquiries: 0About Tim Harrison
IN A LONG, varied career as journalist, author and local historian I have written for everyone from Private Eye and The Telegraph to Viz and The Economist. For 18 years I worked on BBC One’s Question Time, and now edit Surbiton's local newspaper, The Good Life.
I grew up next door to film star Margaret Lockwood, I've exhibited at the Royal Academy, I once lost at snooker to Hurricane Higgins and I’m president of my local historical society. I have written more than 30 stage plays as well as a book about David Bowie's launch of Ziggy Stardust.
I love sharing my knowledge and quirky adventures with a diverse array of groups and societies, and bring a PowerPoint slideshow on a memory stick/laptop for use with your inhouse projector.
I am an experienced public speaker and enjoy using humour and images to make my talks engaging and entertaining.
Each lasts around 45 minutes to leave time for audience questions.
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