Laurie Williams and the Jug
1982
“Laurie Williams was later the owner of The Jug, first in a central area (Albert Street) now redeveloped, and then it moved to Water Street/ Livery Street. Laurie was involved in politics and was a lifelong humanist. He was a good friend and agent of Roy Jenkins (the former Home Secretary). The Jug was officially opened by Roy Jenkins! You would see the cast of Crossroads who used it as their after hours club so you would see Noelle Gordon there. He maintained that it wasn’t actually a gay club he would say that it was an Equity club, which is something that Norman and Betty Webb at The Silver Web would also claim. If you were an Equity member (the actors’ union) you got in free. The Jug was an amazing club. It wasn’t upmarket in any sense, a case of all life is here”.
Contributed by: Lyn David Thomas, 47