Waterman's Arms, East London

The Waterman’s Arms Pub (1953-present), located along the Newcastle Draw Dock on the Isle of Dogs in London’s East End. Originally called the Newcastle Arms, this pub opened by the year 1853 and was more down on its luck when it was purchased in 1962 by TV personality Daniel Farson. Farson changed the name to the Waterman’s Arms and renovated the property, enlarging the stage to accommodate music hall entertainment which he particularly enjoyed. The result of his efforts (aided by a TV program he hosted called “Time Gentleman, Please!” the first episode of which was filmed there), turned the Waterman’s Arms into a magnet for nightlife and celebrities in the East End. In addition to featuring the Edwardian octogenarian Ida Barr, Farson also booked modern entertainers such as Shirley Bassey. Among the guests Farson’s lineup brought to the Waterman’s Arms were Groucho Marx, Tony Bennett, Mary Quant, Judy Garland, and Clint Eastwood. Recordings of the pubs evening entertainments were made there and released on vinyl A sequence of the 1964 film “London in the Raw” by Arnold Louis Miller was filmed in the Waterman’s Arms when still under the ownership of Farson. (see URL below) Later that year, Farson was forced to sell the property after the pub failed to keep itself afloat. In 2011 the pub’s name was changed to the Great Eastern and its upper two floor were used as a youth hostel. In 2020 a £600,000 renovation of the pub was announced, along with the news that its name was being changed back to the Waterman’s Arms. Images of the Waterman's Arms then and now can be found on the "Island History" Wordpress blog (see URL below).