The Golden Lion has become an institution, place of pilgrimage even. Talk to anyone who’s been and they’ll tell you the same - there’s not really anywhere else like it. A unique location, diverse and forward thinking approach to musical programming as well as deep community roots marks it out as defiantly different. TP caught up for some past, present and future - keeping the outlaw spirit alive as they sail ever onwards.

Where are you guys from originally, and how did you end up running a pub in the Pennines?

Gig (that’s me) is from Bangkok in Thailand and Richard is from a suburb called Crowle in Lincolnshire. It was my idea to make this old pub into a community space, and with Richard being so skilled in music and bands, bookings and promoting it seemed like the perfect combination.

How and where did you meet? I know Richard did promotion, but did you both have backgrounds in music?

My background is as an art student in Thailand, Australia, then Italy, and a Master’s degree in the UK at Leeds-Bradford University. Richard was a nurse and worked in the social service. That’s a long story, as both our backgrounds are quite similar and quite opposite! I’m from the big city and Richard is from a small farming village. We’re both a bit rebellious and creative, but in a nutshell, I had a vision with the building. At the time Richard was doing lots of promotion stuff, so we hooked up and joined forces.

What were you into growing up? Any formative experiences you care to share?

I was very much into art, music, and fashion. Richard is into music and also fishing. And football! But we have the same perspective and outlook on the world which is to push the boundaries. We also love to be kind.

Todmorden, is in the Ribble Valley, for those who don’t know, and is a pretty special place, geographically speaking - what connections are there between the Lion and where it’s located?

Todmorden is a lovely small market town. It attracts people from far and wide to come and live, it’s friendly, working class and down to earth. We are only seven miles from Burnley and Rochdale, ten miles from Halifax, 25-miles from Manchester and 32-miles from Leeds. It’s a wonderful place to be based. There’s lovely countryside and I think in a small way recently the Golden Lion has added its stamp to Todmorden, making it quirkier and providing a night life of music that usually you would have had to travel out of town to get.

Together with a lot of individuality and quirkiness, there are other benefits to choosing a night out in The Golden Lion over a city venue. There’s a huge price difference for starters. The beer in the Golden Lion is as brilliant as it is cheap and taking into consideration the money, you’ll save avoiding city prices, it’s a much less expensive night out than you’d usually have – even adding in the return train ticket.

It doesn’t feel like it could exist anywhere else, where do you think that alchemy has come from?

The Golden Lion’s success is down to the gut instinct of those who run it. It’s a venue that, unlike so many others, isn’t trying to be cool. It just is.

Pubs used to be the centre of things, and you mentioned the Lion as a community space. Outside of the gigs and nights what else goes on there?

We have Yoga classes and language classes too. There is a photography group, a reading group….We have a UFO meeting, a poetry night, an open mic night, elderly Mar Jong group, and a drawing class. All different sorts of workshops. And not forgetting the community ferret race!

The Weatherall connection is really strong, and continues to be, with the annual shenanigans, can you talk a bit about your relationship with him?

Richard Walker has known Andrew Weatherall for decades. He used to write letters to Andrew asking for his records to play at his free party. Later on, I wrote to Andrew in 2016, telling him how much appreciation we had for him and asked him to come and play at the Golden Lion. We both always felt like he was such a respectable man. He talked and treated us like family...

The range and depth of artists you get in couldn’t be much bigger, how do you decide on who to get in?

We only book who we like - Whoever we like, we’ll keep booking.

How does who you book reflect each of your own tastes?

We don’t really have a policy. If we did it would be – don’t book anyone that’s a dick!

No doubt there are many memorable nights, but which really stick in the mind?

OMG. So many! Jarvis Cocker Maypole. Andrew Weatherall 63 – A Celebration of Andrew’s life that is never ending. A January weekend with Vladimir & Sean Johnston. But all of those nights included Sean, Tia Cousins, and James Holroyd. They’re our three faves.

And was there one moment, where you thought: 'Yes, this is what this place is all about'?

That would be the Andrew Weatherall weekender. Also, Danielle Moore’s memorial. I was so proud to have a space for my friends to share those memories, and love and music, in this space.

You don’t seem to struggle getting folks in to play, but who’s on the wish list to come through? No name too big.

No name is too big. Harvey, Laurent Garnier, and Bjork.

I think you’re taking the Lion on the road this year, what’s the plan for that? Are you looking to make that concept a more regular thing?

I want to bring the Northern vibes to Wild Wood. Friendly but tough music. And if I can give some magic cake to people, that would be fun (laughs).

As well as one of gigs, you do a few weekender type bits, obviously the AW event, Love International…anything else like that in the works?

We have the Dave Clarke weekender / Zukunft weekender / Golden Gun weekender which is incoming.

Golden Lion curate the main stage at Wild Wood with James Holroyd on the Saturday night.

Photo/video credits: Dave Croft