Richard ShakespeareThe owner of an events venue in Herefordshire has been looking back on the last decade as he prepares to retire, including the day Robert Plant turned up to do a surprise performance.
Gary Waring redeveloped the site at the Left Bank on the edge of the River Wye in 2014, but never anticipated it would end up hosting such a famous guest.
Plant, the front-man of rock band Led Zeppelin known globally for hits like Stairway to Heaven and Whole Lotta Love, showed up to support Deborah Bonham, the sister of the band’s former drummer John.
John Bonham, from Redditch in Worcestershire, died in 1980 aged 32. His sister Deborah is well known on the circuit of local musicians.
Press Association“There was a rumour he was going to turn up, but we couldn’t say anything because it was just a rumour and, you know, had we have put the information out, he probably wouldn’t have turned up,” said Mr Wearing reflecting on the appearance in May 2016.
“It was very, very low profile,” he added. “He wasn’t the most sociable of guys, I must admit, but it was just amazing and very, very exciting.”
After 11 years running the venue, which includes the well-known city cafe De Koffie Pot, Mr Wearing said he’ll now concentrate on his other business, the wedding venue, Lyde Court.
Richard ShakespeareIt’s expected De Koffie Pot, which Mr Waring says “is really the main business at the Left Bank, will continue just as it is actually, which is really nice”.
He added: “The main building itself will probably be repurposed, but I know one or two national chains of restaurants that are interested in it, so it could well continue to be a restaurant or a venue, but that’s all in the pipeline at the moment.”