The Sex Pistols stopped off in Goldthorpe on Sunday 23rd May 1976. It was the last show of a 5 date mini-tour of Yorkshire and Lincoln.

Paul Griffiths takes up the story.

In Jon Savage's definitive book, England's Dreaming, Nil Stevenson references a gig the Sex Pistols played in Barnsley in 1976. "In Barnsley, we played this awful place out in the sticks, just this pub in the middle of nowhere. The place filled up and things got a bit hairy, so I made the landlord call the police, who escorted us out."

However, this show had never appeared in any Sex Pistols gig list. Maybe Nils had misremembered? So, I started doing some digging. First up was the local newspaper, the South Yorkshire Times. The issue dated May 22nd (Saturday) revealed what I'd been searching for, an advert for a gig at the Halfway Hotel, Goldthorpe, the following day. Goldthorpe is a village in the Borough of Barnsley. Jackpot.

The date also fitted in perfectly with other gigs played in the region and was the last gig before heading back south to London.

The other question was, did it actually take place? So began a process of engaging with Facebook groups local to Goldthorpe. Could anyone who attended 50 years ago, be found? Once again, jackpot.

David Hill: "Not really sure how I knew about the gig. I used to read the Melody Maker so was aware of much of what was happening, but I suspect there would have been some word of mouth too. I was there on the night, curious about the Sex Pistols. I wasn't a punk but wanted some change in music from the long guitar solos and the choir boy voices. I was living nearby at home and I could just walk over to the Halfway. It was a popular pub for young people at the weekends with a DJ and lots of good music. The DJ was someone called Bert Gill who worked as head gardener for the Dearne Council and was well into his music. The Halfway agreed to allow him to put bands on. He had some good bands playing there, he used to get bands that were touring to call in and do a gig. The Pistols gig at the Halfway wasn't full but had expectation, for they looked and sounded like a punk band, loud, fast, aggressive. They weren't great musicians but that was what they were about, though Johnny Rotten had something - he had a strong presence, was a good front man. I enjoyed it, there was some typical reaction from the odd person, one lad went up and said to them, 'if you spit on my fucking girl friend, l'll have you'. Typical ignorance. It was good and I'm glad I saw them."

Hazel Thompson: "I was only young, but I can remember going there often with my sister. I can still see Johnny now when I think about it, jumping around on stage."

Russell Roper: "I was there. The landlord paid them up because they were spitting and swearing."

Allan Guest: "I was there, and for The Stranglers."

Neil Tomlinson: "It's 1976 and my mum is working at the Halfway Hotel. 'Do you want to come and watch a band tonight? They're coming up from London.' 'Nah, I'm not bothered!' So I missed out on the Sex Pistols before Anarchy was released as a single... not my finest decision. My mother's reaction? 'They were great but loud, and all their clothes were ripped and held together by safety pins.' This inspired me to do what I eventually did. It's not precisely Beethoven, but oh God, the energy."

The cutting pictured is from the South Yorkshire Times, dated Saturday 22 May 1976.

The Halfway Hotel was situated at 142 Barnsley Road, Goldthorpe. The pub was built in 1935 and closed in 2009.

Research by Paul Griffiths (January 2026)

© www.sex-pistols.net 2026
All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced without permission