Info for artists

If you are appearing at the Tropic at Ruislip - here are a few snippets of information you might find handy to know.

First and foremost it is in the club part of Wealdstone Football Club's ground - they only took it over in 2008, prior to that it was the home ground of Ruislip Manor FC (although actually in Ruislip). The venue is called Ruislip Social Club, but if you get lost and need to ask directions ask for the football club.

NOTE: Due to ongoing road works on the M25 around Rickmansworth you are strongly advised to avoid the western stretch on a Friday evening between M3 and M1. Long delays seem to happen every Friday.

See alternative routes below this section

By Road:

From the M1: Follow Signs for Heathrow Airport on the M25. Come off at Junction 16 onto the A40, come off at The Polish War Memorial junction taking the A4180 turning left towards Ruislip, continue on this road (named) West End Road, and turn right into Grosvenor Vale after approx 1.5 miles, the club/ground is at the end of the road.

From the M25: Follow Take Junction 16 Off M25 onto M40/A40. Then come off at The Polish War Memorial junction taking the A4180 turning left towards Ruislip. Continue on this road (called West End Road), and turn right into Grosvenor Vale after approx 1.5 miles, the club/ground is at the end of the road.

From the M4: Exit at junction 4B, take the M25 Towards Watford, come off at junction 16 and join A40. Leave at The Polish War Memorial junction A4180 turning left towards Ruislip. Continue on this road (called West End Road), and turn right into Grosvenor Vale after approx 1.5 miles, the ground is at the end of the road.

From "London": Unless you know the local roads get on to the A40 towards Oxford and exit at the Polish War Memorial roundabout on to the A4180 turning right towards Ruislip. Continue on this road (called West End Road), and turn right into Grosvenor Vale after approx 1.5 miles, the club/ground is at the end of the road.

There are, through 2009/10, road works on the M25 around Rickmansworth, this causes long queues especially from M4 up to M40 (so clockwise up from Surrey).

From M25 up from Surrey. Exit at Junction 15 and take the M4 towards London, leave M4 at Junction 3 and take A312 towards Hayes/Northolt/Ruislip, this eventually brings you out at the Polish War Memorial Roundabout over the A40. Go straight on on to the A4140 (see above).

From the North, M1, M25 anticlockwise from Essex etc. (If possible come south on the M40, then see above). Leave M25 at J21A and follow sings for M1 SOUTH. Join M1 and leave at first exit, J5. It is then just a case of following the signs as follows. Initially Bushey, then quite soon Northwood, then from Northwood, Ruislip. Your Sat Nav will do the trick if you have one as long as to start with if it tries to send you in to Watford you ignore it!!

Common to all routes

As you come up from the A40 you pass under a large dark railway bridge, through a small parade of shops then round a small double bend. The road then runs straight for around 1/4 mile. At the end of this straight the road turns left around a bend, Grosvenor Vale is on the right on this bend.

The venue is top right in the picture above (as asides, Jordan once lived in Courtfield Gardens and 45 Cranley Drive was used by Russian Spies during the Cold War (read more from link, and the present occupier is a regular at the gigs!)

Along the left hand side of the building there is a "road" which leads to doors that access directly in to the main music room. It is suggested that on arrival you first go in via the main front door and ask for the side door to be opened for you if you need it opening to bring in your equipment.

There is a dance class held in the main hall between 4.15 and 6.30. You can gain access to the music room before this or after, BUT not during, nor can you be in the dressing room between these times. You can, of course, have a game of pool or darts in the bar.

You should be able to gain access to the venue from 1 pm but NOT before. If you are coming this early please ring the venue on 01895 637 487 to ensure there is nothing on in the room other than the dance class. It is suggested that you do this the day BEFORE your visit in the evening, as there will not be anyone there in the morning.

Band start time is sometime after 9pm so arriving at 6.30 smart is suggested. Please note if you arrive early and decide to leave your gear and go off for a bite to eat (say) then all items are left at your own risk (there are staff around....).

Doors to the music room open to attendees at 8.30 normally, but if sound-check is running late it usually not a big problem to hold off to 8.45pm. Please note that there generally tends to be a group that "talk" around the bar side of the venue.

You can unload and place items just inside the side doors or in the dressing room area if you come early but most certainly NOT on the dance floor unless hard up to the stage and NOT on the stage unless it is towards the rear out of the way of the PA setting up (unless it is already there or you are bringing your own).

Behind the curtains on the stage you may find items of PA equipment. These are privately owned and do NOT belong to the club OR Tropic' and must not be used without first asking under ANY circumstances. The owner is a regular at the gigs and he will be most upset if he sees any of his stuff in use (but if asked first may well say yes.....).

The stage has three extension sections that go on the front of it. Generally they are left out, but if they are not there they will be in the dressing room, if this is locked ask the staff for the key. THE SECTION MARKED MIDDLE MUST GO IN THE MIDDLE(!)

There are power points both sides of the stage, ask if you are unable to work them out. There are hooks at the rear for a banner, so if you have a banner it is suggested you put a length of string between any hooks and hang it on them.

Projector and screen.

Some bands like to show moving images. As far as we are aware the venue do not own such equipment, although there is a projection style TV in the ceiling over the stage and the rear of the stage can act as a "screen". You can hook your equipment in to it if you wish - but it is by no means great! You are welcome to bring your own, but check out the stage dimensions!!

Generally we will have a full light show for you looked after by one of the "crew". We also have as well as the lights a laser and smoke machine. It works best if we can have a feed from your PA.

If you are bringing your own PA it is very important that if your sound man has a mixing desk he sets up in one of two places ONLY. Either to the left of the stage OR if it is to be towards the back of the room it should go in the back RIGHT HAND CORNER (as you look at the stage) there MUST be a gap left from the mixing desk about one table's length to the main entrance door in order that we can set up there to collect money!!!!! There is no power to the left hand side. A multi-core can be run down the side of the room and there is power near the fire exit.

Please note that during the gig staff may well enter the dressing room, please do not leave cash/valuables lying around, we have NEVER had a problem but........

The staff at the venue are brilliant and whilst I am sure they all have homes to go to there never seems to be an undue rush to leave. If you are feeling peckish order some food as soon as you finish and they will probably do it for you. We like to start at 9.30 latest and finish for around 11.45. If these timings do not work for your set please let us know, if nothing else just before midnight take a "pause" between tracks where they will probably ring last bell. Music really must finish at midnight, in case the man from the council turns up (again).....)

Locally there is the Barn Hotel, and it will cost you an arm and three legs to stay there the night, but you can forgo the cab fare as it is a 5 minute walk. See this page for other local hotels B & B etc. But these are ONLY in Ruislip, there is a travel lodge near Uxbridge. Best value is probably Days Inn in South Ruislip, where, if you book online, you get a discount. They call it Days Inn Heathrow on their website, which is tosh as it is miles away, and the breakfast is only a "continental" one.

If you want a real breakfast the next day exit the hotel, turn right go under the bridge and walk to the far end of the road (400 yards), there is a cafe by the lights. If you go to Pauls Manor Cafe on the roundabout in Ruislip Manor (drive out left to the traffic lights, turn left, park at second roundabout, it is on the left) some Saturday mornings at 8 am you will find the "tropic" two, George and Philip, in there planning future gigs etc.

There are two bars in the main building. There should be real ale. We normally will bring along the wherewithal to make tea etc. at 6.30. If you arrive early and want tea/coffee they will make it for you at the bar, but they would normally make a charge.

If you want a bite to eat whilst you could walk the best option is to drive to Ruislip MANOR.
(It is suggested that whilst you may (now) know the way back to the shops where the dark railway bridge is, in Ruislip Gardens, as you could have passed under on the way to the venue you do not, the choice is limited and the pub is.........)

So Ruislip Manor: - Exit the car park and after 20 yards turn right. After 100 yards you will come to a T-Junction where you should turn right again. Stay on this road for about 1/2 mile and you will come to a crossroads where you will have to give way. This is Ruislip Manor.

Go straight ahead at the crossroads and then first LEFT in to the car park. This is a pay and display car park. ALWAYS PAY IF YOU HAVE TO, the traffic wardens are like vultures. Parking MAY be free after 6pm in the car park. Read the signs and pay as required. Do NOT park on the street yellow lines, loads of people do and always get a ticket.

Now, returning to the High Street, if you go right towards the railway bridge just under it is a Wetherspoons Pub, J J Moons (The drinking hole of Scouting for Girls) offering beer and food at good prices. It can get very busy!

Over the traffic lights up from the pub is the Raj Doot - reckoned to be the best Indian locally.

Returning to the main road from the car park and turning left, on the opposite side of the road is Master Chef (Menu behind link) offering good "English" food, or, turning left and staying on the same side as the car park the very last shop is Shigi - a Chinese buffet type place.

If you elect to go to Ruislip (as opposed to Ruislip Manor) the street parking is totally confusing and as such using the car parks there is also suggested.

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