It's ten years since a bar was aiming to keep the spirit of the Standard as the music venue was preparing to close its doors permanently.

Staff at a bar in Chingford are hoping to carry on the legacy of the borough's only dedicated live music venue when it closes next month.

The legendary Standard in Walthamstow will host its final gig on Saturday, December 3 after 25 years of entertaining music fans following its sale by Punch Taverns earlier this year.

Promotions staff want the name and music to live on, so have struck a deal with The Artisan in Hall Lane, Chingford, to build a stage there and hold weekly shows under the name 'Standard Music Promotions'.

Gary King, who has put on hundreds of gigs at the Standard under his Club Bus Wind group, is behind the idea.

He said: “It's a big shame what's happening to the Standard and it's still hard to believe it's closing even now. But at least now there's somewhere else for local rock bands to play, because without the Standard there's nowhere else in this part of London.

“We're going to start off with gigs on Saturday nights but we want to have gigs on Fridays as well. Hopefully it will build up a reputation and be a place for local bands to get heard.”

Artisan owner Eddie Somers, who has owned the bar for three years, said: “We do a karaoke night and do have singers here but I wanted to help out and provide something a bit different.

“I'm really looking forward to it.”

Leaseholders Amanda and Paul White, who run the Standard and organise its weekend gigs, said they planned to leave London following its closure but had no immediate plans to run another venue.

She said: “Paul's been here 25 years and me 14, it's been such a big part of our life and we don't know what we're going to do next.

“The last few weeks have been really emotional. We've had so many messages of support and thanks it's overwhelming, not just from bands and our customers but residents and other music venues too.”

Mrs White added she still did not know what was happening to the venue.

But residents association the Blackhorse Road Action Group says rumours its new owners want to open a Turkish supermarket have now been confirmed.

Spokeswoman Irina Hoss said it was a "huge blow" and pointed out that the council's masterplan for the area states that the redevelopment of the site would provide an opportunity to "re-provide a music venue for the local community".

The Standard's final gig will be a performance by one of its most popular tribute bands, T-Rextasy.

All 250 tickets have already sold out.

The first gig at The Artisan is on Saturday, December 10 headlined by Chingford band Electric Blue.

Support comes from Jon Zimbar and November City.