Aston Arms Pub

Inspiration for the Elton John song "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"

The Aston Arms Pub

As pictured in the 1975 Captain Fantastic album sleeve.

The Aston Arms today

Side view in 1975

From the Captain Fantastic album sleeve.

Side view today

Market Place
Market Rasen, Lincolnshire LN8
England

On This Very Spot a teenage Bernie Taupin and his friends played snooker and drank ale before they were of legal age. Although Taupin grew up several miles away in the village of Owmby-by-Spital, his secondary school was located here in the larger town of Market Rasen.

On This Very Spot Bernie Taupin's experiences helped inspire the lyrics for the 1973 Elton John song Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting. There was a pub in Normanby right next to Owmby, but Bernie preferred The Aston Arms because there was more action, including the inevitable fistfights on Saturday nights. A framed newspaper article on the wall inside commemorates the pub's role in creating a hit song.

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This is a functioning pub open to the public during regular operating hours.

The Aston Arms looks much as it did when Taupin was a patron, and as it did when pictured in the liner notes to the 1975 album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.

Parking: Free parking is available in the village square directly in front of the pub.

Location: Market Rasen is about 15 miles north of Lincoln.

Nearest Major Airport: Birmingham or Manchester

Nearest Rail: Market Rasen

Directions: Take the A46 out of Lincoln and watch for the signs after you pass through Middle Rasen. Market Rasen is also accessible by rail from Lincoln, and the station is within walking distance of the pub.

Take our VIDEO TOUR of this very spot by double-clicking the "play" button below. (If the screen does not load on your computer, click here.)