Fondly-remembered local punk and new wave venue that was in operation the same years as the Soft Boys: 1976-81.
NOTE: Not to be confused with the similarly-named, but unrelated, venue in London. The two gigs listed here were verified with Stephen Harland, expert on the Middlesbrough Rock Garden (2 Jun 78 and 5 May 79). The other Rock Garden gigs were at the London Rock Garden.

EVERY major city/town in the UK seemingly had an independent venue that hosted punk/new wave/heavy metal music. In 1976 in Newport Road, Middlesbrough, far enough out of town to avoid confrontation, most of the burgeoning musicians who formed the nucleus of the punk rock movement would at some point come and play at the Rock Garden. London had the Roxy and the Vortex; Manchester had the Electric Circus; Liverpool had Erics and we in Middlesbrough had our own venue - the legendary Rock Garden, with its famous spot-welded tables & benches and plastic glasses.
Blog post about the Rock Garden
Short video featuring the Rock Garden