How often do you go the pub?

[Easy 10]

The Albion has re-opened with cheaper beer

Yes...I popped in there last Friday evening to have a sniff. Can't say I was OVERLY impressed. Early days of course, but I get the feeling its going to go downhill fast. Darren kept a fairly tight leash on the scumbags and cleaned the place up a bit, but I'm not convinced the new incumbants will be quite so selective on their clientel.

There was a gaggle of chavs in there who had put a few quid in the jukebox, and I dunno about you, but having the ears blasted with a load of techno-garage-hip-hop whatevertheyfuckingcallit SHITE is not my idea of a good way to wind down after work. And whats with moving the pool table ? You can't sit at the bar now without being JABBED in the back with a pool cue every two minutes.

I might give the Albion a couple of weeks to settle in then go back and see what its like, but frankly, the Midway is INFINITELY preferable. Small, friendly, very nicely done out, Sky & ESPN. Its a perfect little boozer. The new owner is hoping the Albion stays open so that all the scum go there instead - and I had to agree.

 

[John Boy]

On average 3 or 4 times a week

 

[The Maharajah of Sydney]

Usually at least 4 times a week .
Monday nights after tennis .
Wednesday lunchtime in the city with a few ex-trader mates .
Friday at the 19th hole of whatever golf course I'm playing that arvo .
And either Sat night or Sunday lunch with the missus .

By the way , anyone on here who happens to be travelling
through Sydney this week , the Brighton Boys are meeting up
for beers at 'The Argyle' down in The Rocks tomorrow(Fri 5th) from 5.30.pm .

Anytime at the Argyle, the Rocks, Sydney

 

[Knightsworld]

Yes...I popped in there last Friday evening to have a sniff. Can't say I was OVERLY impressed. Early days of course, but I get the feeling its going to go downhill fast. Darren kept a fairly tight leash on the scumbags and cleaned the place up a bit, but I'm not convinced the new incumbants will be quite so selective on their clientel.

There was a gaggle of chavs in there who had put a few quid in the jukebox, and I dunno about you, but having the ears blasted with a load of techno-garage-hip-hop whatevertheyfuckingcallit SHITE is not my idea of a good way to wind down after work. And whats with moving the pool table ? You can't sit at the bar now without being JABBED in the back with a pool cue every two minutes.

I might give the Albion a couple of weeks to settle in then go back and see what its like, but frankly, the Midway is INFINITELY preferable. Small, friendly, very nicely done out, Sky & ESPN. Its a perfect little boozer. The new owner is hoping the Albion stays open so that all the scum go there instead - and I had to agree.

Fair play mate. We are going back to play darts there on a Tuesday night. The MIDWAY, is that the new name for The Little Cricks?

 

[csider]

too often!!

i cant see the comparison between people saying i can buy 10 stellas for £££ rather than going to the pub......i go out to drink to get OUT of the house!

 

[csider]

The Engineer or The Branch?

the engineer is a quality pub with VERY good food, friendly staff and punters.

 

[csider]

Yes...I popped in there last Friday evening to have a sniff. Can't say I was OVERLY impressed. Early days of course, but I get the feeling its going to go downhill fast. Darren kept a fairly tight leash on the scumbags and cleaned the place up a bit, but I'm not convinced the new incumbants will be quite so selective on their clientel.

There was a gaggle of chavs in there who had put a few quid in the jukebox, and I dunno about you, but having the ears blasted with a load of techno-garage-hip-hop whatevertheyfuckingcallit SHITE is not my idea of a good way to wind down after work. And whats with moving the pool table ? You can't sit at the bar now without being JABBED in the back with a pool cue every two minutes.

I might give the Albion a couple of weeks to settle in then go back and see what its like, but frankly, the Midway is INFINITELY preferable. Small, friendly, very nicely done out, Sky & ESPN. Its a perfect little boozer. The new owner is hoping the Albion stays open so that all the scum go there instead - and I had to agree.

What were you sniffing in there

 

[NMH]

2 or 3 times a week, and I always stop at 2 and a half pints.
I like beer but don't either have a huge capacity for a lot of it, nor do I particularly like the supposed 'high' of being drunk. Actually, intoxication by alcohol sucks.

 

[Easy 10]

Fair play mate. We are going back to play darts there on a Tuesday night. The MIDWAY, is that the new name for The Little Cricks?

Yep. Two blokes run it now (we established last night that, contrary to some assumptions, they're NOT gay - my missus had them pegged as being "good with colours")

They're getting a darts team together as well, so I daresay you'll have a match there at some point. I think Darrens just sold them the electronic darts-calculator thingummyjob that was on the wall in the Albion.

 

[alan partridge]

I make sure I go at least twice a week to my local. its a f***ing dump with plumbing coming out the walls, poorly acknowledged handwritten no drug taking signs no food and relys on alkie old micks watching the racing to keep the fucker going, but at least no one suggests the solution to its problems are putting in some sofas, getting a chalk board up with seared tuna on and some organic ales with jokey names, and a DJ.

Cwoooar! You are SO real!

 

[Easy 10]

What were you sniffing in there

Only the barmaids apron.

 

[Knightsworld]

Yep. Two blokes run it now (we established last night that, contrary to some assumptions, they're NOT gay - my missus had them pegged as being "good with colours")

They're getting a darts team together as well, so I daresay you'll have a match there at some point. I think Darrens just sold them the electronic darts-calculator thingummyjob that was on the wall in the Albion.

Excellent, I may have to wander over there sometime and have a look. Must admit when it was the Little Cricks it wasn't the best pub around, unless you were a LOCAL.

 

[rusty redeyes]

About 2 or 3 times a week. My "local" local closed down recently, so I've started going to this other one thats just re-opened after a refurb, and its MARVELLOUS. Its a lot further to walk, but its such a nice little pub I don't mind, just listen to podcasts on the way.

Usually Friday after work just for 2 or 3, Sunday lunchtime with the sports supplement, and sometimes on a Wednesday for the soccerball.

Would that be The Midway, formerly the Little Cricks and before that The Cricketers Arms? And if so, thoroughly decent place with 2 decent guys trying to make a go of it

 

[Easy 10]

Excellent, I may have to wander over there sometime and have a look. Must admit when it was the Little Cricks it wasn't the best pub around, unless you were a LOCAL.

Yes I gather it had a bit of a reputation beforehand, one or two DRUG issues going on which the new owners are more than aware of. Thats the main reason they've changed the name, and have also taken out the landline. The chap was saying he's already given the heave-ho to one or two of the former regulars as "its not that kind of pub any more", and the authorities are watching them like a hawk apparently, so they've got zero tolerence on it.

Would that be The Midway, formerly the Little Cricks and before that The Cricketers Arms? And if so, thoroughly decent place with 2 decent guys trying to make a go of it

Yes, very nice guys. The older chap (Paul) is a former project manager for Barratt Homes (or some other housebuilder), and he basically gutted the place and did it all up himself in the space of about 3 months. The younger one is a manager at Asda down the Marina, still works there full time during the day, but is hoping to give it up if this place takes off.

 

[Munkfish]

Yes I gather it had a bit of a reputation beforehand, one or two DRUG issues going on which the new owners are more than aware of. Thats the main reason they've changed the name, and have also taken out the landline. The chap was saying he's already given the heave-ho to one or two of the former regulars as "its not that kind of pub any more", and the authorities are watching them like a hawk apparently, so they've got zero tolerence on it.



Yes, very nice guys. The older chap (Paul) is a former project manager for Barratt Homes (or some other housebuilder), and he basically gutted the place and did it all up himself in the space of about 3 months. The younger one is a manager at Asda down the Marina, still works there full time during the day, but is hoping to give it up if this place takes off.

do you know this Pauls name? its not Martin is it?

 

[rusty redeyes]

do you know this Pauls name? its not Martin is it?

Yes

 

[Easy 10]

do you know this Pauls name? its not Martin is it?

Dunno his surname, sorry.
He's a West Ham fan though (the other guy, Phil, is a Gooner).

 

[rusty redeyes]

Yes I gather it had a bit of a reputation beforehand, one or two DRUG issues going on which the new owners are more than aware of. Thats the main reason they've changed the name, and have also taken out the landline. The chap was saying he's already given the heave-ho to one or two of the former regulars as "its not that kind of pub any more", and the authorities are watching them like a hawk apparently, so they've got zero tolerence on it.



Yes, very nice guys. The older chap (Paul) is a former project manager for Barratt Homes (or some other housebuilder), and he basically gutted the place and did it all up himself in the space of about 3 months. The younger one is a manager at Asda down the Marina, still works there full time during the day, but is hoping to give it up if this place takes off.

I know them both very well, I even helped out with some of the refurb. Early signs are they will make a success of it, old regulars returning after issues with the previous landlord and clientele and new punters taking a chance as it seems a nice place which it is. Brucie Bonus having Sky...

 

[rusty redeyes]

Dunno his surname, sorry.
He's a West Ham fan though (the other guy, Phil, is a Gooner).

Paul Martin is my neighbour and is a Wet Sham fan and Phil is a stay at home armchair gooner. B'ton fans are in the minority, outnumbered by goons and sham fans for some reason, and the odd chelski

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Sadly I lost my pub last year due to current financial situation. Having owned and run 4 pubs alas my time has come to leave the industry for good.

This is a piece I wrote for the local paper a few years ago.

'Ah, the village pub, a hub for the local community, retreat, place to meet, place to eat. Whether it's in the garden on a sunny day or sitting by an open fire during winter, supping ale and full of cheer - forever England!

The origins of the pub date back to Roman times. They were known as 'tabernae' (taverns). To advertise, bunches of vine leaves were placed outside to indicate their stock in trade - forerunner of the pub sign (now sadly in danger, too, according to The Telegraph).
The Romans left and, despair, the tabernae fell into disuse. Home brewing, alas, became the norm. A batch might be sold in the village and people began to invite others into their home to buy their brew. The first public house was born.

By the 13th century ale houses had become a feature of rural life with festivals, known as 'church ales', lasting some three days. These were pagan drinking rituals transformed into Christian church fundraisers.

Next on the scene came the 'inn', a place to rest, eat and drink for distance travellers. To this day a pub named as an 'inn' is still, by "Order of the Crown" required to offer a horseman a drink and water and hay for the horse, at no cost.

For centuries little changed until the 1830s when a decline took place under the influence of the Temperance Movement, a religious campaign to shame the working classes into a life of sobriety. Abstaining was for the good of their souls and their families, a somewhat different view from that held in the 13th century.

Into the 20th century, and legislation was introduced to restrict opening hours. The intention was to increase productivity of our factories during the First World War, legislation which has only recently been changed. Today, the traditional pub is once more in retreat. With pubs closing at an alarming rate we are witnessing the demise of a once strong and proud trade. The humble licensee has seen costs soar; pub companies bleed him dry; legislation restrict his business; supermarkets sell alcohol as loss leaders; the credit crunch and a dwindling trade - all taking their toll.

Perhaps it is progress, negligence or even apathy which is causing the pub to disappear. If it goes it will be lost forever and a unique part of community life for nearly 2000 years will be gone. When Post Offices are threatened with closure petitions are rightly signed. We now have our doctors' surgery to fight for and fight we will. Too often pubs close with not so much as a whimper but are we not as vital a part of village life? If, shops, post offices, doctors and pubs disappear from the village what remains?

For more than 500 years the Queen's Head has been the alehouse of Sedlescombe. We have lost one pub and now this one is threatened. As previous licensees have said 'Use it or lose it'.

Many folk have remarked that since my arrival the pub has been given back to the community, with the events we hold and the support we give to community-based schemes. I ask, will the community come back to the pub?

Keep the English pub experience, the unique conviviality which we were asked to protect by one naturalised British writer, Hilaire Belloc, in his preface to The Four Men (1911): "When you have lost your inns, drown your empty selves, for you will have lost the last of England".'