No, big pub but not the longest bar. I wasted a lot of money in my youth in the K&Q. Very similar in lots of ways to the Tavern, looking back absolute dives but comfortable like an old pair of slippers.
I sometimes think people get the wrong impression of Downham. It was originally built for decent working class people who paid a substantial rent for the chance to live on the 'garden estate', in a house with an inside toilet and bath.
In the early days inspectors would visit to make sure that standards were kept up, doorsteps scrubbed, gardens kept and the inside well maintained. Residents would be told in no uncertain terms if they failed to maintain standards.
The Downham Tavern served the residents in all sorts of ways. Yes the biggest pub in England, but also facilitated tearooms, shows and even had a really grand room for dances.
This video is before my time, but features the dance hall at the back of the Tavern, you can still make out its former splendour. The people talking could easily be my parents / grand parents - I feel that I'd heard all these stories before, as I grew up on the estate from the mid 50s. There were a few rotten apples around of course, but by and large the Downhamites were a pretty decent lot and as for us kids? We were perfect in every way
You could quite easily describe the Downham residents of yesteryear as rough and ready. .my dad lived in reigate road and mum Shaw road ..I was born in reigate .and christened at st Lukes..the tavern had the longest bar definitely ..not sure if it was the biggest pub ...you have confirmed your Downham credentials by using the term downhamites....one thing that saddens me these days are the amount of cars on the estate but I guess thats the same all over
Always found it a funny place. My secondary school was Bonus Pastor and I was there 93-98. We had the two sites. Winlaton Rd, the main one, and Churchdown, which was more toward the housing estate end. Interestingly enough, as it was Roman Catholic, and in the borough of Lewisham, we had a lot of black kids who would sometimes clash with the white kids who lived around there. Having Mallory up the road didn’t help either. I remember seeing them smash the front window from the inside of the top deck of the 136. That was a bus you didn’t want to be on as Bonus student....
Bal Tabarin. I remember that. That is a blast from the past.
I remember my older brother getting very excited at seeing Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band there. Thanks to the internet I know that was on 12th July 1967. I also know (due to the net) that he is still touring. Apparently Geno does a bit of hypnotism and sometimes includes it in his show before getting down and funky - what more could you ask for?
My first experience of live music Crazy World of Arthur Brown at the Bal Tabarin 1968, he asked someone down the front what they thought of him and got a pint of beer and some choice words hurled at him. He had a big hit at the time with a record called 'Fire'.
Before people get too snotty about the Downham Tavern I would like to say that this magnificent venue once hosted an 18th party at which my cousin met and later made the 'beast with two backs' with a certain Keeley Hazell so, on that front at least, a bit of respect is due.
My first experience of live music Crazy World of Arthur Brown at the Bal Tabarin 1968, he asked someone down the front what they thought of him and got a pint of beer and some choice words hurled at him. He had a big hit at the time with a record called 'Fire'.
I was fairly regular drink there from the early 80's until it closed. Never saw any trouble there any always thought it had an undeserved reputation. There were many worse places for a drink - most of the pubs in Woolwich, Abbey Wood and Thamesmead for starters and I also frequented most of those at one time or another.
I remember Bonus Pastor and Mallory schools. I went to Eltham Green 67/71 and we used to give them regular hidings at football.
You are not saying much there mate!
As an ex BP man (84-89), we had two Welsh games teachers, whom had literally no interest in football, but were both rugby mad.
However as a small Catholic school we never really had enough boys for rugby, so ended up playing football instead, whilst the two welsh PE teachers retired to 'Jock's Bar' at Coldharbour for some refreshment.
When they did emerge at half time, we would often be told to 'spread out more' or the old classic 'get it up the field', before they both pissed off back inside again for more libations.
In all my life I have never been as cold as I have on some of those winter afternoons at Coldharbour, that place had a windchill that would rival the North Pole at times!
Before people get too snotty about the Downham Tavern I would like to say that this magnificent venue once hosted an 18th party at which my cousin met and later made the 'beast with two backs' with a certain Keeley Hazell so, on that front at least, a bit of respect is due.
Before people get too snotty about the Downham Tavern I would like to say that this magnificent venue once hosted an 18th party at which my cousin met and later made the 'beast with two backs' with a certain Keeley Hazell so, on that front at least, a bit of respect is due.
Comments
I wasted a lot of money in my youth in the K&Q. Very similar in lots of ways to the Tavern, looking back absolute dives but comfortable like an old pair of slippers.
You could quite easily describe the Downham residents of yesteryear as rough and ready. .my dad lived in reigate road and mum Shaw road ..I was born in reigate .and christened at st Lukes..the tavern had the longest bar definitely ..not sure if it was the biggest pub ...you have confirmed your Downham credentials by using the term downhamites....one thing that saddens me these days are the amount of cars on the estate but I guess thats the same all over
It did have the longest bar in The UK.....but was not the biggest pub in The UK.
1968, he asked someone down the front what they thought of him and got a pint of beer and some choice words hurled at him.
He had a big hit at the time with a record called 'Fire'.
iaitch
See previous post.