The Wat Tyler. I remember my old man came home in a sheepskin coat one Sunday lunch, only to walk into our flat, bang on cue to Shaw Taylor asking us to "keep em peeled" on said garment. 1973-1982 Kidbrooke Village
The Wat Tyler on the Ferrier was the first pub I was legally served in. Don't know what I was thinking going there.
Many years ago myself and a friend were in the Wat Tyler and and ended up playing pool with Pat Van Den Hauwe (his parents lived on the ferrier at the time) and Gavin Maguire.
I Lived in the same square as them (dando) when he lived there, (he moved in for a while when he split from Mandy smith) drank with him in the wat Tyler and blackheath standard a couple of times
The Lord Bloomfield on Barnfield. There was another one right in the middle of the estate, can't remember it's name but ironically it is a nursery now!
The Royal Oak was in the middle of Barnfield Gardens, I lived in the block of flats next to the pub.
I used to work in the Bloomfield. Never saw any trouble, but it was a shithole.
I've never been too inclined to go into The Bargepole, but I have been into The Abbey Arms. I didn't fancy staying there for any period of time, although the carpet kept me there longer than I wanted to be.. Then there is The Greyhound on the Woolwich Road. I've only ever been in there with a large group during the day; I dread to think what that'd be like on a Saturday night. I don't think they even have beer on tap in there anymore. Must be holding on by a thread. And did anyone ever go into The Harrow(ing) - Abbey Wood?
My old man used to run a Country Music club at The Harrow Inn, Abbey Wood back in the 70's, I think Harry Starbuck had the boozer then, it had a right name but I can only remember trouble once.
Went into the Abbey Arms for an early start before a game at West Ham. My mate knew Harry and we knocked at about 9.30am. Harry answered the door and said we could come in but first had to turn and wave to the undercover police in the flat opposite as they were spying on him and he wanted them to know he knew! Wave over, we got our early beer.
Pubs: Stumbled into a bar in Zagreb after Croatia away about 10 years ago. We seemed to be the only English around so were glad to find a relatively quiet pub. 10mins later about 200 Dynamo ultras walked in and set up shop. The sound of 200 Croatians singing "Fuck you England, fuck you" was slightly unnerving but we didn't want to walk straight out, so finished our pints as quick as possible without it looking obvious. The chanting was one thing, but when a 'who has the biggest knife' comp started amongst the pissed, loud locals I admit to ever so slightly bricking it.
Preston away - Champ year. Our group of 10 left the ground and rather than head central (or for the train to Blackpool) like most we couldn't wait for a drink so wondered into an estate and into the first pub we found. Could only have been about 10 blokes in there reading papers etc. We headed to the empty beer garden and put the Charlton flag up and settled down to enjoy some drinks in the sun. Now I don't know who put the call out but I kid you not that pub filled with about 80 lads in little more than 5mins. We were getting serious eye balls, when one of theirs walked up to one of our lads, asked and if we wanted it outside in the alley with no cameras, whist the rest of the pub waited for the answer. Being more a beano (with some non Charlton) than a lads day we politely declined, and got a stern "take that flag down and fuck off now then" - we left with our tails between our legs.
Glasgow: Rangers mate took us on a pub crawl after a home game. One stood out as you had to climb over the Rottweiler laying in the door to get in and my god there were some characters in that pub. Luckily being Englush was obv not a problem as it was staunch loyalist but not somewhere I'd like to go without knowing someone.
Clubs:
Mate of mine was getting married in Jamaica. Being single at the time I talked a couple of mates into coming with for a fortnight. After night and night in the hotel bar and club we got restless and brave (against advice) and thought we'd try downtown Negril. Got taken in a cab to a club. Before we got out he said "take care and take your watches etc off and put in pockets. We laughed almost not taking it seriously. Walked up the stairs into a room of about 200 black lads. There was one other white face in there - we spent the next 4hrs watching our backs and getting ripped of by group after group of black lads - it was that or risk a potential kicking. That was one of the longest 4hrs till our cab came back. Never again but we lived to tell the tale. Oh and my mate took two prozzies back to the hotel with us (the dirty bastard) who then preceded to steal his Toms and clothes the next morning lol.
Ukraine: (Setting the scene - we'd been jumped in this Country a few years prior so was on edge somewhat). Again (against better advice) 5 of us jumped into a cab who promised a decent club. 20mins driving out of Kiev into darker and more remote land and we're looking at each other nervously. We eventually arrive at a warehouse type building with about 100 people queuing. Every lad was built like a brick shit house and as we got out the cab we were getting dirty (but in hindsight more likely suspicious) looks from everyone as we stuck out something rotten. We had a vote at this point whether to go through with it and annoyingly I lost and in we went - the scene when we got in!!!! There were hundreds of some of the most amazing women you've ever seen. We didn't have an issue all night and there was even a bizarre moment when a song come on and all the bar staff started lobbing fresh cake like Victoria sponge into the crowd - surreal but great night. We left about 7am. Sometimes it really does work out okay!!
Not particularly scary but a load of us stayed in Wigan when we played up there in the PL. Having a drink in the town centre before the game and gradually the place started filling up with locals. One of them came over and said "we're the goon squad if you want to know". We told him not thanks, we just wanted a drink to which he replied "OK no problem but if you need any gear we can sort you out".
We gave it 5 minutes and decided to take our leave.
I was designated driver on a stag night as I was having operation on my stomach the following week. The guy who owned a shop opposite the Harrow Inn was getting married, I turned up at his house only to find a couple of fellas I'd never met before but knowing the guy I was driving for I knew I was safe. I had to drive them to various pubs making our way up the OKR, one I remember what was the Globe not nice (now flats) before finding our way to the The Thomas a Beckett. I remember all the guys being absolutely fantastic with me I was 23/24 I suppose, but I remember them being fecking huge guys and having loads of cash. I was standing at one end of the bar looking at a huge mural of boxers and I was was trying to identify them as I walked along saying the names of the ones I knew under my breath a voice said "There are some big ugly feckers up there" half turning I said I know some of them but Im not a great boxing fan. The laughing he said "what about this big ugly c" Nope I don't know him...... Turning round and looking up I was talking to Richard Dunn who was in the mural and was talking about himself he was collecting glasses and was running the pub, he put the glasses down and said your driving that shower of sh*t about arnt you? Holding out his hand we shook hands he was fecking huge and his hands were massive. I can honestly I've never felt so safe yet so frightened in a pub in my life. I drove them all back to Abbeywood about 04.00 and was invited in for a coffee. They all decided to give me a drink for driving them about of whatever cash they had left in their pockets, four of them threw cash onto the table and told me to look after my wife and children by buying them something nice. I waited for the first bus to woolwich before getting what I knew was several hundred pounds out of my pocket. They had paid me £1700+ for the nights works without doubt they were wrong'uns and as I found out later some of the Mets finest were in our company that night.
Not particularly scary but a load of us stayed in Wigan when we played up there in the PL. Having a drink in the town centre before the game and gradually the place started filling up with locals. One of them came over and said "we're the goon squad if you want to know". We told him not thanks, we just wanted a drink to which he replied "OK no problem but if you need any gear we can sort you out".
We gave it 5 minutes and decided to take our leave.
It's people not the boozers that make pubs intimidating. Worst is being in a pub when it's basically near empty but the only ones in there are basically arseholes who effectively run the pub.
Woodman at Blackfen (now George Staples), Black Boy in Eltham, Farmhouse at Mottingham, Lullingstone Castle at Swanley, Plough & Harrow in Welling all ones I've been In over the years where it was never comfortable if you weren't a local.
Star of the East on Commercial Road. Made a pit stop there once on the way to a night out. It's like the bar in Star Wars the amount of creatures in it.
The Plough & Harrow at Welling in the 90's was very intimidating.
Yes that was the one I posted about earlier with the female landlord. Very heavy atmosphere in there. The landlord was all right with us to be fair, and we went in there a couple of times without anything happening, but there was an air about the place. Went in a dodgy place the other night down here in the wilds of Kent. Looked a really nice place, but as AFKA says it wasn't the pub itself, it was the people in there. Fastest I've drunk a pint for a while....
I must be really sheltered - can't remember anywhere really scary I've been in, loads of terrible pubs, but I try to avoid scary looking places. Can remember seeing some gangsters break a bar stool over the landlord in the Goldsmiths Tavern in New Cross before it went trendy. (Mind you, I think it was a Vic Reeves gig so it must have already been on the way - had an edge I suppose).
The night of the carling cup game at chelsea, we got there really early so we found what we thought was a relatively quiet pub near Fulham Broadway....
About 10 minutes later a mob full of chelski came in, and I dont mean the johnny come latelys, whilst we were quietly finishing up they started singing, "stick one up the charlton scum" and started flinging celery all over the place....I was not sure if it was some social experiment, didnt wait long enough to dind out
The night of the carling cup game at chelsea, we got there really early so we found what we thought was a relatively quiet pub near Fulham Broadway....
About 10 minutes later a mob full of chelski came in, and I dont mean the johnny come latelys, whilst we were quietly finishing up they started singing, "stick one up the charlton scum" and started flinging celery all over the place....I was not sure if it was some social experiment, didnt wait long enough to dind out
At least we stuck it up them winning on penalties, even though Jose wouldn't accept it
Went in a pub in Nottingham before a game with Forest, whilst waiting to get served, one of the locals decided he was getting served before me, I took expectation to, to which he said your not from round here are you? I replied NO, I got fooking manners. Then had to put with 1/2 hour of evil eyes from the rest of the pub.
New Cross Tavern in err...New Cross back in the day was the scariest looking pub I've ever been in. Full of punks and metalheads, sawdust on the floor etc. If you stumbled in there without knowing anything you'd probably run a mile. Never got any trouble in there though unless you were taking the piss, in which case you would be in a whole world of hurt. Strangely, very few people took the piss! They had goat on the BBQ out back!
My wife and I decided to try a Chinese restaurant recommended by friends. Great food even though not in the nicest area - on the outskirts of Reading.
We got there a bit early so dropped into the nearest pub for a pre-meal drink. Looked a bit dodgy on the outside but nothing alarming. Worse inside. Real rough people - the kind that probably learned HATE as their first word.
My missus is lovely, a real diamond, but a bit unworldly - didn't sense the style and happily ordered a "glass of madeira" A hush settled over the room at the same speed that a frown darkened the barmaids tattooed and pierced face. I said they probably don't have that love, how about something else. Second choice was a dry sherry, chilled if you please. To the barmaid's credit she rifled around the dusty recesses of the bottom shelf before shrugging again.
At that point we were becoming the source of amusement (rather than suspicion) so I stepped in, got her a half of cider and steers her to a quieter area. Drank fast. Got out pronto.
Used to love the plough and the duchess and the fanny and occasionally the harry Jolly drayman and the station on a friday Good times back then pints were just under the pound Every pub now seems to have attitude
Went in a pub near eccles seemed nice enough but did catch glimse of a double barrel behind the bar Made me a bit uneasy did get a bit lively at closing My mate who moved there had his car nicked 3 times in the 1st month after living there 1st time on the day he moved in off his drive Was a bit of an intimidating place though no mater where ive lived ive never had to paddlock my cars on my drive
It's people not the boozers that make pubs intimidating. Worst is being in a pub when it's basically near empty but the only ones in there are basically arseholes who effectively run the pub.
Woodman at Blackfen (now George Staples), Black Boy in Eltham, Farmhouse at Mottingham, Lullingstone Castle at Swanley, Plough & Harrow in Welling all ones I've been In over the years where it was never comfortable if you weren't a local.
Add The Gamecock, West Kingsdown to that list. Especially when one of the gypos came in and calmly placed his shotgun on the bar and ordered a drink. Like you do...
[cite]Posted By: DA9[/cite]The King & Queen in Mottingham was pretty bad as well.
My mate Keith was a regular in there...he said it was a local pub for local people.
"We didn't burn him"
LOL
Millwall boozer through & through
The King and Queen in Mottingham was my local between 1972 - 1977. Also I worked as a barman there for about a year in 1974.
It wasn't Millwall in the mid 70's in fact it was mostly Charlton fans at that time. My group always met there before travelling to some of the away games. I can remember meeting there for trips to Gillingham, Southend, and certainly Chelmsford and Tonbridge in the FA Cup.
It was a good pub in those days with the nightclub/disco in the hall at the back. When I worked there as a barman in the disco, I can remember Alan "Fluff" Freeman comparing an evening as well as shows by either Billy Fury or Billy J Kramer (I cannot remember which one)
The Cressy Arms in Dartford. Our usual pub was packed so a group of us (18 year old students at the time) walked in there to get a drink. There was only two people at the bar (big skinheaded blokes) and the landlord. But the look they all gave us, we were too scared to even go up and order. Unfortunately we were also too embarrassed to leave. So we stood around and played with the fruit machine, each one waiting for the other to go up and order first. After about 4 minutes of them staring at us, and us trying to pretend everything was normal, the landlord told us to f*** off.
The Cressy Arms in Dartford. Our usual pub was packed so a group of us (18 year old students at the time) walked in there to get a drink. There was only two people at the bar (big skinheaded blokes) and the landlord. But the look they all gave us, we were too scared to even go up and order. Unfortunately we were also too embarrassed to leave. So we stood around and played with the fruit machine, each one waiting for the other to go up and order first. After about 4 minutes of them staring at us, and us trying to pretend everything was normal, the landlord told us to f*** off.
Comments
I remember my old man came home in a sheepskin coat one Sunday lunch, only to walk into our flat, bang on cue to Shaw Taylor asking us to "keep em peeled" on said garment.
1973-1982 Kidbrooke Village
Pubs:
Stumbled into a bar in Zagreb after Croatia away about 10 years ago. We seemed to be the only English around so were glad to find a relatively quiet pub. 10mins later about 200 Dynamo ultras walked in and set up shop. The sound of 200 Croatians singing "Fuck you England, fuck you" was slightly unnerving but we didn't want to walk straight out, so finished our pints as quick as possible without it looking obvious. The chanting was one thing, but when a 'who has the biggest knife' comp started amongst the pissed, loud locals I admit to ever so slightly bricking it.
Preston away - Champ year.
Our group of 10 left the ground and rather than head central (or for the train to Blackpool) like most we couldn't wait for a drink so wondered into an estate and into the first pub we found. Could only have been about 10 blokes in there reading papers etc. We headed to the empty beer garden and put the Charlton flag up and settled down to enjoy some drinks in the sun. Now I don't know who put the call out but I kid you not that pub filled with about 80 lads in little more than 5mins. We were getting serious eye balls, when one of theirs walked up to one of our lads, asked and if we wanted it outside in the alley with no cameras, whist the rest of the pub waited for the answer. Being more a beano (with some non Charlton) than a lads day we politely declined, and got a stern "take that flag down and fuck off now then" - we left with our tails between our legs.
Glasgow:
Rangers mate took us on a pub crawl after a home game. One stood out as you had to climb over the Rottweiler laying in the door to get in and my god there were some characters in that pub. Luckily being Englush was obv not a problem as it was staunch loyalist but not somewhere I'd like to go without knowing someone.
Clubs:
Mate of mine was getting married in Jamaica. Being single at the time I talked a couple of mates into coming with for a fortnight. After night and night in the hotel bar and club we got restless and brave (against advice) and thought we'd try downtown Negril. Got taken in a cab to a club. Before we got out he said "take care and take your watches etc off and put in pockets. We laughed almost not taking it seriously. Walked up the stairs into a room of about 200 black lads. There was one other white face in there - we spent the next 4hrs watching our backs and getting ripped of by group after group of black lads - it was that or risk a potential kicking. That was one of the longest 4hrs till our cab came back. Never again but we lived to tell the tale. Oh and my mate took two prozzies back to the hotel with us (the dirty bastard) who then preceded to steal his Toms and clothes the next morning lol.
Ukraine:
(Setting the scene - we'd been jumped in this Country a few years prior so was on edge somewhat).
Again (against better advice) 5 of us jumped into a cab who promised a decent club. 20mins driving out of Kiev into darker and more remote land and we're looking at each other nervously. We eventually arrive at a warehouse type building with about 100 people queuing. Every lad was built like a brick shit house and as we got out the cab we were getting dirty (but in hindsight more likely suspicious) looks from everyone as we stuck out something rotten. We had a vote at this point whether to go through with it and annoyingly I lost and in we went - the scene when we got in!!!! There were hundreds of some of the most amazing women you've ever seen. We didn't have an issue all night and there was even a bizarre moment when a song come on and all the bar staff started lobbing fresh cake like Victoria sponge into the crowd - surreal but great night. We left about 7am. Sometimes it really does work out okay!!
Ma pub up north had strippers. Probably Blackpool.
We gave it 5 minutes and decided to take our leave.
Woodman at Blackfen (now George Staples), Black Boy in Eltham, Farmhouse at Mottingham, Lullingstone Castle at Swanley, Plough & Harrow in Welling all ones I've been In over the years where it was never comfortable if you weren't a local.
Went in a dodgy place the other night down here in the wilds of Kent. Looked a really nice place, but as AFKA says it wasn't the pub itself, it was the people in there. Fastest I've drunk a pint for a while....
About 10 minutes later a mob full of chelski came in, and I dont mean the johnny come latelys, whilst we were quietly finishing up they started singing, "stick one up the charlton scum" and started flinging celery all over the place....I was not sure if it was some social experiment, didnt wait long enough to dind out
My wife and I decided to try a Chinese restaurant recommended by friends. Great food even though not in the nicest area - on the outskirts of Reading.
We got there a bit early so dropped into the nearest pub for a pre-meal drink. Looked a bit dodgy on the outside but nothing alarming. Worse inside. Real rough people - the kind that probably learned HATE as their first word.
My missus is lovely, a real diamond, but a bit unworldly - didn't sense the style and happily ordered a "glass of madeira" A hush settled over the room at the same speed that a frown darkened the barmaids tattooed and pierced face. I said they probably don't have that love, how about something else. Second choice was a dry sherry, chilled if you please. To the barmaid's credit she rifled around the dusty recesses of the bottom shelf before shrugging again.
At that point we were becoming the source of amusement (rather than suspicion) so I stepped in, got her a half of cider and steers her to a quieter area. Drank fast. Got out pronto.
Meal was great, but we haven't been back.
Jolly drayman and the station on a friday
Good times back then pints were just under the pound
Every pub now seems to have attitude
enough but did catch glimse of a double barrel behind the bar
Made me a bit uneasy did get a bit lively at closing
My mate who moved there had his car nicked 3 times in the 1st month after living there
1st time on the day he moved in off his drive
Was a bit of an intimidating place though no mater where ive lived ive never had to paddlock my cars on my drive
"We didn't burn him"
LOL
Millwall boozer through & through
The King and Queen in Mottingham was my local between 1972 - 1977.
Also I worked as a barman there for about a year in 1974.
It wasn't Millwall in the mid 70's in fact it was mostly Charlton fans at that time.
My group always met there before travelling to some of the away games.
I can remember meeting there for trips to Gillingham, Southend, and certainly Chelmsford and Tonbridge in the FA Cup.
It was a good pub in those days with the nightclub/disco in the hall at the back.
When I worked there as a barman in the disco, I can remember Alan "Fluff" Freeman comparing an evening as well as shows by either Billy Fury or Billy J Kramer (I cannot remember which one)
I have some happy memories of that place.