The Mag

[Louisa]

susiq Wrote:

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> I dont think calling regulars "scummy" or local a

> business "rancid fleapits" is very helpful either,

> these "scummy" regulars have kept these pubs

> going throughout the years, many of these "locals"

> were a busy thriving places that were fun to

> visit, some through no fault of their own have

> fallen into disrepair and closed, most of them

> missed by the "scummy" regulars (those that still

> live). just because James posted first does not

> make him the right or nice.

Don't worry susiq, there's a click on here and if you're not supporting of it or disagree with it you're considered a troll or something similar. I've been on here since the beginning and I get the same treatment from some, water off a ducks back now.

Louisa.

[ontheedge]

Ah but the Mag back in late 80s early 90s can't comment before then was a place of great character before pizzas an comedy, 'twas police in the front an dodgy characters in the back, never the twain shall meet but both coexisting with tolerance side by side

[HonaloochieB]

ontheedge Wrote:

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> Ah but the Mag back in late 80s early 90s can't

> comment before then was a place of great character

> before pizzas an comedy, 'twas police in the front

> an dodgy characters in the back, never the twain

> shall meet but both coexisting with tolerance side

> by side

I recall it, and the piano in the middle.

Those special Sundays when 'Waffety-Eye' Dave from the back and Detective Sergeant 'John' Major from the front would seat themselves at the keyboard and entertain those present with their unique take on the Venom songs 'In Nomine Satanas', 'Welcome To Hell' and 'Countess Of Bathory'.

We all thought at some point they might go for the admittedly slushy, but perhaps yearningly significant 'Ebony And Ivory', but they never did.

Pair of f@cking bast'rds.

[HonaloochieB]

Louisa Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> susiq Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I dont think calling regulars "scummy" or local

> a

> > business "rancid fleapits" is very helpful

> either,

> > these "scummy" regulars have kept these pubs

> > going throughout the years, many of these

> "locals"

> > were a busy thriving places that were fun to

> > visit, some through no fault of their own have

> > fallen into disrepair and closed, most of them

> > missed by the "scummy" regulars (those that

> still

> > live). just because James posted first does not

> > make him the right or nice.

>

> Don't worry susiq, there's a click on here and if

> you're not supporting of it or disagree with it

> you're considered a troll or something similar.

> I've been on here since the beginning and I get

> the same treatment from some, water off a ducks

> back now.

>

> Louisa.

Oh, Lolly that's not so. You've been-a disagreen' an' argufiying with most everything, plumb-spang since the git go.

Ain't nobody acussin' you a bein' a Troll.

Oooh, less'un ya mean that gal, from that flyin' car picture show, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

'Cause I reckon y'are TROLLY Scrumptious.

[HonaloochieB]

Mebbe next time I come a-courtin' Lolly I should come holdin' actual flowers as WELL as ma fine flowery prose.

Dang, ain't it allus the way!

[Otta]

"I liked it back in the front and back bar days (wallpaper books ahoy)

I liked it in the pizza quiz booths incarnation

I even initially liked it in its original magnolia incarnation"

Me too, and in that order.

[Penguin68]

It is strange that almost every change, post initial Magnolia persona (which, I think, was already a downwards but not a disasterous step), has been downwards. In my time (25 years) the pub has moved from 'good of its type' to 'well worth a visit' to 'could be a regular' to 'oh dear' to 'my goodness' to 'oh god'. From what I have read we are reaching 'not even with someone else's bargepole' although I have given up on it and now just drive past with eyes averted.

[StraferJack]

the Patch need to restate and clarify their intentions about when they take over because turning people's impressions around at this point is going to be a struggle

[El Pibe]

Oh bless Louisa.

You're definitley old skool on her Louisa, as much a part of the supposed clique as anyone else.

You wind me up with you're knee jerk reference to class, but that doesn't mean you're not more right than wrong more often than not.

On this thread you've spoken nothing but sense, in fact so have most from different points of view.

I suspect James was being a little deliberately provocative, but again his point stands, the traditional boozer died for lack of custom.

Changing demographics are part of that but there's plenty of pepople to support those boozers.

I think the supermarket and the smoking ban have combined to sound the death knell more so than the gastro pub.

[Jeremy]

Never got along with the yellow paint/pizza/booths incarnation. The comedy club/book wallpaper days were good 10+ years back. Magnolia was decent for a while as a place to eat, but the food went downhill and the space didn't work all that well. The Patch... who on earth knows what's going on. But with all that locally sourced whatnot and hydroponic gubbins, sounds like it's not going to be cheap - if it ever materialises at all.

Trad pubs - sometimes one person's welcoming charaterful boozer is another's stinking dive. But it is possible to strike a balance, and I think if there was a good "proper pub" in ED it would do very well. However, the best pubs have an atmosphere and a sense of history which you can't really manufacture.

[El Pibe]

Oh yeah my opinion.

I haven't got on with any of the incarnations since the old mag, those packed quiz evenings were one of the reasons why I felt the area was different to any other bits of London I'd lived in before.

[Mick Mac]

The Yellow Pub phase was pretty good for 6 nations - many a packed winter saturday in there in front of the rugby.

Also remember England Sweden in the world cup (Joe Cole and Henrik Larsson) - they turned people away that night from 7pm for a 7.45 ko....and its a huge pub. And West Ham Liverpool FA CUp final was standing room only.

It was ok as Magnolia after a slow start, but was more a stop off pub on the way down the lane rather than somewhere to spend the evening.

[Help-Ma-Boab]

British Lions with early breakfast were also good days. Sunday roasts were nice as well in the ealry Magnolia phase.

I have been in recently and it was just a shell. Was never going to get popular in that incarnation.

For me its too big at back, maybe with some clever redesign it can feel like a place I'd make the effort to go to. I await the patch with baited breath!

[Earl Aelfheah]

The TVs at the bar are a terrible addition. Who actually owns this place now? I wonder if it's being deliberately run down with an eye to a change of use application for flats.

[Dan G]

the magdela was a nice boozer about 7-8 years ago when they sold pizzas. it was usually busy and the food was good. i went in once a short while after it was first remodeled. haven't been back since. shame.

agree about the cpt's transformation too. they've done a great job there with a pub that was always empty. you can't have too much of a go at johnny come lately types. the fact is that east dulwich has become gentrified. and pubs and restaurants that aren't set up to cater for the local market will struggle.

[mikeb]

So far as I'm aware, the freehold is still owned by Enterprise Inns.

I don't understand (a) who is running the pub now? Have they bought the long leasehold or are they an interim manager? (b) what happened to Arnold Reichner, who apparently bought the leasehold and set up the kickstarter site?

http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Business/Entrepreneur-plans-to-turn-East-Dulwich-pub-into-London-s-first-self-sustaining-community-gastropub

[Jeremy]

I was under the impression (from gossip on here) that the current landlord was assigned by Enterprise Inns on an interim basis. The Patch, if it happens, will be leasing from Enterprise Inns, which will of course include a beer tie.

[JohnL]

Is it officially Mag, Magnolia or Magdela.

Always prefer a battle to a paint colour - if that's not to macho :)

[Penguin68]

It was the Magdela, back in the day, when it changed hands it was formally re-named the Magnolia - sadly they were probably thinking of the tree initially, not the bland paint job - everyone has known it as the Mag since way back, before the formal name change, which thus made no real local difference.

The Magdela was a much more interesting name, in my view.

[StraferJack]

Magdela > Magnolia as a name.

Times 10

[*Bob*]

They should have gone with 'Elephant's Breath'. It would still be heaving.

[numbers]

Think I've asked this before and got no response but here goes...

does anyone remember when it had a separate restaurant upstairs circa 1999/2000/2001 before they started comedy nights downstairs at the back?

[Jah Lush]

Yeah! I do. Very hit and miss. Do you remember the discoteque type back bar back in the 70s? That was pretty wild.

[Louisa]

That striking yellow exterior with the silver signage was a great uplifting look following the transformation. I remember the 70s discotheque Jah, so many happy memories. Footloose and fancy free, just like me.

The castle is the only pub that suits my tastes locally, although I am respectful of what has been done with the likes of the former CPT, just not my cup of tea.

Louisa.

[numbers]

oh thank you Jah, thank you!! thought it was just me going completely mad or that I was the only customer. I didn't live here then, just visited it so sadly I don't remember the wild back bar from the 70s. I like the sound of it though.