Jump to content

Recommended Posts

nashoi Wrote:

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

> The country was less tolerant and more violent in

> the 70s and 80s, pubs just reflected that


Not for me it wasn't, you're describing an alien country to me and I've lived in SE London for most of my adult life.

*Bob* Wrote:

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

> Parkdrive Wrote:

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

> -----

> > Where were these places you refer to, local or

> > from where you originally come from? I don't

> > recognise your description at all. Sounds as if

> > you're describing a saloon from a wild west

> movie.

>

> I'm not originally from London, no.

>

> It's my experience of the

> small/mid-sized-shithole-town-somewhere-in-england

> -you-can't-wait-to-leave scenario.



Specifically?

Yup - EDT 1980s - one side old Irish/West indian the other Millwall upstairs the 'trendy yuppies' :).


But ceratinly as a youth I remember drinking in the same pub as my dad and grandad in the day, where by 11pm I'd be dancing on a table and failing with the local 'sorts'. And most London pubs in more mixed areas where fine to go into even if you hadn't been in before - the exception being Football ones

???? Wrote:

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

> Yup - EDT 1980s - one side old Irish/West indian

> the other Millwall upstairs the 'trendy yuppies'

> :).

>

> But ceratinly as a youth I remember drinking in

> the same pub as my dad and grandad in the day,

> where by 11pm I'd be dancing on a table and

> failing with the local 'sorts'. And most London

> pubs in more mixed areas where fine to go into

> even if you hadn't been in before - the exception

> being Football ones



Exactly, and why would you go into a "football" pub except on match day? Most such pubs have very little by way of local trade.

nashoi Wrote:

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

> The country was less tolerant and more violent in

> the 70s and 80s, pubs just reflected that



I think that there was more tribalism for sure - but I still think pubs were far more mixed, maybe because there was less choice

My experience of "the small/mid-sized-shithole-town-somewhere-in-england-you-can't-wait-to-leave" entirely coincides with *Bob*'s.


As not especially affiliated to anything I had a choice of several pubs, and some were less homogenous than others, but generally they were quite stratified by age, social class and musical taste/subcultural affiliation.


Except Stevenage, every pub was simply white trainers, ben sherman shirt and a desire to get in a fight at some point in the evening.

Pretty much what *Bob* said (including similar locale).


Civilised pubs existed in abundance in the suburbs; City Centre boozers were more often redolent with a heady mix of testosterone, boredom, frustration and disappointment.


And while the "You spilled my pint" gambit was rare enough, the "Are you screwing [looking/staring at] me mate?" was often heard and followed with hijinks.

This, and I'm from NZ.


*Bob* Wrote:

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

> Doesn't ring true for me at all, but then I'm not

> from around eeeeere originally.

>

> Pubs from what I remember were 'specifically'

> niche and non-inclusive. The one you didn't go in

> if you were over 20, the one you didn't go in if

> you were a student, the one you didn't go in if

> you were an unaccompanied female, the one you

> didn't go in unless you knew someone who was a

> regular, the one you didn't go in if you had long

> hair.. and the one you just didn't go in.

maxxi Wrote:

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

> Pretty much what *Bob* said (including similar

> locale).

>

> Civilised pubs existed in abundance in the

> suburbs; City Centre boozers were more often

> redolent with a heady mix of testosterone,

> boredom, frustration and disappointment.

>

> And while the "You spilled my pint" gambit was

> rare enough, the "Are you screwing me mate?" was

> often heard and followed with hijinks.


That's interesting, why did you feel the need to put in an explanation for the last sentence? Do you think the upper middle class EDFers wouldn't understand? I'd love to know the location of these pubs being likened to wild west saloons, nobody has actually mentioned where they are or what they are called. Do they exist?

hmm, can't seem to post street view link ok here goes http://tinyurl.com/lfnh2fd


apart from my mate's funeral the last time i was in Hitchin a bunch of us went in there and one got a nasty smack in his mouth in the face for, and I wish i was joking, 'looking at my bird'.

One nasty little git and there were about 20 of us, but that's how he gets his kicks.


It gave me a timely reminder why I was so happy to leave small towns* and tiny-lifers!!


Of course I now live in a village with 600 people in it, but I think its the in between stage that does it.


*Mind you a small town in england is roughly county capital status here, which is weird.

Interesting views, my wifes best friend grew up and lived for decades in Dunstans road until she moved to the Gloucestershire/Herefordshire borders about 20 years ago, she's been back a few times and thinks East Dulwich is now a dirty, over priced shit hole. So there you go

PD, I don't think theses places are confined to a particular geographical area. I'm pretty sure we ("the shitholers") all come from different parts of the country. But the story is the same all over. I wouldn't go as far as Wild West - I was just making a point about inclusivity / diversity within pubs in years gone by in these sort of places. I think Pibe has put it best:


"stratified by age, social class and musical taste/subcultural affiliation"


I don't get back much (strangely) but on the few occasions I do I still find it a depressing experience. It's still a shithole, but now the town centre is like a morgue - even at the weekend.

Parkdrive Wrote:

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

> Interesting views, my wifes best friend grew up

> and lived for decades in Dunstans road until she

> moved to the Gloucestershire/Herefordshire borders

> about 20 years ago, she's been back a few times

> and thinks East Dulwich is now a dirty, over

> priced shit hole. So there you go


Ah, bless her. Not an unusual reaction when someone sees a house in the estate agents window, just like the one they lived in, but now with a massively inflated price tag. It hurts somewhat


Still, there you go

*Bob* Wrote:

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

> I don't get back much (strangely) but on the few

> occasions I do I still find it a depressing

> experience. It's still a shithole, but now the

> town centre is like a morgue - even at the

> weekend.


Are you from Sutton too?!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • Turn your used stamps into vital funds to support human rights around the world.   How it works: Simply send us your stamps and we'll then sort through them to sell or auction. We accept all stamps of all origin and value – both used and new. Foreign and commemorative ones are likely to be worth the most. Please leave at least half centimetre of paper around the stamps Send your stamps to: FAO Robin Sandow c/o The Post Room Amnesty International UK 2nd Floor, Peter Benenson House, 1 Easton Street, London, WC1X 0DW Recycle your stamps.AIUK.pdf
    • Also, if he enjoys design or drawing (alongside his maths & tech) he might like the Greenpeace competition for a poster (see Lounge post) - 5 days left to enter. Something more for some time at home, but ...
    • Deadline in 5 days! Important Dates 🗓 Submission deadline: 25 July 2025 🗳 Public voting opens: 7 August 2025 🚢 Winners announced: 15 August 2025   Time is running out! There are only 5 days left to submit your design for Greenpeace’s poster competition. This is your chance to help send a powerful, creative message across Europe: We must stop fossil gas, oil and coal and move toward a fossil-free future. No matter your skill level, everyone is welcome. Whether you're sketching by hand, designing on a screen, or crafting a collage, we want to see your vision. 🎨 The 3 winning designs will receive:     A printed full-size poster of your artwork     50 postcards of your design     An exclusive Greenpeace campaign t-shirt   How to enter     Design your poster     Use any style you like – hand-drawn, painted, digital, collaged. Just make sure it’s original and fits our message.     Submit your design     Upload a photo or file using the form on this page. You’ll need to include your name and contact email.     Vote for your favourites     After the submission deadline, we’ll shortlist poster designs that you can vote for! Share the voting page with your friends so you have a better chance to win.     Your poster in the European Parliament and on the Arctic Sunrise The top-voted design will be sent to all members of the European Parliament as postcards. The three designs with the most votes will be printed as posters and postcards, and will be part of the Arctic Sunrise ship tour this fall. As a winner, you will get printed versions of your poster and a Greenpeace t-shirt.    Direct link: https://www.greenpeace.org/international/act/send-your-poster-design/?utm_campaign=fff-ban-new-fossil-fuel-projects&utm_source=hs-email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=fff-poster-design-contest-3rd-email-2025-07-20&utm_term=2025-07-20-poster-design-contest-3rd-email-button-2&global_project=fossil-free-future Time is running out! There are only 5 days left to submit your design for Greenpeace’s poster competition. This is your chance to help send a powerful, creative message across Europe: We must stop fossil gas, oil and coal and move toward a fossil-free future. No matter your skill level, everyone is welcome. Whether you're sketching by hand, designing on a screen, or crafting a collage, we want to see your vision. 🎨 The 3 winning designs will receive:     A printed full-size poster of your artwork     50 postcards of your design     An exclusive Greenpeace campaign t-shirt The deadline is 25 July 2025. After that, we’ll shortlist the top designs and the public will vote for the winners. Don't wait and join today! Join the competition now 
    • Perhaps the OP already has, hence her question?
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...