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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?!

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