The Plough Pub

[Louisa]

I took the above picture so I can vouch for the lane being slightly wider the people being somewhat smaller :)

[rob]

What a beautiful looking building it was. What a shame it's been so badly looked after...

[Keef]

And that woman is jaywalking!!!!

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

I wonder how they are going to keep the wannabee gangsta crowd out?

[Keef]

Door men?

The Bishop seems to have managed....

[Louisa]

I guess the wannabe gangsta crowd will be relegated to the castle. It's going to be packed pretty soon, its the only working class public house remaining.

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

Louisa Wrote:

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> I guess the wannabe gangsta crowd will be

> relegated to the castle. It's going to be packed

> pretty soon, its the only working class public

> house remaining.

What, other than the CPT, Magadala, Vale, and The Castle. Anyway, since I have been here, the Plough has attracted more of an under-class than working-class.

[Louisa]

Dont get me wrong DPF, the Plough was not a pub I would have gone into in recent years, it was bloody awful over the last 10 years. The Just So Pub Co ripped the old interior out and with it went the heart of the pub, and had the cheek to call it the Goose and Granite. I like the changes, and the fact the original name is being kept.. It's all fantastic.. I shall visit it, and I hope they keep a good choice of traditional ales and stouts as well as fancy continental lagers! I wouldnt say the Magdela was working class, and I was refering to the castle not the plough... I guess the CPT is a less pretentious crowd than most locals.

[Fear 'n boozin]

No idea where class comes into this, or how one can claim bar A to be working class, bar B to be middle, and C, well, priced out of reach of us mere mortals I guess.

The Castle have done up their backyard into a lovely beer garden (for us smokers really, but it a nice area for all).

[Louisa]

The pub companies and breweries define 'class'... If a place goes through a refurb with a lick of paint and a new food menu, it seems to change the clientel and usually, though not always, this involves a certain class of person leaving eg older male working class smokers who like a pint, replaced by younger wealthier foody types... This usually involves a class stereotype I am afraid.

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

Fear 'n boozin Wrote:

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

> No idea where class comes into this, or how one

> can claim bar A to be working class, bar B to be

> middle, and C, well, priced out of reach of us

> mere mortals I guess.

>

> The Castle have done up their backyard into a

> lovely beer garden (for us smokers really, but it

> a nice area for all).

You're right, it has nothing to do with class and everything to do with personal taste and what people are familiar with. I like proper pubs, I never really go to a pub to eat, thats what restaurants are for after all, however, they were all absolutely dire when I moved here so places like the Bishop etc were very welcome arrivals.

[Fear 'n boozin]

Possibly, but I think most of the bars/pubs round LL have a pretty mixed clinetal, before and after refurbs. Maybe the this varries according to the time of day (the bloke you've described might not drink in the Bishop on a Friday evening), but I don't think so many people become exluded. If anyone suffers from a refurb, I imagine it's the trouble makers.

[Brendan]

Got a point there FnB. I for one quite like the Bishop during the day but avoid it on Friday and Saturday nights.

[Louisa]

My dream makeover would be to the Grove Tavern. If that was restored and the Harvester removed, i'd be more than pleased to go in their for my half guinness every night.. It is such a wonderful place... Someone out there save it for me! I'll marry you!

[Keef]

Exactly! I have nothing against the Bishop at all as a place, but can't stand it at the weekends cos I don't like very busy places, I value my personal space! I've said before that I don't believe in class... FnB, Mockney and myself all met and became friends through the CPT, and none of us will go near The Vale! ;-)

[Jah Lush]

NTV, I believe is the term on here isn't it. Yes, the Vale is a horrible soulless place but I'm going to agree with Louisa for a change and say get rid of that revolting Harvester and restore the Grove Tavern to it's former glory.

[Nero]

What is wrong with the Vale precisely? Nero

[Ladygooner]

Nothing wrong with the Vale IMO - I like it!

[Brendan]

I have only been to the Vale once or twice and then during the day so I don't know what it is like at night. I have also not been there for about 2 years so I don't think I could pass any kind of informed judgement on the place.

The bouncers turned my mates and I away one night though. Something about being too drunk?!?!? Obviously absolute rubbish!

[bawdy-nan]

er - the brewery has been Mitchell and Butler for the last 3 years or so - they took it over from the Just So Company but have now "re-branded" it as a "Castle" "brand". Essentially they're trying to create the impression of an independent pub run by a "landlord" - when its as corporate as they come. Not, saying thats always a very very bad thing just rankle at the fake branding of it.

The manager has been involved in a number of local operations - Spaghetti Westons, Belair House, Cafe Rouge and whatever the Barcelona place was called before it was Barcelona - so, er, make of that what you will.:-S

They have said openly that they intend to put prices up significantly (or rather, not have drinks offers) in order to put off the people who used to go before. It was horrible before.

They're intending to have bouncers for a short while til the old clientele realise they're not wanted.

It does look lovely from what I've seen and I'm delighted they've put up chains to stop parking on the front which used to be a nightmare - to get past on that side of the road you often had to stroll into the bus lane - not fun with two toddlers in tow.

Will certainly pop in and havea sniff around today I should imagine -

[Nero]

They left their outdoor lights/halogen heaters on during the day! Eco-horror! Nero

[bawdy-nan]

yup - I think this is going to be the way all day and everyday - their carbon footprint is the size of a dead blue whale - but, must keep the smokers happy hey ....

[mockney piers]

See threads passim for why NTV. Nothing to do with class or clientele, entirely to do with attitude of owner.

[Louisa]

Interesting to note, just had a read of 'Mitchell and Butlers' website... I was not aware that The Harvester chain, The Crown and Greyhound in the village, and Alleyns Head in West Dulwich are all owned by Mitchell and Butlers. I am now disappointed, because non of the above rock my boat. Castle brand or no castle brand.

[bawdy-nan]

what is NTV?

Louisa - it may be ok - from what I can gather the managers have quite a say in how its run - lets wait and see ...