The Wat Tyler on the Ferrier was the first pub I was legally served in. Don't know what I was thinking going there.
The only pub I knew where the regulars used to set up their own BBQ`S outside in the summer , sit back and relax in their garden chairs and watch the world go by.
There was always something happening in The Wat Tyler on the Ferrier. Remember once someone letting off a blue smoke bomb. By the time it cleared the fruit machine was missing. We all poured out of the pub to find it smashed open and empty around the back of the pub. Will never forget the slack-jawed landlord staring at the space where the fruit machine had been three minutes before....
I lived there for 20 years , always thought this was a urban legend !
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...
I was waiting for someone to mention this place. Went in there for a drink a year or so ago and it all seemed quite quiet. Little did I know the main lot were out watching a ford escort on fire just down the road.
The portobello up the road has had its problems as well. About a year ago There was a guy who ran the burger van in the carpark, one night a couple of blokes came out the pub went to the van, pulled the bloke over the counter and beat him till he was unconscious. Pub was shut down but has now re opened. Much nicer than it was apparently.
The Duchess Welling , long gone thank god. The Crown & Cushion Woolwich, could be very nationalistic venue ! The Eardley Arms Belverdere, Travellers The Five Stars & Red Lion Foots Cray Travellers ! The White Swan Crayford (Crayford Skins) The Rose Bexleyheath, if the Kent Hells Angels were in
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.
Yonks back i had just finished my apprenticeship and as an Engineer i had a "mate" assigned to me. His name was Bert. Although Bert never did any work or was ever asked to. One day he says to me "your coming to pick up the Xmas club money with me. (we worked at Deptford Power Station). We went up the High St and is paid out a huge wad of dosh. Put it in a sports bag and then tells me we are off to The Osbourne Arms --i thought wrong and weird to have that amount of dosh and going for a beer ? We walk into the Osbourne and i see one guy sitting at a table. Bert walks over says hi to Harry ---yep the very very famous Harry H. I get told to go to the bar and get 3 Light and Bitters. I walk up to bar and sitting at the bar is a huge guy. Honestly shoulders twice my size. I get the beers and go to pay, he says " Put your fecking money away"---me " just paying for the beer"--him " what did i say?" i walk back to table he follows me i sit down he sits on a bench seat opposite ---feck me im truly shitting it. Bert and Harry in deep thought etc over Berts paying in book. They work out the overall total--Harrys share and what interest everyone else gets. ( couple of hundred peeps paying into the Xmas/loan club , they get paid out in December plus interest on loans accrued). Bert then turns to me tell Harry how your a Charlton season ticker holder" FFS ---Harry" we aint ever had one of those in here , have we?"--the man mountain growls. Harry "lock the door" --giant gets up locks door !!!!!!!!! Bert then takes out then dosh on the table--Harry takes out a load of envelopes which look very like our pay packer ones---they divide the money up and write peeps names on envelopes. Harry calls for food--a stunning woman walks out with sarnies plonks em down sits on my knee--i go very red---everyone thinks its hugely funny. Harry takes names of a few peeps-- me and Bet leave---i truly never ever wanted to get back to work so much in my life !! Of course Bert had set up telling Harry about me and Charlton and the woman siting on my lap etc.
The story is of course its Harrys xmas club. The names he took are people who hadnt paid loans back to the club(not huge amounts), but now Harry has made the difference up so the club members all get paid--but the defaulters---they owe him !!
I did the run with Bert a good 6/7 times. Wasnt always the Osbourne. The pubs would always be empty and i only ever saw the man mountain once more. Strange thing is it was two older ladies who ran the Osbourne and when ever we went in there they always gave me and Bert a full pint of bitter and a light ale.
I thought until that moment i was a bit of a chap and a tad street wise---wow terrifying and humbling and as said its the peeps in the boozers who make them !
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...
I was waiting for someone to mention this place. Went in there for a drink a year or so ago and it all seemed quite quiet. Little did I know the main lot were out watching a ford escort on fire just down the road.
The portobello up the road has had its problems as well. About a year ago There was a guy who ran the burger van in the carpark, one night a couple of blokes came out the pub went to the van, pulled the bloke over the counter and beat him till he was unconscious. Pub was shut down but has now re opened. Much nicer than it was apparently.
I used to drink in The Portobello in the late 1990s and although it wasn't the greatest pub I never saw any trouble in there, but I heard it got a reputation similar to The Gamecock later on.
Lived on the Ferrier for 24 years so knew the Wat Tyler well. Spent a lot of time in there with mates in my late teens & early 20's playing pool at the back of the pub. Can understand why people found it intimidating if you didn't live there or know someone who did.
Scenes from Nick Love's film "The Firm" were shot on a derelict Ferrier & he based the pub in the film on the Wat Tyler. He lived on the estate in the 80's I believe.
Lived on the Ferrier for 24 years so knew the Wat Tyler well. Spent a lot of time in there with mates in my late teens & early 20's playing pool at the back of the pub. Can understand why people found it intimidating if you didn't live there or know someone who did.
Scenes from Nick Love's film "The Firm" were shot on a derelict Ferrier & he based the pub in the film on the Wat Tyler. He lived on the estate in the 80's I believe.
Lived on the Ferrier for 24 years so knew the Wat Tyler well. Spent a lot of time in there with mates in my late teens & early 20's playing pool at the back of the pub. Can understand why people found it intimidating if you didn't live there or know someone who did.
Scenes from Nick Love's film "The Firm" were shot on a derelict Ferrier & he based the pub in the film on the Wat Tyler. He lived on the estate in the 80's I believe.
Lived on the Ferrier for 24 years so knew the Wat Tyler well. Spent a lot of time in there with mates in my late teens & early 20's playing pool at the back of the pub. Can understand why people found it intimidating if you didn't live there or know someone who did.
Scenes from Nick Love's film "The Firm" were shot on a derelict Ferrier & he based the pub in the film on the Wat Tyler. He lived on the estate in the 80's I believe.
I somehow doubt it
Doubt what?
If you're referring to the Nick Love story, he states it on the films commentary. Don't bother checking though, the films 6/10 at best
[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)
I have some happy memories of that place.
I used to drink in the K&Q from a very young age in the late 70's through to about 84. I don't remember anyone ever saying it's a Millwall pub. There was about six of them who happened to be quite loud, like most Millwall supporters. I did actually go to the same school as most of them and would call them friends although sheep would be more correct. A lot of my friends at that time were and still are Charlton supporters, no real surprise in SE London. There must have been an equal amount of us higher forms of life there, maybe more, but us Charlton supporters tend to be more polite and a little more thoughtful of those around us. I would say it could and did get quite lively round there on a regular basis but it was a huge pub in the centre of Mottingham estate and as such attracted a certain type and large numbers. Most of the time it was just a lot of people who had a few beers too many and were a little vocal. The public bar used to be a bit spit and saw dust, (and 2p/pint cheaper), but had a younger crowd. Also the football team was based there, all old comers welcome as the poster used to say. I suppose the pub could seem a bit intimidating and if you wanted trouble, like any large crowd you could find trouble, if that is your want but I have got to say I never had any problems there. As a teenager I never wanted to fight grown men. I believe it had a bit of a drug problem in its latter days but probably large pubs like these have had their day and economics probably closed it down.
[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)
I have some happy memories of that place.
@Billericay Dickie Didn't happen to know any of the Batten family that drank in there did you? My uncles.
The George on Beckenham High Street was always scary when I went in as a 17/18 year old. Never knew they allowed cats, dogs and so many old people in one place.
A bit of a local for me.
One of the best boozers in the Beckenham/Bromley area.
Horrible land lady though. Best pubs in Bromley are in little Chelsea.
[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)
I have some happy memories of that place.
@Billericay Dickie Didn't happen to know any of the Batten family that drank in there did you? My uncles.
Yes I do remember the Batten name. They were not in my circle of friends and I think that they were older than me. But now you mention the name I can recall them.
[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)
I have some happy memories of that place.
@Billericay Dickie Didn't happen to know any of the Batten family that drank in there did you? My uncles.
Yes I do remember the Batten name. They were not in my circle of friends and I think that they were older than me. But now you mention the name I can recall them.
Micky (Charlton) Stuart (Man Utd) Kevin (Millwall) Ian (Man Utd), Ian ironically now lives in Valley Grove in one of the houses behind the away end, drinks in the lib club during the week. Kevin had an engagement party in the King & Queen shortly before it finally closed, my only visit to it, but I used to visit the cabin sweet shop as a kid over the road, my grandparents lived on the grass bank on the corner of dunkery road.
Somehow found myself in an open all hours heavy metal bar one night after a night on the lash... Clocked on to the fact that they had a brand spanking new juke box and when I wanted to go home filled it with about 15 quids worth of awful music... A Slayer song someone else had put on finished and I walked out to a rousing chorus of Justin Beiber. Some of the looks I got were fucking priceless, wish I would have stayed to see their reaction to Aqua - Barbie Girl which was next
Did the architecture differ between squares properties :-) I lived in goldmark house. Gem of a place. Vividly remember laying in chalked body shapes, only to realise later in life that they were the outlines of those who had committed suicide. Great place to live as a child though.
Comments
Never found it intimidating all the time i was a skinhead
The portobello up the road has had its problems as well. About a year ago There was a guy who ran the burger van in the carpark, one night a couple of blokes came out the pub went to the van, pulled the bloke over the counter and beat him till he was unconscious. Pub was shut down but has now re opened. Much nicer than it was apparently.
One day he says to me "your coming to pick up the Xmas club money with me. (we worked at Deptford Power Station). We went up the High St and is paid out a huge wad of dosh. Put it in a sports bag and then tells me we are off to The Osbourne Arms --i thought wrong and weird to have that amount of dosh and going for a beer ?
We walk into the Osbourne and i see one guy sitting at a table. Bert walks over says hi to Harry ---yep the very very famous Harry H. I get told to go to the bar and get 3 Light and Bitters. I walk up to bar and sitting at the bar is a huge guy. Honestly shoulders twice my size. I get the beers and go to pay, he says " Put your fecking money away"---me " just paying for the beer"--him " what did i say?"
i walk back to table he follows me i sit down he sits on a bench seat opposite ---feck me im truly shitting it.
Bert and Harry in deep thought etc over Berts paying in book. They work out the overall total--Harrys share and what interest everyone else gets. ( couple of hundred peeps paying into the Xmas/loan club , they get paid out in December plus interest on loans accrued).
Bert then turns to me tell Harry how your a Charlton season ticker holder" FFS ---Harry" we aint ever had one of those in here , have we?"--the man mountain growls.
Harry "lock the door" --giant gets up locks door !!!!!!!!!
Bert then takes out then dosh on the table--Harry takes out a load of envelopes which look very like our pay packer ones---they divide the money up and write peeps names on envelopes.
Harry calls for food--a stunning woman walks out with sarnies plonks em down sits on my knee--i go very red---everyone thinks its hugely funny.
Harry takes names of a few peeps-- me and Bet leave---i truly never ever wanted to get back to work so much in my life !!
Of course Bert had set up telling Harry about me and Charlton and the woman siting on my lap etc.
The story is of course its Harrys xmas club. The names he took are people who hadnt paid loans back to the club(not huge amounts), but now Harry has made the difference up so the club members all get paid--but the defaulters---they owe him !!
I did the run with Bert a good 6/7 times. Wasnt always the Osbourne. The pubs would always be empty and i only ever saw the man mountain once more.
Strange thing is it was two older ladies who ran the Osbourne and when ever we went in there they always gave me and Bert a full pint of bitter and a light ale.
I thought until that moment i was a bit of a chap and a tad street wise---wow terrifying and humbling and as said its the peeps in the boozers who make them !
(In McMillan Street opposite Gilbert House).
Hard to believe that nearly all thenpubs in that area have gone.
Scenes from Nick Love's film "The Firm" were shot on a derelict Ferrier & he based the pub in the film on the Wat Tyler. He lived on the estate in the 80's I believe.
We had a 15 min wait, so nipped into the pub outside the station.
Nasty looking bunch in there and there was a pool of dried up blood on the floor.
A geezer came up to us and told us that someone had got stabbed in there last night.
Drank up sharpish.
If you're referring to the Nick Love story, he states it on the films commentary. Don't bother checking though, the films 6/10 at best
Went to John Roan if I am not mistaken
"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.
I used to drink in the K&Q from a very young age in the late 70's through to about 84. I don't remember anyone ever saying it's a Millwall pub. There was about six of them who happened to be quite loud, like most Millwall supporters. I did actually go to the same school as most of them and would call them friends although sheep would be more correct. A lot of my friends at that time were and still are Charlton supporters, no real surprise in SE London.
There must have been an equal amount of us higher forms of life there, maybe more, but us Charlton supporters tend to be more polite and a little more thoughtful of those around us.
I would say it could and did get quite lively round there on a regular basis but it was a huge pub in the centre of Mottingham estate and as such attracted a certain type and large numbers. Most of the time it was just a lot of people who had a few beers too many and were a little vocal.
The public bar used to be a bit spit and saw dust, (and 2p/pint cheaper), but had a younger crowd. Also the football team was based there, all old comers welcome as the poster used to say.
I suppose the pub could seem a bit intimidating and if you wanted trouble, like any large crowd you could find trouble, if that is your want but I have got to say I never had any problems there. As a teenager I never wanted to fight grown men.
I believe it had a bit of a drug problem in its latter days but probably large pubs like these have had their day and economics probably closed it down.
"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.
@Billericay Dickie
Didn't happen to know any of the Batten family that drank in there did you?
My uncles.
Used to drink there in the mid 80's when I worked at GEC Plesseys/Fisher Controls down the hill, now flats and DLR route.
There's a pub in Glasgow with a picture of Maddog Adair behind the bar. Didn't spend long in there!
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.
@Billericay Dickie
Didn't happen to know any of the Batten family that drank in there did you?
My uncles.
Yes I do remember the Batten name.
They were not in my circle of friends and I think that they were older than me.
But now you mention the name I can recall them.
Didn't happen to know any of the Batten family that drank in there did you?
My uncles.
Yes I do remember the Batten name.
They were not in my circle of friends and I think that they were older than me.
But now you mention the name I can recall them.
Micky (Charlton) Stuart (Man Utd) Kevin (Millwall) Ian (Man Utd), Ian ironically now lives in Valley Grove in one of the houses behind the away end, drinks in the lib club during the week.
Kevin had an engagement party in the King & Queen shortly before it finally closed, my only visit to it, but I used to visit the cabin sweet shop as a kid over the road, my grandparents lived on the grass bank on the corner of dunkery road.
I lived in goldmark house.
Gem of a place.
Vividly remember laying in chalked body shapes, only to realise later in life that they were the outlines of those who had committed suicide.
Great place to live as a child though.