Porcupine was always full of Mottinghams "finest", then again what pub wasn't round there? Have not been for 20 years so doubt it got better in the interim.
It must be akin to putting your money into a football club nowadays, running a pub.
Failing pubs can be revived; if they are closed and converted they are gone for ever. The Copperfield, a mock-Tudor pile at Catford Bridge, descended into a right old dive and was regularly raided by the Old Bill. Yet a small chain named Antic took it over, changed the name, redesigned the interior, and introduced a good range of real ales - and now the pub is winning awards.
Yeah, some of the brewery owned boozers that I've drank in in the past have brought in a "trouble shooter" manager to turn them around. Remember some rugby loving Aussie/Kiwi/South African taking over the Sun In The Sands just before a major international footballing tornament (I can't remember which, maybe Euro 96?) and he made it into a "football free zone". That backfired spectacularly and went the other way. Another land mark boozer gone to the dogs, unless changed in the last 2 years since I last drove past it...?
Half of the Sun in the Sands has gone, Big Rob! The right-hand side was walled off and converted to an Italian restaurant a couple of years ago; that soon went tits-up and is now a greasy spoon: Roy's Café. The left hand-side soldiered on as a pub, but I believe that is now closed, or at least up for sale.
The British Oak, about 100 yards away in the Old Dover Road, seems to be thriving, with decent beers and regular live music.
This brought back memories of my late dear old gramps . Monday to saturday he would always go to the old liberal club ( in the Woolwich rd ) but on sundays it was always the sun in the sands or the bugle in Charlton village .
The Plume was all boarded up when I went past a few weeks ago. Is it open again?
Beautiful old building, must be around 300 years old. A real period piece - love that big old Georgian half-round bay window.
Harks back to the days when Plumstead was a "Rising Village With An Air Not To Be Equalled", as described by Mr H Batt an important resident in the early 19th century.
That bay window struck me too - more like a Thames-side building at Greenwich or Gravesend, though the Plume probably had fine views down to the river when it was built. What's the pub like inside? I shall look up the estimable Mr Batt....
It's always sad, especially if you've fond memories, when pubs shut down or change style. I still can't believe The Fox Under The Hill is now a Hungry Horse, but I guess change is inevitable. There's a house near me called "Rous Cottage" which used to be "The Admiral Rous Inn". I believe it shut down in the early 1900s. Mind you, it probably didn't help trade that the landlord was hanged for murdering his wife!
The Porcupine is at the end of my road, only ventured in there twice. Both times it was horrific to be honest. However, i'm not too keen about having a Lidl in it's place, I really don't think its needed or wanted.
Failing pubs can be revived; if they are closed and converted they are gone for ever. The Copperfield, a mock-Tudor pile at Catford Bridge, descended into a right old dive and was regularly raided by the Old Bill. Yet a small chain named Antic took it over, changed the name, redesigned the interior, and introduced a good range of real ales - and now the pub is winning awards.
Yeah, some of the brewery owned boozers that I've drank in in the past have brought in a "trouble shooter" manager to turn them around. Remember some rugby loving Aussie/Kiwi/South African taking over the Sun In The Sands just before a major international footballing tornament (I can't remember which, maybe Euro 96?) and he made it into a "football free zone". That backfired spectacularly and went the other way. Another land mark boozer gone to the dogs, unless changed in the last 2 years since I last drove past it...?
Half of the Sun in the Sands has gone, Big Rob! The right-hand side was walled off and converted to an Italian restaurant a couple of years ago; that soon went tits-up and is now a greasy spoon: Roy's Café. The left hand-side soldiered on as a pub, but I believe that is now closed, or at least up for sale.
The British Oak, about 100 yards away in the Old Dover Road, seems to be thriving, with decent beers and regular live music.
This brought back memories of my late dear old gramps . Monday to saturday he would always go to the old liberal club ( in the Woolwich rd ) but on sundays it was always the sun in the sands or the bugle in Charlton village .
The Sun in the Sands was unusual because back in the days it was a Younger's tied house (Scotch, IPA and No. 3 on handpump): rare in south-east London. Does anyone here remember the Dover Patrol, a Courage pub on Rochester Way? I have a vague memory of going there once in the 1970s; apparently it had some good art deco fittings - before it was demolished for the new road.
Well done, MOG. I had time to kill in Grove Park a few months back, and had a shuffle up the road that leads along the side of the pub. Noticed there are various outbuildings at the back. Antic might do a good job with the renovation.
Failing pubs can be revived; if they are closed and converted they are gone for ever. The Copperfield, a mock-Tudor pile at Catford Bridge, descended into a right old dive and was regularly raided by the Old Bill. Yet a small chain named Antic took it over, changed the name, redesigned the interior, and introduced a good range of real ales - and now the pub is winning awards.
Yeah, some of the brewery owned boozers that I've drank in in the past have brought in a "trouble shooter" manager to turn them around. Remember some rugby loving Aussie/Kiwi/South African taking over the Sun In The Sands just before a major international footballing tornament (I can't remember which, maybe Euro 96?) and he made it into a "football free zone". That backfired spectacularly and went the other way. Another land mark boozer gone to the dogs, unless changed in the last 2 years since I last drove past it...?
Half of the Sun in the Sands has gone, Big Rob! The right-hand side was walled off and converted to an Italian restaurant a couple of years ago; that soon went tits-up and is now a greasy spoon: Roy's Café. The left hand-side soldiered on as a pub, but I believe that is now closed, or at least up for sale.
The British Oak, about 100 yards away in the Old Dover Road, seems to be thriving, with decent beers and regular live music.
This brought back memories of my late dear old gramps . Monday to saturday he would always go to the old liberal club ( in the Woolwich rd ) but on sundays it was always the sun in the sands or the bugle in Charlton village .
The Sun in the Sands was unusual because back in the days it was a Younger's tied house (Scotch, IPA and No. 3 on handpump): rare in south-east London. Does anyone here remember the Dover Patrol, a Courage pub on Rochester Way? I have a vague memory of going there once in the 1970s; apparently it had some good art deco fittings - before it was demolished for the new road.
Remember the Patrol well. Favorite uncle on my mums side was a regular. Pubs like that in London are a fond memory.
Well done, MOG. I had time to kill in Grove Park a few months back, and had a shuffle
Don't blame you
Doesn't Keeley Hazell live near there ?
She use to come in me shop for her 10 Sovereign, but me being the law abiding Man In The Corner Shop (There's a song there somewhere!) refused to serve her, so another Charlton lad who was mates with her sister would buy them. I think @Nolly might've known them an all???
It's always sad, especially if you've fond memories, when pubs shut down or change style. I still can't believe The Fox Under The Hill is now a Hungry Horse, but I guess change is inevitable. There's a house near me called "Rous Cottage" which used to be "The Admiral Rous Inn". I believe it shut down in the early 1900s. Mind you, it probably didn't help trade that the landlord was hanged for murdering his wife!
Them houses to the right of The Oak, looking at the boozer from by the nursery, use to be a mother and baby clinic and I'd get weighed in there as a knipper. Next time any of you are walking past there, think of old BIG ROB from Charlton Life
Well done, MOG. I had time to kill in Grove Park a few months back, and had a shuffle
Don't blame you
Doesn't Keeley Hazell live near there ?
She use to come in me shop for her 10 Sovereign, but me being the law abiding Man In The Corner Shop (There's a song there somewhere!) refused to serve her, so another Charlton lad who was mates with her sister would buy them. I think @Nolly might've known them an all???
When you say Nolly might have known them, do you mean Keeley Hazell's attributes?
Well done, MOG. I had time to kill in Grove Park a few months back, and had a shuffle
Don't blame you
Doesn't Keeley Hazell live near there ?
She use to come in me shop for her 10 Sovereign, but me being the law abiding Man In The Corner Shop (There's a song there somewhere!) refused to serve her, so another Charlton lad who was mates with her sister would buy them. I think @Nolly might've known them an all???
When you say Nolly might have known them, do you mean Keeley Hazell's attributes?
Well done, MOG. I had time to kill in Grove Park a few months back, and had a shuffle
Don't blame you
Doesn't Keeley Hazell live near there ?
She use to come in me shop for her 10 Sovereign, but me being the law abiding Man In The Corner Shop (There's a song there somewhere!) refused to serve her, so another Charlton lad who was mates with her sister would buy them. I think @Nolly might've known them an all???
When you say Nolly might have known them, do you mean Keeley Hazell's attributes?
Ah, so you googled her eh ? ;-)
Correct! Did I hear you say that Big Rob lives in France and has had a kidney transplant...?
Comments
;-)
I think that was the over 30's singles night.
It must be akin to putting your money into a football club nowadays, running a pub.
There's a house near me called "Rous Cottage" which used to be "The Admiral Rous Inn". I believe it shut down in the early 1900s. Mind you, it probably didn't help trade that the landlord was hanged for murdering his wife!
;-)
;-)
Did you know I used to be a drummer ?