I was in the Bag of Nails Plumstead when a guy at the door pulled a shotgun and shot this other guy (rumour he had been shagging his misses) the pellets from the shotgun richocheted around the pub. I was hit a few times with one pellet embedded in my training shoe! Luckily for me no blood. I think it was 1979.
I was in the Bag of Nails Plumstead when a guy at the door pulled a shotgun and shot this other guy (rumour he had been shagging his misses) the pellets from the shotgun richocheted around the pub. I was hit a few times with one pellet embedded in my training shoe! Luckily for me no blood. I think it was 1979.
As a student I worked behind the bar in the Woodman Blackfen. Within a few months i got bitten by Frank the gypsy, cs gas in my eyes, saw a pikeys bum hole, got kicked off my bike, punch ups and dodgy notes all day long, plus a massive street brawl which left us with no working pool cues.
I used to play football for the woodman so drunk in there most weekends and you could guarantee a fight at least once a night. I remember being in there and Lee Murray was with a few mates and they were all just doing gear off the table right next to the bar but no one was going to tell them to stop.
Blimey, I got off lightly. The missus pretty much arranged all our wedding and reception stuff as I was living up north but we were getting married in Bexley, this was the late 80's.
She chose the Woodman for our reception, a pub I'd never heard of. Must admit we had a cracking night and never saw a hint of agro.
Yes a bikers pub because of the handy space at the front to park the motorbikes. Not that far away in Mottingham there is a Harley Davison dealership which attracts ‘characters’ from all over. I think the Palmerston pub in Sydenham was also a pub for a Hells Angels ‘chapter’. Back in the day there was a strong biker culture in South East London, I don’t know how it is now.
The talk of bikers has reminded me of a pub I went to last year in Derby. A good mate of mine, also a Charlton fan but a well and truly lapsed one is part of a 1% club and also in a band. He took me and another one of the blokes to the pub they were playing in and it was stuffed with 1% bikers. Now I can tell you about tv programmes featuring biker gangs but I am absolutely not mental enough to be part of one. Surrounded by these blokes I had to revert to type as a borderline asbo boozer and embrace the chaos. A hells angel asked me how many times he would have to hit a nail with his hand to get it flush into a table. I said six times, turns out it was 3. Another one I watched vomit into a pint glass, not quite fill it so pissed in it and necked it, that is making me feel sick as I write this as I can still smell what he puked up about an hour later!
One of the barmaids looked like a docker in drag love and hat tattooed on the knuckles, the e was missing along with her pinkie. For what its worth the pub wasn't a shithole, it was functional, made for mess and the clearance of mess caused by these lunatics so they could do it all again. The bands were brilliant, there is a big scene in the east Midlands for delta and swamp blues bands (think seasick Steve, Gary Clarke jnr type stuff).
What I'll say, had I not entered with my pal and his pals there is no way either of the two of us visiting would have stayed longer than it took to look round and physically do a 180 out of the door. I cannot remember the name of the place which is annoying me but I can say hand on heart no way would I go there again without an invite and a biker escort
The British Queen, just round the corner from White Hart Lane station. Absolute utter shithole but as a 15yo going Spurs with a few mates, we knew we'd get served in there!
That was my mates local years ago but it’s closed now. He lives in Spain now but when he comes back he uses ‘the Annie’ (Antwerp arms).
The talk of bikers has reminded me of a pub I went to last year in Derby. A good mate of mine, also a Charlton fan but a well and truly lapsed one is part of a 1% club and also in a band. He took me and another one of the blokes to the pub they were playing in and it was stuffed with 1% bikers. Now I can tell you about tv programmes featuring biker gangs but I am absolutely not mental enough to be part of one. Surrounded by these blokes I had to revert to type as a borderline asbo boozer and embrace the chaos. A hells angel asked me how many times he would have to hit a nail with his hand to get it flush into a table. I said six times, turns out it was 3. Another one I watched vomit into a pint glass, not quite fill it so pissed in it and necked it, that is making me feel sick as I write this as I can still smell what he puked up about an hour later!
One of the barmaids looked like a docker in drag love and hat tattooed on the knuckles, the e was missing along with her pinkie. For what its worth the pub wasn't a shithole, it was functional, made for mess and the clearance of mess caused by these lunatics so they could do it all again. The bands were brilliant, there is a big scene in the east Midlands for delta and swamp blues bands (think seasick Steve, Gary Clarke jnr type stuff).
What I'll say, had I not entered with my pal and his pals there is no way either of the two of us visiting would have stayed longer than it took to look round and physically do a 180 out of the door. I cannot remember the name of the place which is annoying me but I can say hand on heart no way would I go there again without an invite and a biker escort
Pure literature
I was in Derby earlier in the year, some great pubs. Don't think I found my way into this one though
There was a pub by Nottingham station that was a bit rough, but handy if you were killing time waiting for the train. Remember being there with my dad and there was an uneasy vibe in the air. A lot of Charlton and a lot of locals who were getting pissed off with the London types. Pub started emptying out as people went to the station and we were finishing up. A few Charlton geezers who looked like they knew the score came over to us and said they were leaving and we probably should too! We had a quick look around, realised we were the only addicks left, downed our drinks and fucked off sharpish. A good decision I think!
The talk of bikers has reminded me of a pub I went to last year in Derby. A good mate of mine, also a Charlton fan but a well and truly lapsed one is part of a 1% club and also in a band. He took me and another one of the blokes to the pub they were playing in and it was stuffed with 1% bikers. Now I can tell you about tv programmes featuring biker gangs but I am absolutely not mental enough to be part of one. Surrounded by these blokes I had to revert to type as a borderline asbo boozer and embrace the chaos. A hells angel asked me how many times he would have to hit a nail with his hand to get it flush into a table. I said six times, turns out it was 3. Another one I watched vomit into a pint glass, not quite fill it so pissed in it and necked it, that is making me feel sick as I write this as I can still smell what he puked up about an hour later!
One of the barmaids looked like a docker in drag love and hat tattooed on the knuckles, the e was missing along with her pinkie. For what its worth the pub wasn't a shithole, it was functional, made for mess and the clearance of mess caused by these lunatics so they could do it all again. The bands were brilliant, there is a big scene in the east Midlands for delta and swamp blues bands (think seasick Steve, Gary Clarke jnr type stuff).
What I'll say, had I not entered with my pal and his pals there is no way either of the two of us visiting would have stayed longer than it took to look round and physically do a 180 out of the door. I cannot remember the name of the place which is annoying me but I can say hand on heart no way would I go there again without an invite and a biker escort
Pure literature
I was in Derby earlier in the year, some great pubs. Don't think I found my way into this one though
Derby does indeed have some great pubs, the type that are becoming rare or extinct in the south. The flowerpot is one of my favourites
I like the look of Derby, as you come out of the station you are immediately greeted with bubbles spa, there are two pubs within spitting distance of there that are all ale, Winchesters and wingbacks and a couple that are vinyl covered furniture complete with slash marks, another with an open air urinal that had a dead pigeon in that had caused a dam holding back puss biscuits and only allowing a slow trickle of human urine by at a time
Some cracking posts on here fortunately or unfortunately never been to any of them.
As i originate from Gravesend i cant let these go without a mention.
The Dickens inn...now gone but full of rough yobbos and the traveling community who would come over and drink your pint and go yerr what you gonna do about it, with 6 of their mates behind them
The Admiral Beatty, also gone but full of those that thought they were tough. but weren't brave enough to try the dickens.
The Somerset Arms, my brothers pub, when ever i pop in there, there are always the same people sat in the same seats, wonder if they ever go home.
The General Gordon, on the notorious Kings Farm council estate full if those scum you would want to live next door to our politicians, Mysteriously burnt down one night.
The Gravesend Boat, Another estate pub housed next to one of the biggest estates in the country, Riverview Park. Whoever thought that moving so many people in an area all at once with young families was mad. They all grew up together and had hundreds of bored teenagers milling the streets and using that as an underage boozer. If your lucky you might avoid a bottling on a Saturday night but keep using it and your turn will come.
The Gun Pit in Woolwich looks proper ropey. I don’t think it has any furniture bar a pool table. I’ve not ventured in.
I’ve always found the Lully alright. Tho it might help knowing a few of the regulars. The Pub spy in the Newshopper did a gruesome review of it years ago.
The talk of bikers has reminded me of a pub I went to last year in Derby. A good mate of mine, also a Charlton fan but a well and truly lapsed one is part of a 1% club and also in a band. He took me and another one of the blokes to the pub they were playing in and it was stuffed with 1% bikers. Now I can tell you about tv programmes featuring biker gangs but I am absolutely not mental enough to be part of one. Surrounded by these blokes I had to revert to type as a borderline asbo boozer and embrace the chaos. A hells angel asked me how many times he would have to hit a nail with his hand to get it flush into a table. I said six times, turns out it was 3. Another one I watched vomit into a pint glass, not quite fill it so pissed in it and necked it, that is making me feel sick as I write this as I can still smell what he puked up about an hour later!
One of the barmaids looked like a docker in drag love and hat tattooed on the knuckles, the e was missing along with her pinkie. For what its worth the pub wasn't a shithole, it was functional, made for mess and the clearance of mess caused by these lunatics so they could do it all again. The bands were brilliant, there is a big scene in the east Midlands for delta and swamp blues bands (think seasick Steve, Gary Clarke jnr type stuff).
What I'll say, had I not entered with my pal and his pals there is no way either of the two of us visiting would have stayed longer than it took to look round and physically do a 180 out of the door. I cannot remember the name of the place which is annoying me but I can say hand on heart no way would I go there again without an invite and a biker escort
Some cracking posts on here fortunately or unfortunately never been to any of them.
As i originate from Gravesend i cant let these go without a mention.
The Dickens inn...now gone but full of rough yobbos and the traveling community who would come over and drink your pint and go yerr what you gonna do about it, with 6 of their mates behind them
The Admiral Beatty, also gone but full of those that thought they were tough. but weren't brave enough to try the dickens.
The Somerset Arms, my brothers pub, when ever i pop in there, there are always the same people sat in the same seats, wonder if they ever go home.
The General Gordon, on the notorious Kings Farm council estate full if those scum you would want to live next door to our politicians, Mysteriously burnt down one night.
The Gravesend Boat, Another estate pub housed next to one of the biggest estates in the country, Riverview Park. Whoever thought that moving so many people in an area all at once with young families was mad. They all grew up together and had hundreds of bored teenagers milling the streets and using that as an underage boozer. If you’re lucky you might avoid a bottling on a Saturday night but keep using it and your turn will come.
There was a pub in Gravesend years ago - tiny place, beside the ‘docks’ - was on the river near where Asda is now (and the bowling alley, but don’t know if bowling alley is still there) - it was on the road leading to the Red Lion ‘nightclub’ pub - what was that called (if you know what I am talking about) ?
My mates and I went in there once - a fucking shit hole !!!
The talk of bikers has reminded me of a pub I went to last year in Derby. A good mate of mine, also a Charlton fan but a well and truly lapsed one is part of a 1% club and also in a band. He took me and another one of the blokes to the pub they were playing in and it was stuffed with 1% bikers. Now I can tell you about tv programmes featuring biker gangs but I am absolutely not mental enough to be part of one. Surrounded by these blokes I had to revert to type as a borderline asbo boozer and embrace the chaos. A hells angel asked me how many times he would have to hit a nail with his hand to get it flush into a table. I said six times, turns out it was 3. Another one I watched vomit into a pint glass, not quite fill it so pissed in it and necked it, that is making me feel sick as I write this as I can still smell what he puked up about an hour later!
One of the barmaids looked like a docker in drag love and hat tattooed on the knuckles, the e was missing along with her pinkie. For what its worth the pub wasn't a shithole, it was functional, made for mess and the clearance of mess caused by these lunatics so they could do it all again. The bands were brilliant, there is a big scene in the east Midlands for delta and swamp blues bands (think seasick Steve, Gary Clarke jnr type stuff).
What I'll say, had I not entered with my pal and his pals there is no way either of the two of us visiting would have stayed longer than it took to look round and physically do a 180 out of the door. I cannot remember the name of the place which is annoying me but I can say hand on heart no way would I go there again without an invite and a biker escort
Please write a book about your life
I'd buy it. There's been some incredible Carter anecdotes on this forum over the years.
The talk of bikers has reminded me of a pub I went to last year in Derby. A good mate of mine, also a Charlton fan but a well and truly lapsed one is part of a 1% club and also in a band. He took me and another one of the blokes to the pub they were playing in and it was stuffed with 1% bikers. Now I can tell you about tv programmes featuring biker gangs but I am absolutely not mental enough to be part of one. Surrounded by these blokes I had to revert to type as a borderline asbo boozer and embrace the chaos. A hells angel asked me how many times he would have to hit a nail with his hand to get it flush into a table. I said six times, turns out it was 3. Another one I watched vomit into a pint glass, not quite fill it so pissed in it and necked it, that is making me feel sick as I write this as I can still smell what he puked up about an hour later!
One of the barmaids looked like a docker in drag love and hat tattooed on the knuckles, the e was missing along with her pinkie. For what its worth the pub wasn't a shithole, it was functional, made for mess and the clearance of mess caused by these lunatics so they could do it all again. The bands were brilliant, there is a big scene in the east Midlands for delta and swamp blues bands (think seasick Steve, Gary Clarke jnr type stuff).
What I'll say, had I not entered with my pal and his pals there is no way either of the two of us visiting would have stayed longer than it took to look round and physically do a 180 out of the door. I cannot remember the name of the place which is annoying me but I can say hand on heart no way would I go there again without an invite and a biker escort
Please write a book about your life
My life is 40 odd years of a dull existence punctuated by some mesmerising visual and physical landmarks. When I was very young I was happy in my own company or that of a couple of close friends then 2 things occurred. 1 joining a rugby club and 2 going to a pretty spicy secondary school, one that none of my childhood friends were going to, gaining pretty much zero qualifications meaning I had to put my hand up to all manner of things to earn some money. I’ve always lived pubs and when I was a young man, a burgeoning boozer I would hear the stories the bar propping veterans would come out with and shake my head thinking "thats either bullshit or I really have not gotten out in the world" and until I got out in the world I embraced everything it launched at me.
Since meeting my wife the situations and stories have slowed right down but I spent most of my 20s single and free to attend every stag do, boys holiday, festival, away game, last minute adventure, gigs and those things tend to create situations where its sometimes a good-bad idea to say "hold on, somethings about to happen here, let's watch"
As a student I worked behind the bar in the Woodman Blackfen. Within a few months i got bitten by Frank the gypsy, cs gas in my eyes, saw a pikeys bum hole, got kicked off my bike, punch ups and dodgy notes all day long, plus a massive street brawl which left us with no working pool cues.
I used to play football for the woodman so drunk in there most weekends and you could guarantee a fight at least once a night. I remember being in there and Lee Murray was with a few mates and they were all just doing gear off the table right next to the bar but no one was going to tell them to stop.
Blimey, I got off lightly. The missus pretty much arranged all our wedding and reception stuff as I was living up north but we were getting married in Bexley, this was the late 80's.
She chose the Woodman for our reception, a pub I'd never heard of. Must admit we had a cracking night and never saw a hint of agro.
My parents held their reception at The Woodman in the early 60’s
The talk of bikers has reminded me of a pub I went to last year in Derby. A good mate of mine, also a Charlton fan but a well and truly lapsed one is part of a 1% club and also in a band. He took me and another one of the blokes to the pub they were playing in and it was stuffed with 1% bikers. Now I can tell you about tv programmes featuring biker gangs but I am absolutely not mental enough to be part of one. Surrounded by these blokes I had to revert to type as a borderline asbo boozer and embrace the chaos. A hells angel asked me how many times he would have to hit a nail with his hand to get it flush into a table. I said six times, turns out it was 3. Another one I watched vomit into a pint glass, not quite fill it so pissed in it and necked it, that is making me feel sick as I write this as I can still smell what he puked up about an hour later!
One of the barmaids looked like a docker in drag love and hat tattooed on the knuckles, the e was missing along with her pinkie. For what its worth the pub wasn't a shithole, it was functional, made for mess and the clearance of mess caused by these lunatics so they could do it all again. The bands were brilliant, there is a big scene in the east Midlands for delta and swamp blues bands (think seasick Steve, Gary Clarke jnr type stuff).
What I'll say, had I not entered with my pal and his pals there is no way either of the two of us visiting would have stayed longer than it took to look round and physically do a 180 out of the door. I cannot remember the name of the place which is annoying me but I can say hand on heart no way would I go there again without an invite and a biker escort
I was camping in the New Forest with a couple of mates about 25 years ago and we went into the local pub that was full of bikers (not quite Hells Angels but not far off). We’d already had a few by then and my mate went to the jukebox and put the same spice girls song on 5 times in row. My other mate then leant against a big curtain, held it to steady himself but accidentally pulled it down along with the rail it was attached to.
I cannot remember the pub name but many years ago a work colleague took me to a real dive in Sparkbrook Birmingham . I didnt want to leave my new company car outside but my colleague said it would be ok. It was still in one piece when we came out and in fairness the lunch was good. The outside look just scared me. My mate thought I was a soft Londoner.
Yes a bikers pub because of the handy space at the front to park the motorbikes. Not that far away in Mottingham there is a Harley Davison dealership which attracts ‘characters’ from all over. I think the Palmerston pub in Sydenham was also a pub for a Hells Angels ‘chapter’. Back in the day there was a strong biker culture in South East London, I don’t know how it is now.
I might be wrong about the Sydenham pub. Was it the Duke of Edinburgh? Down the road a bit on the opposite side to the famous axe murder pub.
Duke of Edinburgh is/was in Wells Park Road.
Down the road from the Golden Lion (Axe pub) on the other side was the Man of Kent, apparently front bar was for whites and back bar for blacks or vice versa, never went in there.
I cannot remember the pub name but many years ago a work colleague took me to a real dive in Sparkbrook Birmingham . I didnt want to leave my new company car outside but my colleague said it would be ok. It was still in one piece when we came out and in fairness the lunch was good. The outside look just scared me. My mate thought I was a soft Londoner.
The Phoenix in Dartford was a very heavy bikers pub for a few years, couple of old Charlton faces were involved. When they left it became a gay bar, now demolished.
Not rough, but an absolute lunatic asylum - The Crystal Palace Tavern in Deptford. Think its gone now, but by christ the place was insane. To say there were some characters in there is an understatement. I remember the dwarf bouncer trying to stop some slam dancing to a Sex Pistols tribute act one night, he ended up being paraded round the bub on some blokes shoulders! The BBQ was legendary as well - no idea what they were cooking but you got massive portions for little or no money. The landlord had no copncept of closing either.
The Phoenix in Dartford was a very heavy bikers pub for a few years, couple of old Charlton faces were involved. When they left it became a gay bar, now demolished.
It was by The Hufflers pub - family friend was a member of the Hells Angels chapter who had it as their ‘clubhouse’ - he emigrated to Australia - fuck knows how he managed that, considering his firearms convictions in the UK 😳
Yes a bikers pub because of the handy space at the front to park the motorbikes. Not that far away in Mottingham there is a Harley Davison dealership which attracts ‘characters’ from all over. I think the Palmerston pub in Sydenham was also a pub for a Hells Angels ‘chapter’. Back in the day there was a strong biker culture in South East London, I don’t know how it is now.
I might be wrong about the Sydenham pub. Was it the Duke of Edinburgh? Down the road a bit on the opposite side to the famous axe murder pub.
Duke of Edinburgh is/was in Wells Park Road.
Down the road from the Golden Lion (Axe pub) on the other side was the Man of Kent, apparently front bar was for whites and back bar for blacks or vice versa, never went in there.
Not rough, but an absolute lunatic asylum - The Crystal Palace Tavern in Deptford. Think its gone now, but by christ the place was insane. To say there were some characters in there is an understatement. I remember the dwarf bouncer trying to stop some slam dancing to a Sex Pistols tribute act one night, he ended up being paraded round the bub on some blokes shoulders! The BBQ was legendary as well - no idea what they were cooking but you got massive portions for little or no money. The landlord had no copncept of closing either.
That's a blast from past, used to buy 3 pints and get change from a fiver! Unsurprisingly it's now flats so he did eventually get the concept of closing! The Royal George is still going though. Was a little similar to Little Chelsea in Bromley North with the pubs around there.
Illegal drinking club in old kent road, any drink a pound. On a stag do, brother of the stag was being a very irritating shit. One of the punters told us if we didnt get him under control he would go and get his shooter from his motor and blow his legs off. Me and a mate left early to get some food, the rest left later and got filled in by a mob. 40 odd years ago now ffs !!
Some cracking posts on here fortunately or unfortunately never been to any of them.
As i originate from Gravesend i cant let these go without a mention.
The Dickens inn...now gone but full of rough yobbos and the traveling community who would come over and drink your pint and go yerr what you gonna do about it, with 6 of their mates behind them
The Admiral Beatty, also gone but full of those that thought they were tough. but weren't brave enough to try the dickens.
The Somerset Arms, my brothers pub, when ever i pop in there, there are always the same people sat in the same seats, wonder if they ever go home.
The General Gordon, on the notorious Kings Farm council estate full if those scum you would want to live next door to our politicians, Mysteriously burnt down one night.
The Gravesend Boat, Another estate pub housed next to one of the biggest estates in the country, Riverview Park. Whoever thought that moving so many people in an area all at once with young families was mad. They all grew up together and had hundreds of bored teenagers milling the streets and using that as an underage boozer. If you’re lucky you might avoid a bottling on a Saturday night but keep using it and your turn will come.
There was a pub in Gravesend years ago - tiny place, beside the ‘docks’ - was on the river near where Asda is now (and the bowling alley, but don’t know if bowling alley is still there) - it was on the road leading to the Red Lion ‘nightclub’ pub - what was that called (if you know what I am talking about) ?
My mates and I went in there once - a fucking shit hole !!!
Great... Lots of memories in some of those pubs including the Westcourt Inn, in St Hildas Way, it was where i met the other half. Both our parents still live in St Hilda's Way.
I was in the Norfolk Arms once and the landlord was very prejudice against anyone he deemed not normal, including Asians, an Indian guy walked in and went to the bar and he got a deodorant and sprayed it around him . You could hear a pin drop. Ironically i believe it was closed and is now a Muslim centre.
He did supply all our beer for my wedding reception at cost price.
The talk of bikers has reminded me of a pub I went to last year in Derby. A good mate of mine, also a Charlton fan but a well and truly lapsed one is part of a 1% club and also in a band. He took me and another one of the blokes to the pub they were playing in and it was stuffed with 1% bikers. Now I can tell you about tv programmes featuring biker gangs but I am absolutely not mental enough to be part of one. Surrounded by these blokes I had to revert to type as a borderline asbo boozer and embrace the chaos. A hells angel asked me how many times he would have to hit a nail with his hand to get it flush into a table. I said six times, turns out it was 3. Another one I watched vomit into a pint glass, not quite fill it so pissed in it and necked it, that is making me feel sick as I write this as I can still smell what he puked up about an hour later!
One of the barmaids looked like a docker in drag love and hat tattooed on the knuckles, the e was missing along with her pinkie. For what its worth the pub wasn't a shithole, it was functional, made for mess and the clearance of mess caused by these lunatics so they could do it all again. The bands were brilliant, there is a big scene in the east Midlands for delta and swamp blues bands (think seasick Steve, Gary Clarke jnr type stuff).
What I'll say, had I not entered with my pal and his pals there is no way either of the two of us visiting would have stayed longer than it took to look round and physically do a 180 out of the door. I cannot remember the name of the place which is annoying me but I can say hand on heart no way would I go there again without an invite and a biker escort
Please write a book about your life
My life is 40 odd years of a dull existence punctuated by some mesmerising visual and physical landmarks. When I was very young I was happy in my own company or that of a couple of close friends then 2 things occurred. 1 joining a rugby club and 2 going to a pretty spicy secondary school, one that none of my childhood friends were going to, gaining pretty much zero qualifications meaning I had to put my hand up to all manner of things to earn some money. I’ve always lived pubs and when I was a young man, a burgeoning boozer I would hear the stories the bar propping veterans would come out with and shake my head thinking "thats either bullshit or I really have not gotten out in the world" and until I got out in the world I embraced everything it launched at me.
Since meeting my wife the situations and stories have slowed right down but I spent most of my 20s single and free to attend every stag do, boys holiday, festival, away game, last minute adventure, gigs and those things tend to create situations where its sometimes a good-bad idea to say "hold on, somethings about to happen here, let's watch"
Some of these pubs especially the flying Scotsman I have a real fondness for!
Its always hard to judge a pub on its appearance, been in some genuine shitholes or that you think are going to be shitholes and find them class. When people talk to me about rough pubs, like genuinely you need your bumps felt for choosing to go in and remain 2 spring to mind
1) The Kemsley Arms in Sittingbourne. It was the first place I had a regular spot DJing every Friday and I witnessed first hand some astonishing violence. After working there I've never been intimidated whilst DJing
2) The Hogarth, Isle of Grain. This place actually looks ok, but can turn into the wild west in a heartbeat and the response police aren't getting there anytime soon of it goes off big time so the landlord would take names and ask questions later.
Great shout whoever said the Chatham Chest, yeah Chatham wasn't short of spicy pubs but the Chatham chest was a tinderbox. The command house always used to be a heady mix of locals and squaddies from Kitchener barracks. Seen about 5 people thrown in the Medway from there one of them was a laugh the rest were people being dragged over to the river and thrown in.
Some bad ones in Chatham
The Princes Park, a guy I knew ran it for a short time. He is known locally as someone to not accept a fight, wrestle or game of tiddlywinks with. One Saturday afternoon a couple had gone in there for some food and a couple of drinks. Went over to the bar, told the barmaid there was a naked man asleep on the pool table and could she get the manager. Barmaid looked over and said 'that is the manager'. Seems to be run OK now, the woman who has it is determined to do something to make it work and I wish her well
The Kestrel, once upon a time was a nice pub that you could visit with your family for food and a pleasant evening. Its a tesco express now and just before it closed the nights in there were truly anarchic, last days of Rome stuff
The White Horse, Rainham. This is a shithole but for some reason a functioning one. If you can't get shagging on a Friday night in there send your genitals to someone who needs them. You don't
The Trafalgar Maid. Estate pub, flat roof, local nutters, pissheads lots of frequent low level violence and a big ruckus about every 90 days
The Sir Robert Peel, that was a frightening pub. Everyone who was barred from the other nutter pubs on the white road estate got sent to drink here. They had a cross dressing barmaid. About 6 foot 4 who was capable of very quick extreme lethality when necessary
The White Lion, this place is somehow still going pretty strong. Less of a shithole than it used to be and more of a scumbag pub than a dangerous pub
You must live in the same area as me,I remember the Kestrel well,what a dump that turned out to be as you say to start,fine,then it became a no go area.The Victoria cross was originally a lovely pub but went down hill,became an iIndian restaurant,and then got burnt down.What is now The Oak was for many years The Sherwood Oak,now a nice family pub.When I first moved to Medway many years ago,it was a meeting place for local traveller gangs who rarely disappointed those who link these people to the love of fighting,every friday night(When I was there)something would kick off,windows broken,police being called,governor getting punched when intervening.Luckily it all happened in the old public bar,so those of us in the saloon bar were not affected. Back to the Antigallican,when I first met my now wife of 57 years,her father was never at home in the evening,he had a job at the Anti,an inoffensive man,even he sometimes came home with a black eye or a cut lip. I had a somewhat traumatic experience in the lovely city of Dundee,up there for business,my host must have had a warped sense of humour,in we went,no windows,just boards,told not to speak,and then after a trouble free evening,the last bell went.On the counter there was a box marked Boris the Bouncer,i asked my host whats that all about ,he said its fine all of a sudden the barman lifted the lid and this enormous tarantula marched up an down the bar,he pissed himself laughing I nearly fainted.
Not a pub I've been in, but this reminded me of when I was press-ganged (by my ex wife) to move to Bishop Auckland in 2004. We moved onto a council estate and there was a pub opposite our house. After being there for a couple of weeks, I decided one night to go for a beer and mix with the locals. I was halfway across the road when a bloke came flying out through a window and whilst laying in the carpark, half a dozen guys came out the door and started beating the shit out of him and muttering something about him not being a local (I think). I promptly did a 180 and walked back home. The next day I was talking to my next door neighbour and he told me the pub had recently been taken over by locals and didn't like anyone else in there. Emergency services were on scene every night until it was finally shut down for good.
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She chose the Woodman for our reception, a pub I'd never heard of. Must admit we had a cracking night and never saw a hint of agro.
One of the barmaids looked like a docker in drag love and hat tattooed on the knuckles, the e was missing along with her pinkie. For what its worth the pub wasn't a shithole, it was functional, made for mess and the clearance of mess caused by these lunatics so they could do it all again. The bands were brilliant, there is a big scene in the east Midlands for delta and swamp blues bands (think seasick Steve, Gary Clarke jnr type stuff).
What I'll say, had I not entered with my pal and his pals there is no way either of the two of us visiting would have stayed longer than it took to look round and physically do a 180 out of the door. I cannot remember the name of the place which is annoying me but I can say hand on heart no way would I go there again without an invite and a biker escort
He lives in Spain now but when he comes back he uses ‘the Annie’ (Antwerp arms).
I was in Derby earlier in the year, some great pubs. Don't think I found my way into this one though
I like the look of Derby, as you come out of the station you are immediately greeted with bubbles spa, there are two pubs within spitting distance of there that are all ale, Winchesters and wingbacks and a couple that are vinyl covered furniture complete with slash marks, another with an open air urinal that had a dead pigeon in that had caused a dam holding back puss biscuits and only allowing a slow trickle of human urine by at a time
As i originate from Gravesend i cant let these go without a mention.
The Dickens inn...now gone but full of rough yobbos and the traveling community who would come over and drink your pint and go yerr what you gonna do about it, with 6 of their mates behind them
The Admiral Beatty, also gone but full of those that thought they were tough. but weren't brave enough to try the dickens.
The Somerset Arms, my brothers pub, when ever i pop in there, there are always the same people sat in the same seats, wonder if they ever go home.
The General Gordon, on the notorious Kings Farm council estate full if those scum you would want to live next door to our politicians, Mysteriously burnt down one night.
The Gravesend Boat, Another estate pub housed next to one of the biggest estates in the country, Riverview Park. Whoever thought that moving so many people in an area all at once with young families was mad. They all grew up together and had hundreds of bored teenagers milling the streets and using that as an underage boozer. If your lucky you might avoid a bottling on a Saturday night but keep using it and your turn will come.
https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/11106296.shameless-in-swanley-pubspys-review-of-bar-fights-and-dirty-talk-at-the-lullingstone-castle-pub/
Edit - I have worked it out https://www.closedpubs.co.uk/kent/gravesend_hitormiss.html
Since meeting my wife the situations and stories have slowed right down but I spent most of my 20s single and free to attend every stag do, boys holiday, festival, away game, last minute adventure, gigs and those things tend to create situations where its sometimes a good-bad idea to say "hold on, somethings about to happen here, let's watch"
Down the road from the Golden Lion (Axe pub) on the other side was the Man of Kent, apparently front bar was for whites and back bar for blacks or vice versa, never went in there.
When they left it became a gay bar, now demolished.
I was in the Norfolk Arms once and the landlord was very prejudice against anyone he deemed not normal, including Asians, an Indian guy walked in and went to the bar and he got a deodorant and sprayed it around him . You could hear a pin drop. Ironically i believe it was closed and is now a Muslim centre.
He did supply all our beer for my wedding reception at cost price.
Thanks for that.
Back to the Antigallican,when I first met my now wife of 57 years,her father was never at home in the evening,he had a job at the Anti,an inoffensive man,even he sometimes came home with a black eye or a cut lip.
I had a somewhat traumatic experience in the lovely city of Dundee,up there for business,my host must have had a warped sense of humour,in we went,no windows,just boards,told not to speak,and then after a trouble free evening,the last bell went.On the counter there was a box marked Boris the Bouncer,i asked my host whats that all about ,he said its fine all of a sudden the barman lifted the lid and this enormous tarantula marched up an down the bar,he pissed himself laughing I nearly fainted.
A lucky escape for me.