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Crayford Dogs to close

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  • I don’t think it’s changing attitudes so much, more times evolving. A lot of our social spend now goes on things that were either not the norms or in relation to phones and other tech / entertainment subscriptions, didn’t even exist 
    Probably a mixture of both.

    I think when it comes to drinking there's certainly a huge shift in changing attitudes and culture compared to when I was young 30 years ago. In part the reason why so many pubs (and clubs) have shut over recent years.

    People just don't go out drinking like they used to, whether that's the Friday/Saturday night or the after work crowd or the lunchtime crowd. I don't think it's a bad thing in general.
  • Rob7Lee said:
    Probably a mixture of both.

    I think when it comes to drinking there's certainly a huge shift in changing attitudes and culture compared to when I was young 30 years ago. In part the reason why so many pubs (and clubs) have shut over recent years.

    People just don't go out drinking like they used to, whether that's the Friday/Saturday night or the after work crowd or the lunchtime crowd. I don't think it's a bad thing in general.
    There has been a bit of a shift, but statistics like pub number are a bit misleading, as a lot of the pubs that have closed are compact, backstreet locals, whereas many of the new pubs that have opened (Wetherspoons, Yates, Brewdog etc) are all massive. One typical Wetherspoons is comparable to 5-10 backstreet locals.

    Pubs in the centre are still doing fine (albeit with massive pressures from cost of energy and taxation) whereas the pubs in the suburbs or the countryside are struggling, unless they are food orientated.
  • There has been a bit of a shift, but statistics like pub number are a bit misleading, as a lot of the pubs that have closed are compact, backstreet locals, whereas many of the new pubs that have opened (Wetherspoons, Yates, Brewdog etc) are all massive. One typical Wetherspoons is comparable to 5-10 backstreet locals.

    Pubs in the centre are still doing fine (albeit with massive pressures from cost of energy and taxation) whereas the pubs in the suburbs or the countryside are struggling, unless they are food orientated.
    I'm sure that's true, but in my experience (two daughters in their early twenties, their friends and also many under 25's at work), the younger generation do not drink like we used to. Even on the rare occasion that mine and others do go out for a night of drinking, they all do this 'pre-drinking' or even sneak in their own drinks! It seems to be a once a month, every 6 weeks thing rather than an every Friday and Saturday night (or in my case that slipped to Thursdays and sometimes Wednesdays!)
  • Rob7Lee said:
    I'm sure that's true, but in my experience (two daughters in their early twenties, their friends and also many under 25's at work), the younger generation do not drink like we used to. Even on the rare occasion that mine and others do go out for a night of drinking, they all do this 'pre-drinking' or even sneak in their own drinks! It seems to be a once a month, every 6 weeks thing rather than an every Friday and Saturday night (or in my case that slipped to Thursdays and sometimes Wednesdays!)
    Yeah, I agree with you.  Daughter is almost 19, her group of friends range 19-23 and we've got 4 family friends in their early-mid 20s and the pub is maybe a once a month thing at most.

    My wife & I sit here shocked when the eldest says she's spent most of her weekend in the Gym, met friends for coffee, gone out for lunch/dinner, everything other than drinking booze.  Very unlike us in our twenties.
  • BobK said:
    My two passions, Charlton and greyhounds. Link between both from Crayford 2005
    Same here. We used to pick the home game before Christmas. Train to Crayford dogs. Then finish the night in The Bear & Ragged  same for last home game of the season 
  • You’ve only gotta look at pubs/bars/clubs in Bexleyheath and Dartford.

    Friday and Saturday nights used to be heaving, now the only place I know that’s regularly open and busy on a Saturday night is the Lord Hill, and that’s full of 30+.
  • the dog racing industry has gone to the dogs…. 


    Sorry I’ve resisted posting that for days but my resolve finally broke at the end of a stressful week.
  • Bruv worked there for years when his kids were young & he needed extra cash.
    I was working in Homebase then whilst in 6th form & we'd go regularly. We'd play 5 a side there too.
    Happy carefree days.
    Very sad.
  • You’ve only gotta look at pubs/bars/clubs in Bexleyheath and Dartford.

    Friday and Saturday nights used to be heaving, now the only place I know that’s regularly open and busy on a Saturday night is the Lord Hill, and that’s full of 30+.
    These days I tend to go the yacht in long lane ( only night it’s busy is the Sunday for the quiz ) and the Prince Albert as a 2 min walk from home and the owner is Charlton but v rarely is it busy 
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  • I still couldn’t pick a winner!
    Don't worry.  I bet on the hare once and still lost.
  • Remember going when there was banger racing there, was the capacity around 25-30,000 back in the day?
  • I found this list of closed dog racing tracks in London. I never realised there were so many.

    1. Battersea Greyhound Track: 1933 - 1936
    2. Brixton Greyhound Stadium: 1932 -  before outbreak of WW2
    3. Catford Stadium: 1932 - 2003
    4. Charlton Stadium: 1930 - 1971
    5. Clapton Stadium: 1928 - 1974
    6. Dagenham Greyhound Stadium: 1939 - 1965
    7. Edmonton Stadium: 1930's - 1947
    8. Greenford Park: 1927 - 1928
    9. Hackney Wick Stadium: 1932 - 1997
    10. Harringay Stadium: 1927 - 1987
    11. Hendon Greyhound Stadium: 1935 - 1972
    12. Mitcham Stadium: 1936 - 1937
    13. New Cross Stadium: 1900s - 1969
    14. Park Royal Stadium: 1931 - 1969
    15. Perry Hill Stadium: Early 1930s - 1935
    16. Southall Greyhound Stadium: 1931 -1976
    17. Stamford Bridge Stadium: 1937 - 1968
    18. Temple Mills Stadium: 1933- 1949
    19. Vicarage Road: 1928 - 1978
    20. Walthamstow Stadium: 1933 - 2008
    21. Wandsworth Stadium: 1933 - 1966
    22. Wembley Stadium (Old): 1927 - 1998
    23. West Ham Stadium: 1928  - 1972
    24. White City Stadium: 1927 - 1984
    25. Wimbledon Stadium: 1928 - 2018
  • I found this list of closed dog racing tracks in London. I never realised there were so many.

    1. Battersea Greyhound Track: 1933 - 1936
    2. Brixton Greyhound Stadium: 1932 -  before outbreak of WW2
    3. Catford Stadium: 1932 - 2003
    4. Charlton Stadium: 1930 - 1971
    5. Clapton Stadium: 1928 - 1974
    6. Dagenham Greyhound Stadium: 1939 - 1965
    7. Edmonton Stadium: 1930's - 1947
    8. Greenford Park: 1927 - 1928
    9. Hackney Wick Stadium: 1932 - 1997
    10. Harringay Stadium: 1927 - 1987
    11. Hendon Greyhound Stadium: 1935 - 1972
    12. Mitcham Stadium: 1936 - 1937
    13. New Cross Stadium: 1900s - 1969
    14. Park Royal Stadium: 1931 - 1969
    15. Perry Hill Stadium: Early 1930s - 1935
    16. Southall Greyhound Stadium: 1931 -1976
    17. Stamford Bridge Stadium: 1937 - 1968
    18. Temple Mills Stadium: 1933- 1949
    19. Vicarage Road: 1928 - 1978
    20. Walthamstow Stadium: 1933 - 2008
    21. Wandsworth Stadium: 1933 - 1966
    22. Wembley Stadium (Old): 1927 - 1998
    23. West Ham Stadium: 1928  - 1972
    24. White City Stadium: 1927 - 1984
    25. Wimbledon Stadium: 1928 - 2018
    Only went to Catford and Wimbledon, would love to have gone to a few of the others.
  • Removed a few posts. Anyone want to start a thread about animals in sport, you’re more than welcome but please do so in a seperate thread. Any further off topic posts will similarly be removed, thanks 
    On topic. Very selective. Thanks for the clarification.
  • Only went to Catford and Wimbledon, would love to have gone to a few of the others.
    Went to14 of those tracks. The tracks that shut before the war I didn't even know about. 
  • I used to go to every meeting at Catford and finally worked out a way to make a profit. When it closed it took a huge part out of my life. Still miss it to this day.
  • PhilFor54 said:
    I used to go to every meeting at Catford and finally worked out a way to make a profit. When it closed it took a huge part out of my life. Still miss it to this day.

    What was the formula?
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  • edited November 2024
    Sad to see this closure, my son goes a few times a year, and has a booking this Christmas, the young children love it!. Used to take my football team there 10 years ago, it was a good night out. I also remember the stock car racing from years ago.
    Ironically I drove past it yesterday going to the new Sainsbury's. I thought Crayford looked quite busy mid day on a Wednesday.
    Personally, I did not have a clue about what the hell I was betting on, so used to do a double reverse 1 and 2 on a random number !....... mug punterI guess.


  • I found this list of closed dog racing tracks in London. I never realised there were so many.

    1. Battersea Greyhound Track: 1933 - 1936
    2. Brixton Greyhound Stadium: 1932 -  before outbreak of WW2
    3. Catford Stadium: 1932 - 2003
    4. Charlton Stadium: 1930 - 1971
    5. Clapton Stadium: 1928 - 1974
    6. Dagenham Greyhound Stadium: 1939 - 1965
    7. Edmonton Stadium: 1930's - 1947
    8. Greenford Park: 1927 - 1928
    9. Hackney Wick Stadium: 1932 - 1997
    10. Harringay Stadium: 1927 - 1987
    11. Hendon Greyhound Stadium: 1935 - 1972
    12. Mitcham Stadium: 1936 - 1937
    13. New Cross Stadium: 1900s - 1969
    14. Park Royal Stadium: 1931 - 1969
    15. Perry Hill Stadium: Early 1930s - 1935
    16. Southall Greyhound Stadium: 1931 -1976
    17. Stamford Bridge Stadium: 1937 - 1968
    18. Temple Mills Stadium: 1933- 1949
    19. Vicarage Road: 1928 - 1978
    20. Walthamstow Stadium: 1933 - 2008
    21. Wandsworth Stadium: 1933 - 1966
    22. Wembley Stadium (Old): 1927 - 1998
    23. West Ham Stadium: 1928  - 1972
    24. White City Stadium: 1927 - 1984
    25. Wimbledon Stadium: 1928 - 2018

    The White City 'roar' as the hare starting running for The Greyhound Derby was something to behold.

    Catford was a great track - a mate and I always went to Epsom for The Derby and in 1985 after watching the great Slip Anchor win (and we backed him heavily) we somehow (I was very, very drunk) got back to Catford to see the mighty Scurlogue Champ break the track record in front of one of the biggest crowds I'd ever seen at Catford. Those were the days when Scurlogue Champ and Balleyregan Bob were front page news - what a time to be alive. Here's the race:


  • Fantastic website with the history of the tracks, and former tracks

    https://greyhoundracingtimes.co.uk/

  • Dogs at the old Wembley was a laugh, about 200 people rattling around that cavernous stadium. I think it partly used the Royal Dining Area or something, I have vague memories of a big old room full of oak paneling. 
  • I've been to Wembley and had a meal there, bit spooky the size of the place.

    One race was about 3/4 round the track, at Catford it would have probably been 1 1/2 laps.
  • PhilFor54 said:
    I used to go to every meeting at Catford and finally worked out a way to make a profit. When it closed it took a huge part out of my life. Still miss it to this day.
    Did you back the heaviest dogs in forecasts when it was wet? 
  • Dogs at the old Wembley was a laugh, about 200 people rattling around that cavernous stadium. I think it partly used the Royal Dining Area or something, I have vague memories of a big old room full of oak paneling. 
    Strangely you could even sit in the Royal  Box for the dog racing at the old Wembley. The main bar was a  big old barn of a place. 

  • 50p trio all ways 1-4-6

    and a fiver on the 5 dog in the last race.
  • MrOneLung said:
    50p trio all ways 1-4-6

    and a fiver on the 5 dog in the last race.
    He says ......... typing from his 25 bed mansion in the Bahamas ....... ;-)
  • My brother-in-law took my niece and nephew this afternoon.  He just messaged me this:

    "So they have 3 staff (bar, tote, kitchen). 4 security guards. 6 people who walk the dogs to the traps. 2 people driving tractors. The guy who waves the flag. The two people who operate the trap. Then four people sat in uniform in the bar area ( not sure what they are doing)

    That's at least 22 staff. And there are 20 customers.

    No wonder it is closing."
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