Reply to: Buggeridge on Friday

[minestrone]

ZeroDegrees in Reading has ladies watching over the gents' urinals.

(Much to the consternation of one peeing man I did pop in there one day to let him peek at my mangos after a few too many pints of their excellent beer)

ftfy

[mudskipper]

ZeroDegrees in Reading has ladies watching over the gents' urinals.

(Much to the consternation of one peeing man, I did pop in there one day for a peek after a few too many pints of their excellent mango beer)

[Doggy Styles]

Malc, is this the White Post on the Fosse Way? If so, have you heard any stories of ghostly roman soldiers marching past the pub? Allegedly there have been a few manifestations in that area, as there have been further up in Leicestershire.

[Malcolm Buggeridge]

Not the White Post outside Radstock????!!!

No, but as an ex resident of Chilcompton I know the White Post very well and I was up there just the other week enjoying one of Brendan and Margot's splendid carveries.

The white post to which I refer is a medieval relic, a bit like a pillory, to which some unfortunate would be attached to receive whatever chastisement the local populace deemed appropriate.

Fortunately, most undesirables these days never get further than a good old fashioned impaling on the church railings with the white post generally serving as a sanction of last resort.

[xoggoth]

Lots of pubs have been closing for years but in my experience it is largely down to ownership by dipsticks who are not suited to the job. Local closest to me that shut down years ago was owned by a surly git. Next nearest nearly went a couple of years ago when a similar sort brought and ran it but, since he got a friendly Irish couple in to run it, it's being doing pretty well. Live music nights, quizzes, decent meals etc.

PS Not that I go there when I can get a vodka for 1.50 at the village club.

[socialworker]

Apparently not DS. Indeed, there's a tradition in these parts for out of towners who come down 'ere with their fancy ways to find themselves trussed up on the white post at the mercy of Farmer Dyer and his hell's farm hands.

Not the White Post outside Radstock????!!!

[Doggy Styles]

Apparently not DS. Indeed, there's a tradition in these parts for out of towners who come down 'ere with their fancy ways to find themselves trussed up on the white post at the mercy of Farmer Dyer and his hell's farm hands.

Ooo! That sounds unpleasant!

[Malcolm Buggeridge]

It seems not Malc. Is he familiar with the Wicker Man

Apparently not DS. Indeed, there's a tradition in these parts for out of towners who come down 'ere with their fancy ways to find themselves trussed up on the white post at the mercy of Farmer Dyer and his hell's farm hands.

[NickFitz]

The gents in The Harp is incredibly narrow; if one washes one's hands and dries them, it's likely one will end up trapped in the far corner between two guys at the urinals and one attempting to enter or leave the cubicle. At such times, I like to cheerfully announce to my fellow lavatorians that the ladies has enough room for a dressing table with mirror at which a lady can touch up her makeup, and a small sofa so her friends have somewhere to sit and chat as they wait their turn

(I discovered this one Sunday night when the gents was up the creek, and we had to use the ladies by order of the management.)

[Doggy Styles]

Indeed DS. I don't think he quite realises that he needs to acknowledge a few unwritten rules that us country types adhere to, particularly when it comes to traditions concerning the pub.

It seems not Malc. Is he familiar with the Wicker Man?

Providing a comfortable ambience for the broad church of custom can be a delicate balancing act. The Bell, the last remaining pub in our village, was over a period of a few years turned into a 'drinking men's pub', if you know what I mean, which appears to be the opposite problem to the one you are experiencing.

For example, one landlord installed a long high bar, another introduced a giant Sky Sports screen in the main bar, and barmen were not dissuaded from slopping beer all over the shop as if they'd scooped it out of a horses trough. This slowly turned away the ladies, then anyone else who wanted a congenial evening in their village pub, leaving just a few diehard regular oiks.

Ultimately it had to close, was purchased by a property developer despite the efforts of the villagers to buy it themselves and run it properly, and has now been converted into a house with planning permission for two more to be built in the gardens.

[Malcolm Buggeridge]

Hi Malc!

It's difficult to believe in this day and age, when hundreds of pubs appear to be closing every month, that one of their number should feel comfortable in alienating many of its regulars.

Would a boycott by likeminded clientelle have an impact? Are there any alternative establishments within easy distance?

Indeed DS. I don't think he quite realises that he needs to acknowledge a few unwritten rules that us country types adhere to, particularly when it comes to traditions concerning the pub.

[bless 'em all]

"The Mells and Vobster football team are obviously welcome at The Talbot any time but surely we cannot be held to ransom over an explicit demand for free food to entice the team down after the game.

WHS. Pay for your grub like everyone else. Pikey.

[KentPhilip]

You take a camera in to the ladies and only photograph the sinks

Presumably he also took photos of the girls under the cubical doors there, but couldn't upload them as they are NSFW..

[Doggy Styles]

Hi Malc!

It's difficult to believe in this day and age, when hundreds of pubs appear to be closing every month, that one of their number should feel comfortable in alienating many of its regulars.

Would a boycott by likeminded clientelle have an impact? Are there any alternative establishments within easy distance?

[OwlHoot]

Well, as much as it pains me to say it, it would appear that my predictions are coming to pass as the landlord of that pub is refusing to serve our local Sunday League football team their post match victuals ...

I don't blame him - In his place I'd ban any weirdo who asked for "victuals"

... while us blokes have to make do with a tatty old towel on a wooden roller...

Are roller towels even legal any more? What's the pub called again, the Scabies Arms?