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PUBS OF MY CHILDHOOD
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R
Rod
Guest
Apologies if Ive posted this before
As a kid on our Summer outings to Sutton Park we would be taken to a pub in Sutton Town Centre, I forget it's name, Ill look it up later in Kelly's....... My brother Alan and me called it the Underground Pub, it had what I thought then were vast sunkem gardens with a central lawn. As if we hadnt had enough fun in the park we would lark about in the bushes at the back of this pub...... The pub is still there opposite I think the shopping centre and bustops, it had a makeover inside and I believe attracts the younger set. I would imagine that the shopping complex at the rear was built across the grounds of the pub?
As a kid on our Summer outings to Sutton Park we would be taken to a pub in Sutton Town Centre, I forget it's name, Ill look it up later in Kelly's....... My brother Alan and me called it the Underground Pub, it had what I thought then were vast sunkem gardens with a central lawn. As if we hadnt had enough fun in the park we would lark about in the bushes at the back of this pub...... The pub is still there opposite I think the shopping centre and bustops, it had a makeover inside and I believe attracts the younger set. I would imagine that the shopping complex at the rear was built across the grounds of the pub?
M
mike-g
Guest
That pub has had several names, it was ( I think ) the Dog at the time you ar referring to.
jennyann
Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
Mike, you are right and what a lovely place it was before they built behind it. My brother lives on Lichfield Road going towards Four Oaks Station and when I visit I spend lots of time in The Gracechurch/Parade area. We used to walk across Sutton park some Sunday mornings and leave by the Park Road entrance which led up to the Parade, cross over and into The Dog.
I sometimes wait for the bus to Brum in that area and I could cry at the filthy looking place this building has now become. Rod, it must be this pub because I don't think any of the others would have had a sunken garden back when. I'll bet you came up Park Road and visited The Dog gardens. Saw it at it best no doubt.
I sometimes wait for the bus to Brum in that area and I could cry at the filthy looking place this building has now become. Rod, it must be this pub because I don't think any of the others would have had a sunken garden back when. I'll bet you came up Park Road and visited The Dog gardens. Saw it at it best no doubt.
wallyb71
master brummie
I lived in Kingstanding and the Pubs we went to, and we always walked on a Sunday after tea, were the Deers Leap, The Trees, The Old Oscott Inn, which was my favourit as they had a nice garden out back where we could run around. It probably took about 45 mins. to walk there and it was along Shady Lane, which at that time was all open fields.
HAPPY DAYS, HAPPY MEMORIES.
p.s. I forgot to mention the Parson & Clerk which was another Sunday afternoon outing and it was close to Sutton Park. It took about half an hour to walk there and you could sit outside the front of it.
HAPPY DAYS, HAPPY MEMORIES.
p.s. I forgot to mention the Parson & Clerk which was another Sunday afternoon outing and it was close to Sutton Park. It took about half an hour to walk there and you could sit outside the front of it.
M
mazbeth
Guest
Hi, Elizabeth...I (and my brother and sister) used to go in both...but not as a childelizabeth1 said:
as a teenager in the 70's...I, and some schoolfriends, used to go in Nechell's pubs in '73/'74 (have to admit we were underage then). It was great how many seemed to know each other in the 3 or 4 pubs we used to go in.
The Villa Tavern, The White Horse?...can't remember the others right now.
I see, from your signature, that you're interested in Perry Common and Park Lane.
Until '69 we lived in Parliament St., off Park Lane, where my mom lived from 1930, and her mom and dad before her.
We were part of Park Lane Gospel Hall, so knew many people around that area...
M
mazbeth
Guest
I worked at Penn's Hall as a banqueting waitress (some evenings) for a short time at the end of '75...till our headmistress found out (I was still 15) and she stopped me and my friend working thereDi.Poppitt said:Penns Hall is in in Penns Lane, it's Sutton though not Erdington. Last time we were there was my sister in law's wedding reception in 1964
it was awful as I was 'in love' with the head wine waiter, Jose, and he had asked me out, after complimenting my legs...y'know...short black skirt, white apron etc (I think now, I had a lucky escape!!)
I was rubbish at it anyway, as the diner would confirm who had part of a platter of 'ice-cream castle' slide down on his dinner jacket as I leaned between him and another diner to serve them. :-\
On my 18th Birthday, my Dad took me to the local pub, The Coach and Horses for my 1st pint. We walked in and the landlord, Dick Rafferty, looked up and said to me " Usual, Jimmy". I had been using the pub on a regular basis for about 18 months.
Do you know something, My Dad never said a word or mentioned the incident ever again.
Do you know something, My Dad never said a word or mentioned the incident ever again.
M
mazbeth
Guest
Alf said:Penns Hall was Sutton I seem to remember I went to a Christmas do in 1976
aaarrrggghhh, I hope it wasn't 75!! :2funny:
johnedward
master brummie
HELLO FERGIE AND ELIZIBETH1
I WAS BORN IN ARKLEY ROAD BACK IN 1947 AND ATTENDED PITMASTON JUNIORS THEN TO CHILCOTE SCHOOL PERHAPS BEFORE YOU TIMES. BUT ALL THE PUBS ARE WELL NOTED THE DISCO IN THE GOSPEL OAK THE DOLPHIN I KNOW IS NO MORE ITS A LIDL OR ALDI .IN ARKLEY ROAD I LIVED AT 102 NEXT DOOR TO TWO GIRLS WHOM I CALLED COUSINS PAT AND PAM I THINK THEY WENT TO SWANSHURST GRAMMER LATER ON
JOHN EDWARD SWANSEA :
I WAS BORN IN ARKLEY ROAD BACK IN 1947 AND ATTENDED PITMASTON JUNIORS THEN TO CHILCOTE SCHOOL PERHAPS BEFORE YOU TIMES. BUT ALL THE PUBS ARE WELL NOTED THE DISCO IN THE GOSPEL OAK THE DOLPHIN I KNOW IS NO MORE ITS A LIDL OR ALDI .IN ARKLEY ROAD I LIVED AT 102 NEXT DOOR TO TWO GIRLS WHOM I CALLED COUSINS PAT AND PAM I THINK THEY WENT TO SWANSHURST GRAMMER LATER ON
JOHN EDWARD SWANSEA :
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fergie
master brummie
I lived at 20 Arkley Road 1961-1969. I lived with my Nan Jane Bartlett, who died in 1979 at that address. My grandfather Charles Samuel Bartlett lived at that address until he passed away in 1957 my mother is Sheila nee Bartlett she married William Erle Hilburn who was in the USAF (united states airforce). My Mom would have been 10 years older than you, she went to Sparkhill Commerical School on the Stratford Road. Mom had a friend I believe her name was June, but the lady Sheila Thorn (I can't remember her maiden name may have been Bennett or Barnett) who had sextuplets was also a friend of hers who lived in Arkley Road. Mrs Knowles her son Donald lived at No 22. I can't recall any more for now. Maybe if I see Mom later she may remember more. The Gospel Oak is still there isn't it.
HI FERGIE AND LIZ, I NOTICED YOU FREQUENTED AFEW PUBS AROUND THE BLOCK FROM WHERE ME AND MY WIFE USED TO RUN , WE USED TO RUN THE RED LION PUB YOU SAID YOU USED THE MAGPIES, , WE WAS ON THE WARICK RD IN FRONT OF SAFE WAYS , I BELEIVE THE OWNERS NOW ARE AN IRISH DECENT AND HE NOW OWNS ALOT OF PUBS AROUND BRUM , WE LEFT THERE AND WENT TO THE KINGS HEAD IN NORTH FIELD , MANY YEARS AGO AND THEN WE DONE OUR LAST STINT IN BRUM AT THE WARD END EX SERVICE MANS CLUB IN WARD END PARK ROAD WARD END AND THEN WE BOUGHT A PRIVATE MEMBERS CLUB OUT IN EVERSHAM IN THE VILLAGE OF CHURCH LENT WHICH IS ON THE BLOSSOM TRAIL OF THE AA ,S ANUAL TRAIL, SINCE THEN WE HAVE RETIRED IN THE VILLAGE OF WORCESTERSHIRE, BEST WISHES ASTONIAN,;;;;
ELIZABETH1
master brummie
Mazbeth - that made me laugh about the waitressing job!! I did that type of job in Llandudno at a hotel and one lady was really rude to me "she got the job cause she could write" and she complained about just about everything all the way through the weeks holiday!! So by friday lunch my patience had gone - and I garnished the soup with pepper whole corns and parsley green stuff on top!!
This woman sure had something to complain about then "this soup is too peppery" - well could I keep a straight face when she demanded to speak to the chef ?? I was banned from waitressing and forved to serve on the hotel bars after that - which was fine by me!! ;D ;D
I never liked the waitressing part of work at all - couldn't stand the messy plates and tables ha ha - bar work was far more fun!!
Lizzy sure needed a career change after that season in a hotel ha ha
It's amazing how many memories flood back just by people chatting here about pubs - I bet I have forgotten about more pubs in Birmingham than I can remember!!
This woman sure had something to complain about then "this soup is too peppery" - well could I keep a straight face when she demanded to speak to the chef ?? I was banned from waitressing and forved to serve on the hotel bars after that - which was fine by me!! ;D ;D
I never liked the waitressing part of work at all - couldn't stand the messy plates and tables ha ha - bar work was far more fun!!
Lizzy sure needed a career change after that season in a hotel ha ha
It's amazing how many memories flood back just by people chatting here about pubs - I bet I have forgotten about more pubs in Birmingham than I can remember!!
fergie
master brummie
Astonian did you ever know the landord who ran the Red Lion in Kings Heath, the Hazelwell in Stirchley and the Hare and Hounds in Barnt Green I believe he was a Hickey maybe Alfred. I know when he died, his funeral courtege tavelled to these destinations and I believe thare was a write up in the evening paper since he was so well known. His daughter runs the Hazelwell now. I know the Warwick Road and what was Safeways (it is probably Morrisons or Somerfield now) I don't recall the Red Lion. The Three Magpies is now called the Maggies and is well known in the Irish Community.
hi fergie , yes i do know the hickeys very well, i,ve known them for a many of yesterday years , and they ran there pubs like a very tight ship and i used to run my pubs in the same mannor, like my father at the golden cross on aston cross aston, many years ago , yes john died of cancer when he moved up to the hazel well pub, and there was a big write up and following at the funneral. very well respected family through out b,ham today still and never forgotten ,. he always stood at the end of the bar with always a cigerette in his mouth watching the staff , and the punters , [ customers] for staff fiddling or first sign of trouble , i don,t know whom runthe hazelwell now , but i did know she stepped into the bridge when john died, whether or not she his still there i do not know , i have left brum now for some years ago , my wife and i are well known in the trade , and occasionialy we are asked would we do a releif for some of the old boys left in the game , my wife loves to go and very seldon refuses them , mind you she his ten years younger than me so i have to go with her , she keeps asking me to take on another club or boozer but ,fergie its a different ball game now, im enjoying my retirement now , i travell all the way to brum every couple of months to get my hair cut , and my barber phil who has cut my hair since the word dot ; over at bordesley green , and my kids whom are in there thirties , still travell there for there hair cuts, and he keeps me informed of whats going on within the trade because another friend of ours use,s phil for hair cuts, and he at the moment his running the brook hill pub down the road on the alum rock rd and his name his craig mcClothron, he has been in the game for years , and he ,s like me , knows every body in the game and ran a lot of pubs around brum , and he been out here in eversham running afew pubs , but he found it abit to quite out here , but saying that he moved back to scotland , for a little while because his wife was dying of cancer where she died , craig came back to brum to start again he took on the falcon and castle on moseley rd , and he moved to one , on the top end of bordesley green road by the east midlands hospital, the brewerie sold it off to mcdonalds the burger people then he moved down to the brook hill pub, fergie, you say that the three magpies as dropped the wording of the three magpies , and it just call maggies , well the wording of maggie hi a short word of maureen , and that his the owners wife name or one of her names they are well known in the irish commutity , the owner his of irish decent he was born in monica rd his father was known in the commutity years ago his name his liam occonnor whom now owns many pubs around brum and around digbeth , i known him for many many years , as for myself as you said you could not remember the red lion pub on acocks green well what you knew as safe way , and recall safe ways now in your mind , when you went down the warick rd ,and when you had to turn into safe ways the pub was on there drive as you turned into safe ways , i surpose it no longer a safe way store , it probaly a sommer field or morrisons store now , i have,nt been that way for years , ferg, best wishes astonian ,;;;;;;;
johnedward
master brummie
MY RECOLLECTIONS OF FIRST PUBS WAS THE GOSPEL OAK IN HALL GREEN AND THE BOOKIES RUNNER I USED TO TAKE DADS BET DOWN TO THIS MAN IN A BIG OVERCOAT AND A TRILBY HAT JUST INSIDE THE DOOR TO THE SMOKE ROOM DADS BETTING NAME WAS BUSH 102 ( BUSHELL 102 ARKLELY RD ) ITS LIKE THE CO OP DIVI NUMBER I HAVE NEVER FORGOT WHEN WE MOVED IT CHANGED TO BUSH 32 TO REFLECT THE NEW ADDRESS AND THEN IT WAS JACKSON THE BOOKIE UP ALONG SIDE JOHN BATES THE HAIR DRESSER ON WARWICK ROAD IN ACOCKS GREEN. I WAS AROUND 8 OR 9 YEARS OLD SO FIFTY YEARS AGO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAD BETTING LAWS ???
JOHNEDWARD
JOHNEDWARD
J
Jerry
Guest
Hi Astonian, my older Brother Mick still goes to Phil's for his haircuts and the pub that was bought by Mcdonalds was the Broadway and You're right Safeways is now Morrisons
Did you know any of the pubs or publicans in Small Heath in the 60s?
The reason I ask is because my eldest brother John used to be a bar cellarman and worked in a lot of pubs in that area over the years so you might have crossed paths at some time
Did you know any of the pubs or publicans in Small Heath in the 60s?
The reason I ask is because my eldest brother John used to be a bar cellarman and worked in a lot of pubs in that area over the years so you might have crossed paths at some time
johnedward
master brummie
HI ROBERT
YES IT WAS RUN BY JOHN BATES AND THE CHAP YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT JOHN BOUGHT THE BUSINESS HE USED TO DRIVE A SPORTS CAR SPITFIRE OR THE LIKE HE USED TO CUT MY HAIR FOR MANY YEARS WHEN I WENT TO VISIT MY MOTHER IN WOODCOCK LANE.
JOHNEDWARD
YES IT WAS RUN BY JOHN BATES AND THE CHAP YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT JOHN BOUGHT THE BUSINESS HE USED TO DRIVE A SPORTS CAR SPITFIRE OR THE LIKE HE USED TO CUT MY HAIR FOR MANY YEARS WHEN I WENT TO VISIT MY MOTHER IN WOODCOCK LANE.
JOHNEDWARD
hi jerry, thanks for the memo, when i mentioned the pubs , and on about phills who keeps me in formed about the local licecence trade , you was right it was the broad way , where craig moved from , after they sold it to mcdonald and went down to the broad way , and he,s been there ever since , and i do know alot of john,s whom worked the cellars and bars around the area
, if you had mentioned any particular pub where he had worked i could have told you whether or not i have came across him there was a lot of pubs around small heath way back in the sixties , he may have worked one of mine, , catch ya later jess, astonian ,;;;;;;
, if you had mentioned any particular pub where he had worked i could have told you whether or not i have came across him there was a lot of pubs around small heath way back in the sixties , he may have worked one of mine, , catch ya later jess, astonian ,;;;;;;
J
Jerry
Guest
Hi Astonian
John worked at the Nelson in Grange Road
The Gunmakers in Green Lane
The Marquis of Lorne in Cattell Road
The Wrexham and the Brighton on the Cov.
John worked at the Nelson in Grange Road
The Gunmakers in Green Lane
The Marquis of Lorne in Cattell Road
The Wrexham and the Brighton on the Cov.
hi jess , thanks for your quick response , i did have the pleasure of his company ,many tiimes and had a tot withhim down at the gunners , the old wrexam and the old brighton arms, , i do beleive that the irish bloke liam occonnor , whom own,s alot of pubs around digbeth has had that pub now for quite afew years , in fact he,s got them all oover the place , his flag ship pub his the kerry man , and occ,s pub and club, in digbeth , liam is known has a plastic paddy, from small heath , he speaks the accent well , he was born down one of the roads down off monica rd , his father was well known in the irish commutuneity, my wife theresa, ,s family his well known in irland and in brum she his a daughter of JJ COURTNEY , CONTRACTORS THE BIG IRISH ROAD CIVIL ENGINEERS INJ BRUM AND WE HAVE RAN IRISH PUBS around the country our selves, has old father times catches you up in the end we have to retire ,don,t we , jess he gets us all in the end , astonian, ;;;;;;
Cant say I remember the pub but I remember pushing a hand cart loaded with tounge and groove boards down Great Lister Street in the early 50s with my dad, I was probably into Midland Countys icecream at that time. If it was there then, we must have passed it. Oh, we built a shed with the wood. Great Lister Street was a major feature of my childhood and the many references to it on this forum contimually bring back memories.
Regards.
Regards.
Peter Walker
gone but not forgotten
I can't claim any pubs of my childhood, as my parents were not great drinkers, preferring to spend their money on ciggies. We would have a small bottle of sherry at Christmas, and a quarter-bottle of brandy for the Xmas Pud. My dad didn't like beer, but would drink cider to be sociable.
My first public drink was in 1949 at the age of just 16 on a school visit to Paris, when we drank Grenadine in a few bars, and French cider in the dormitory afterwards. The next occasion was not until I was nearly 18, in the Bell Inn at Belbroughton (accompanying a large mixed grill, as I remember) at an annual dinner of St Michael's Handsworth church choir. The next time was at the time of my 18th birthday, when a party of architectural students stayed in Hertford College in Oxford for a few days, and all the students were served beer of their choice without question.
I was always fascinated by pubs, and have strong recollections of the impression those elegant facades gave me. Before I left Brum and got married, I used to 'do' a lot of Brum pubs (anyone remember the Woodman in Easy Row?) and then for the first ten years of married life we couldn't afford more than a flagon of cider from the offie over the road (3s6d or 17p as I remember) for an evening. Later we got a bit flush and I could afford to get around. Now it's normally two 2-hour sessions, morning and evening service.
Peter
Peter
My first public drink was in 1949 at the age of just 16 on a school visit to Paris, when we drank Grenadine in a few bars, and French cider in the dormitory afterwards. The next occasion was not until I was nearly 18, in the Bell Inn at Belbroughton (accompanying a large mixed grill, as I remember) at an annual dinner of St Michael's Handsworth church choir. The next time was at the time of my 18th birthday, when a party of architectural students stayed in Hertford College in Oxford for a few days, and all the students were served beer of their choice without question.
I was always fascinated by pubs, and have strong recollections of the impression those elegant facades gave me. Before I left Brum and got married, I used to 'do' a lot of Brum pubs (anyone remember the Woodman in Easy Row?) and then for the first ten years of married life we couldn't afford more than a flagon of cider from the offie over the road (3s6d or 17p as I remember) for an evening. Later we got a bit flush and I could afford to get around. Now it's normally two 2-hour sessions, morning and evening service.
Peter
Peter
D
dollyferret
Guest
hi ,just found this site,i was born in high street aston in1947,and lived opposite the scotch house(we moved in 65,)we used to stay up late in the front room to watch the fights in the pub.our house was between becketts the dry cleaners and mr collins second hand shop,saturday nites treats was a bowl of cockles and mushy peas from hawkins s next to the junk shop.
sadly they knocked one slum area down to build another one
sadly they knocked one slum area down to build another one
Alf
Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
Hello Dolly good hey :-\
My best friends Mother was a relation of the Hawkins and I worked part time for her. Sadly my best friend died on Christmas Eve 32 years ago taking a cup of tea up to his wife he slipped on the way down stairs. they had 4 children at the time. I write this as a reminder that stairs can be deadly, since that time I never go up stairs in any sort of footware.
By the way Dolly I was born in Newtown Row 70 years ago Welcome enjoy
My best friends Mother was a relation of the Hawkins and I worked part time for her. Sadly my best friend died on Christmas Eve 32 years ago taking a cup of tea up to his wife he slipped on the way down stairs. they had 4 children at the time. I write this as a reminder that stairs can be deadly, since that time I never go up stairs in any sort of footware.
By the way Dolly I was born in Newtown Row 70 years ago Welcome enjoy
D
