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Pubs Of The Past

  • Thread starter Thread starter Stitcher
  • Start date Start date
My greatgran dad ranthat pub back in the 1800s WILLIAM WIGHT JENNEY his father in law had it befor him HENRY NOTT HOBDAY
 
We frequently went to The Old Railway on Curzon Street for the music, and more often than not would come away stone deaf. I used to think it was a bit of a dump, and wouldn't have gone other than for the bands.

G
 
Not being a drinker and now being in the later years of my life I do sometimes wonder what the interiors of some of these pubs were like in their heydays. I did work on the doors of some of those where they staged music evenings during the sixties and early seventies but of course in those days I was going to live forever and I was far more interested in other things.
 
The British Oak. Pershore Road, Stirchley..jpg
The British Oak on Pershore Road Stirchley.

The Great Western. Acocks Green..jpg
The Great Western, Acocks Green.
 
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Stitch, I can tell you from long personal experience that most of the city-centre pubs, especially the ones around the Market, were what you'd call 'basic' inside. I always had a taste for the products of Mr Mitchell and Mr Butler, and even as late as the early 1970's one or two of their Brum pubs still had sawdust on the floor. You had to move out into the suburbs before you found a pub with carpets, comfortable chairs, decor, etc. The Birmingham Arms in Digbeth, which I knew well, had sawdust on the floors, plain wooden benches around the walls, and just stools. The first thing you did when you sat down was balance the table with a beer-mat - if they had any beer-mats, that is. Pubs like that didn't even pretend to provide comfort - just cheap beer! Lovely!

G
 
There were exceptions Big Gee.The Old Royal Temple St.with it's oak panels,The Woodman Easy Row with it's fine carvings,The Beehive and The Cabin with their large round copper topped bars,The Gem and The Lamp,with ornate woodwork...and ornamental ladies:rolleyes:.Also the beautifully tiled Old Stone Cross in Dale End.
 
Ah yes, Ray, but the pubs you name were toffs' pubs! Back in the sixties it was only the rough dives that seemed to bother with jazz bands, which was the reason we went to them. Some of the pubs in the Jewellery Quarter were a bit more up-market, as they were used by local small businessmen, and deals would be done in them, so a better standard of comfort was indicated. Even the old Salutation on Summer Lane was a bit on the basic side when it came to customer comfort.

G
 
My dad used to partake of the nectar drink but as a child I only hav memories of pubs on the Acocks Green side of Birmingham and these pubs would have a bowls and a fishing team. My dad would be in both teams of whichever pub was his favourite at the time and he would take me to watch the bowls as well as taking me on all the fishing trips. I was never allowed inside any of the pubs. His local haunts were The Gospel Oak, The Three Maggpies, The Red Lion and he would sometimes have a drink in The New Inns.
 
Stitcher I must have missed your stint as "doorman", I too worked as a "Doorman" whilst away from the army in the late 60's in the Brighton area, one very memorable evening I was at the 'Hove' "King Alfred" swimming baths, "The Hot Chocolate" were appearing and there was a riot half way through, I often wonder if "Errol Brown" remembers the big guy in the Chequed jacket on stage with him both with chairs holding back a mob of screaming "mod's, wanting to dismember us, whilst he whispered "save the Speakers, if we lose this".
I also worked at the Rainbow Casino Club, Sillwood Street and one regular visitor was "Reg Kray".
paul
 
Hello again Paul, this may be a little off thread so I will keep it short. I worked for Mothers but was not stationed anywhere in particular as another man and myself were moved to wherever the weight was needed. I put a bit about all this on the Nightclub thread.
 
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nmb.jpgThe Brittania on Warwick Road.
Astonian will like this one because he has commented on the pub in the past.
 
Big Gee said:
Ah yes, Ray, but the pubs you name were toffs' pubs! Back in the sixties it was only the rough dives that seemed to bother with jazz bands, which was the reason we went to them. Some of the pubs in the Jewellery Quarter were a bit more up-market, as they were used by local small businessmen, and deals would be done in them, so a better standard of comfort was indicated. Even the old Salutation on Summer Lane was a bit on the basic side when it came to customer comfort.

G
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Toffs pubs ???.I don't think so Big Gee...they let me in:rolleyes:.At least 3 of them were where ladies of the night did their business..:angel:
 
Ray, I must point out that you are not as innocent as me because I do not know what a 'Lady of the night is.'
 
now ; now ray ; naurty ; naurty ;
you should not say that; by the way what do you really mean ladies of the night ; ? .ha ha;
astonian;;
 
The Gun Makers Arms in Booth Street (?) - Gun Quarter.
Photos taken yesterday..
 

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nice pics of the gunmakers arms charlie...did you do in or is that a silly question lol..

lyn
 
Ah yes...Bath Street, that was it (well, it starts with "B" doesn't it)?!!
Lyn: only went in for a peek at the inside, we'd had a drink and lunch in the Bull.
Nice friendly Slovakian chap running the place, spotlessly clean, layout similar to the Bull but more modern, smashing patio area, big snooker table in the back room.
Negatives: Music far too loud, place empty @ 2.30pm on Saturday (he's trying to get more people in at weekends, OK during the week) and a large fruit machine (one of my pet hates).
Attn of Frothy: Didn't see what ale they were selling. I wasn't with Don otherwise he'd have sampled any good stuff!
 
thanks for the info charlie..last time i was in there it left a lot to be desired but obviously new management now...may take a peek one of the days...

lyn
 
Big Gee said:
Ah yes, Ray, but the pubs you name were toffs' pubs! Back in the sixties it was only the rough dives that seemed to bother with jazz bands, which was the reason we went to them. Some of the pubs in the Jewellery Quarter were a bit more up-market, as they were used by local small businessmen, and deals would be done in them, so a better standard of comfort was indicated. Even the old Salutation on Summer Lane was a bit on the basic side when it came to customer comfort.

G
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I have been away for a couple of days and this thread has moved on three pages. Reference to The Salutation reminded me of the song "Way down in Summer Lane" and the lines

You ought to see the palm trees swaying way down Summer Lane.
Every Saturday night there’s a jubilation
Hear the Birdies singing in The Salutation
 
hi david yes there was plenty of trees standing around mst pubs in brum years ago there was very few pubs with out the trees on the rd ;
it was a pity the green society was not around to defend them in those days all around summer lane lady pool rd belgrave rd there pubs had them
so now we are ending up with no pubs nor trees in sight ; what a crazy world we live in i say ; astonioan ;;;;
 
DavidGrain said:
I have been away for a couple of days and this thread has moved on three pages. Reference to The Salutation reminded me of the song "Way down in Summer Lane" and the lines

You ought to see the palm trees swaying way down Summer Lane.
Every Saturday night there’s a jubilation
Hear the Birdies singing in The Salutation
Click to expand...

And it goes on:

There ain't no snow in Snow Hill,
No need to catch a train.
'Cos when it's winter-time in the Argentine
It's summer down Summer Lane!

I've seen at least one other verse to this ditty somewhere on the internet, but can't remember where and a quick search a moment ago didn't locate it. It might be here on the BHF somewhere. My dad used to 'perform' it when he'd had a few.

G
 
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