I laughed at the bit violent at times. Most weekends were violent ! I recall having words with a doorman at Tiffany's and got battered by him and his mate. Now I'd have reported it but back then it was one of those things !
you certainly had to have your wits about you!
Geoff Thompsons book Watch My Back. Coventry most violent city in the UK at that time.
My mate used to get chucked out of the Parrot every week by Joe Jackson and he'd let him back in the next week and tell him 'no trouble in the club tonight'. Sure enough, He'd get chucked out and let back in the next week.
I don't drink beer so it would have to be cider. It was probably either The Jolly Colliers or The Boat Inn, Shilton Lane.
I don't remember how old I was and the Jolly Colliers is gone, the Boat Inn may still be there I'm not sure.
First illicit pint as I recall was in the bar at Whitley racket centre! Aged 15, towards the end of 1981. I was with a mate who had a very weak fluffy tache so he probably passed for nearly 17.
He got served no problem, I got the next round and the barmaid challenged me for my age - "Eighteen" I said, "Are you sure" ? She said, "Yes", I replied with my best deep voice and was promptly served.
First Pub was definitely the Silver Sword in the city centre. Upstairs in what was like an attic before it got developed into the eaterie and then as a club venue. This was also the tail end of 1981. Rumours had been going around at school that it was easy to get served there and I remember looking around the place and recognising kids from Woodlands and Caludon that I'd played football against only weeks before!
Have to fast forward twelve months for my first nightclub venture - Crimbo leave 1982 and the 'Top spot', just up from the Parsons nose, next to the Zodiac. What an almighty hovel that place was!
He got served no problem, I got the next round and the barmaid challenged me for my age - "Eighteen" I said, "Are you sure" ? She said, "Yes", I replied with my best deep voice and was promptly served.
First Pub was definitely the Silver Sword in the city centre. Upstairs in what was like an attic before it got developed into the eaterie and then as a club venue. This was also the tail end of 1981. Rumours had been going around at school that it was easy to get served there and I remember looking around the place and recognising kids from Woodlands and Caludon that I'd played football against only weeks before!
Have to fast forward twelve months for my first nightclub venture - Crimbo leave 1982 and the 'Top spot', just up from the Parsons nose, next to the Zodiac. What an almighty hovel that place was!
as a 15 year old, around 20 or so of us went on a school trip to York
on the way back we stopped at a pub, and the teacher bought us all half a lager
imagine that today!
on the way back we stopped at a pub, and the teacher bought us all half a lager
imagine that today!
W
westcountry_skyblue
Guest
The Acorn in Potters green think I was 15 but hid with my mates in a corner,Pint of black label or skol if I remember!!
They were smaller ones, set up in peoples' front rooms effectively. Could only flog you beer and nowt else, plenty of scope for prostitutes and the like to pop in, too!
They are making a bit of a comeback......a combination of the relaxation of planning laws (change of use) + the boom in both micro brewing & artisan gin distilleries......not seen any prostitutes in liverpools latest secret bar.......yet....
There's a couple on the island - Newport Ale House and Cowes Ale House. Tiny places, but they serve great beer. Most of it is CAMRA type beer, but really nice. If there's more than 10 customers, it's jam packed!
there's some great pubs on the island H. Proper old school!
Was about 14 when i entered the world of insanity.
There were some right characters in the Grapes, but bloody loved it in there.
The lock-ins were legendary.
There were some right characters in the Grapes, but bloody loved it in there.
The lock-ins were legendary.
I know. I've been barred from a couple already and I've only been here a few years!
Don't suppose you knew a lad called Dermott Bannigan? He lived just inside Fynford Rd, right by the Grapes.
Yes, i remember Dermott, he was a little older than me though.
We used to joke that he would pour his can of breaker in his cornflakes every morning he was that much of an alkie!!
Passed a few years ago of kidney problems (not surprisingly) if i remember correctly.
Yep. That was Dermott alright. He was in my class at Ullathorne. I'd heard he died many years ago of alcohol related problems. Shame really. He was okay. Good mate of mine in school. All us Irish lads tended to hang around together.
I live opposite one. It's full of weird ale drinkers with long beer stained beards.
Can't really remember but it was probably the Campbell for me as well. Would likely have been a cider or snakebite upstairs on a Saturday night.
I remember the police coming in to my school to do the 'drugs are bad' talk. They got asked about drinking and basically said they couldn't care less about under age drinkers in pubs as long as they weren't causing trouble. That would never be said now.
The craftsman aged around 15 it was a real shock to the owner when we went in there for my mates 18th as he said I have been serving you lot for three years it would have been cider for me.
Originally had a Coventry Climax engine in a display... hence the name... worked there when I was 20. Nello‘s was opposite... He made upstairs into a „Bistrotheque“. Disco with food to get the late licence. Pete Waterman started the disco with Nello. Or at least was his advisor. I worked there a few times for Nello, after closing time at the Climax.
My first beer was also 1/11d. Craven Arms, Chapelfields. 15 years old. Remember decimalisation and the price being rounded up to 10p ( 2 shillings ). We made our own halfcrowns at metalwork after official school closing time.... teachers impressed at our interest in metalwork...
Yes, which is why I created a Coventry, „Old Chapelfields Style“ pub in Kiel and put pictures of Cov and City things in it. Then moved in above it. There is full page story entitled „a small piece of Coventry“ in the internet from the local paper which explains it .... in German.
It is possible to be very British and live in the EU, even without a blue passport.
I got barred from the Wallace for a whileFirst pub barred from is a whole other thread
Local: Probably the Phantom Coach, possibly the Herald at 15 (when I started drinking)
Town: Silvers, just before I was 16.
Town: Silvers, just before I was 16.
