There is a thread about this on OTIB but I already knew this was happening from my news feed. The Tap & Barrel, the Albert, the Black Cat and the London Inn have all closed. I never really used the Albert or the London, but I frequented the other 2 quite a lot in my younger days. The hospitality industry, particularly pubs, have taken a real battering over the past 20 or so years, with high taxes, the smoking ban, Cost of living crisis and then COVID lockdowns. I'm sure that we will see many more of our old favourite watering-holes turned into faceless flats within a short time. I very nearly went into the pub business when I was younger - Mrs R&W and I both had hospitality experience and we had several interviews with breweries back in the 1990s. We even looked at the 3 Lions (it was called something else at the time - the Three Tuns??). I am SOOO glad we never went for it. Bl00dy hard work, massively long hours, hardly ever able to take a holiday and VERY difficult to make decent money - especially if you are 'tied' and have a brewery or chain company creaming off your profits. Hats off to anyone who sticks with it (didn't Shinycitylad own a pub??)
Our paths probably crossed at some time in the Tap!! Me and mates from Highridge went there regularly after it first opened and we all had our first taste of Space Invaders and Donkey Kong there!! Good days!!
Remember going to the tap and barrel quite regular for a short while back in the day, didn’t they have space invaders or something similar in kind of table high glass machines? , if that makes sense.
Apparently (hot off the press) the Black Cat is to reopen…….. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/one-four-closed-bedminster-pubs-8311842
My mate and I would go there on a night out - and the Black Cat, before driving back via the Cross Hands and Winford Arms back up to Dundry for the last few in the Dundry Inn (we both lived in Dundry). Drink Driving wasn’t as socially unacceptable back in the early 1980s as it is (rightfully so) now.
YEP also used to have a table thing with a sort of star wars theme shooting down aliens as they flew through space .. really annoying the noises they made some pubs had 2 a wall one and a table one ....
Think it was a B&B Shiny went into. My mate had a pub in Gloucester for years. He says the smoking ban and supermarket prices that hit them the hardest. Before the ban the hardened drinkers could sit at the bar or watch the sports on TV’s etc. Once they were told they had to go outside in some cold shelter (usually by doors so smoke covered you walking in) that they choose to sit at home drinking. Even though you don’t wake up stinking of stale smoke, pubs back then had charm and character. Now the youth have moved onto prinks (as my kids call it) where they drink getting ready and go out about 10 or 11 to clubs.
Yes, that’s the one, the space type one, with weird noises, very annoying for anyone not playing, great to play though & very addictive.
That’s not a new phenomenon, I used to do that as a young’un, or just go to a club , my dad used to say both me and my sister used to go out when it was time to be coming home.
I smoked to the early 70's pub tables back then had ash trays and beer mats our club bunkroom had a ceiling.. just recently re done with new plaster, covered in beer mats from all over the world! it is 35ft x 12ft = 420 sq ft? x that by 9 [ 12 to sq ft!] = 3800 ish... in attic is? was a box about 2ft x 3ft x 18" deep jam packed with spares! how often do you see a beer mat now! How many pubs have lost ash trays to "home enthusiasts" ... [ collectors or momento opportunists! ] Very few pubs now seem to have slot machines? My local, keep my pewter pot there since about 1970! ish still has real ale ... like real ale no gas propellant to affect its flavour or texture! Funny thing is though smoking ... hardly anyone going there does out of 30 regular mates none smoke, other groups I know none smoke .. but there are a couple in clubs I mix with but almost all females!
I hated clubs when I was growing up. Vile places full of testosterone fuelled pricks looking for a fight and molls trying to get them to fight. I also hated having to adhere to a dress code - as if not wearing trainers or jeans somehow made someone less violent…… There were only 2 clubs I used to frequent; the Alexander Club (members only) in Clifton and La Rocca on the Triangle. I think La Rocca still exists - although Ive not been in there since the mid 90s. They were great places - wear what you want and the dance floor was in an annex so you didn’t have to scream into each other’s ears to hold a conversation.
dress code back when I did the rounds was a suit usually cost 2 or 3 weeks wages!! a tie and shirt mostly white / or Blue polished shoes .. see your face in them! SHORT BACK AND SIDES or DA!
I’ve been to the Black Cat a few times over the years With the Wetherspoons almost right opposite it, I’m amazed the London Inn has kept going for so long
Late 70’s my local was the Golden Cockrell next to Highridge United hut/ground. Quite common to go from there to the Star Judo club on Highridge Green, then to the Kings Head. As Bristol licensing hours meant last orders at 10.30 we would then shoot down the road to the Winford (in Somerset) for a couple before last orders at 11!! Then on to the Towns Talk!!!
