Thinking about lost pubs. When I was a kid there were six pubs between the Artichoke on Magdalen Gates and the Cat & Fiddle - now there are none. When I first started drinking there were 7 pubs on Ber Street - now there are none unless the Gates has reopened. Also at that time there were 7 pubs on Hall Road from the top to the roundabout - now there are just 2. The number of pubs lost in the last 60 years is incredible.
I have memories of that Pub as well. In the days when opening hours were restricted the Council allowed for the benefit of the market one Pub to be open ' out of hours ' on a Saturday. The Raven opened from 6 to 9, another Pub from 9 to11 and the Fruiterers opened all afternoon. Some bright spark at work worked out that as the American Club was licenced to serve drink between 11pm and 6am you could drink the clock round and suggested a charity sponsored drinkathon. My mate & I were the only two idiots to take it on - after all half a pint an hour would only be 12 pints!! Have you ever tried making a half last an hour? So a pint an hour would only be 24 pints spread over 24 hours etc etc. By mid afternoon we completely out of it and fast asleep!!!
Blimey, yes that's brought a memory. The people next door to my grandparents house had a little shop, their son was what is now called 'Down's syndrome' a massive boy head and shoulders above me, but I used to take him to games there, he loved it, in later years I took n him to reserve games at Carrow Road. Nanny had an advertising poster painted on the end of her house, my brother says it was for 'Frys Chocolate' I have some paperwork that says she was paid £8 a year for it. Sorry seem to have gone a bit off topic.
Wow, 1950, the Fruiterers! That is one serious blast from the past - used to be busy (as I recall) on Thursday day times, as the big post office in those days was on Davey Place - and Thursday was giro day One or two "unsavoury" characters used to get in there. And me, on the way to the bank Long gone and now incorporated into W H Smiths, as I recall.
This Pub was sold off by Courage in the 70's and opened as a freehouse. It was very popular and I spent many a happy hour there and in the Mitre nearby which sold a good pint of Directors. I was surprised that in the end it failed and closed along with the Mitre. Sorry to hog this thread but it is a subject close to my heart.
Nor was the bar of the Compasses on Upper King Street! My final post of the night - anybody used to drink in the Shrub House at the bottom of Exchange Street? If you did between 1973 & 1977 you will have seen me!!
Well, my first visit to Norwich/Norfolk was in 1970 and have only really lived here for he last 25 years, so I don't remember a lot of the pubs that have been mentioned. I have however seen many disappear in my time here and I'm sure we'll lose several more in years to come. I'm also convinced that the better pubs will survive, but will have to diversify to stay in business.
Certainly do. Didn't he have a 24 hour cafe on Yarmouth Road at some point? Remember often using it, sure it was him.
Ipshit Tavern, the chap who ran in those days was a massive "Doors" fan, so the music was always great.
I'm older and wiser - so don't even try!!!! I only go for no more than 10 pubs during the festival. CAMRA are also bringing their annual festival to Norwich in November - after the Norwich Beer Festival (though I thought that wasn't to start till next year!!)
Just checked the list of pubs again and the answer is probably no. If you tried that you wouldn't make it to day two!!
