The British public | Page 5 | Vital Football

The British public

These days, I wouldn`t go to the Borough Market for a drink whatever the time or day. It`s a young person and tourist domain now, I don`t miss it at all. It seems that most of the character pubs in the Borough (Borough , not exclusively the market) have gone; demolished & turned into apartments or refurbed as a Slug & Lettuce type place. I can understand why people, especially younger people, like it there as there is more of a buzz around than when I was local to that area.
 
Just to counter the "we are all going to hell in a handcart" it isn't always terrible.

Most of the public seem to be sensible. Obviously, out of 67 million there are also some morons. Tankerton, during weekdays at least, seems to be free of them.

Ps, much though I'm desperatr foe the pub, a Saturday restart seems ludicrous to me.


It's not the law. There's nothing stopping them reopening 2 days later on the 6th.
 
Still love going to the Market Porter and Barrow Boy and Banker (if it's not too busy). I still find The Globe a good pub (was in there when it caught fire) The Wheatsheaf is not what it was since it's been re-opened and The Sheaf was better when it was Becky's Dive Bar. A good addition is The Rake a tiny pub specialising in bottled beers. Bunch of Grapes is OK. Never liked the Southwark Tavern, but the Old King's Head is best for a meet before a Gillingham game in the area (Charlton, Millwall) as it's a little bit off the beaten track. Guess I've missed a couple off, but I would not consider them BM pubs. Happy days.
 
I agree with '58 and SE1Gills about the government decision to open on a Saturday in July, which will probably be a hot day and no time restrictions in terms of they are gonna be open from late morning, spoons etc...unbelievable!

I honestly think the scenes will be similar to if England were to win the World Cup, it will be carnage all over the country on Saturday 4th July.

Every young lad up and down the country will already be assembling their squads via whatsapp groups for a big "session" on that day. I am glad that bar staff will be back in work but just wish them good luck as it will be hell for them dealing with all the drunks.

Also, if there is a limit on how many pints you can have, good luck to Donna the barmaid trying to tell Tony and his boys that although they've had just 3 pints and been cooped up for months that's his lot and they've gotta leave the premises. Nightmare secarnio coming up I reckon that whole day/weekend.

Unfortunately if you give the public the opportunity to behave like a doughnut there are enough out there to do so. I personally wouldn't head to a beach like Bournemouth when its blinding hot as knew it would be way too busy in general let alone during a pandemic but it was weeks if not months ago now when Boris said people can go to the beach, so I don't get why people are so shocked at the outcome.

As for those leaving loads of rubbish around they need to take personal responsibility and they're being disrespectful to the locals who live there.
Yeah some of my mates were trying to organise a 'sesh' on the 4th. Gradually they've realised it's not worth it. Pubs will be at a reduced capacity and the entire country will consider going so the chances of even getting a table anyway will be slim.

The meat heads are guaranteed to be out looking to get pass out drunk. Don't want to be around that when they inevitably kick off with each other.

My dad's pub has never has security but they're bringing some in for the reopening.

I feel sorry for the bar staff and then later in the night for the Police.
 
These days, I wouldn`t go to the Borough Market for a drink whatever the time or day. It`s a young person and tourist domain now, I don`t miss it at all. It seems that most of the character pubs in the Borough (Borough , not exclusively the market) have gone; demolished & turned into apartments or refurbed as a Slug & Lettuce type place. I can understand why people, especially younger people, like it there as there is more of a buzz around than when I was local to that area.

Market Porter and Horseshoe are decent, BoG and Globe ok.

Going to the first two as there is plenty of room to stand outside- zero intention of sitting down inside at the moment.

Couple of swift pints and then back home for beers in the garden via a pit stop at the Kings Arms.
 
Still love going to the Market Porter and Barrow Boy and Banker (if it's not too busy). I still find The Globe a good pub (was in there when it caught fire) The Wheatsheaf is not what it was since it's been re-opened and The Sheaf was better when it was Becky's Dive Bar. A good addition is The Rake a tiny pub specialising in bottled beers. Bunch of Grapes is OK. Never liked the Southwark Tavern, but the Old King's Head is best for a meet before a Gillingham game in the area (Charlton, Millwall) as it's a little bit off the beaten track. Guess I've missed a couple off, but I would not consider them BM pubs. Happy days.

Not a fan of the wheatsheaf nor southwark tav, think I've only been in them both twice in 10 years.
 
Market Porter and Horseshoe are decent, BoG and Globe ok.

Going to the first two as there is plenty of room to stand outside- zero intention of sitting down inside at the moment.

Couple of swift pints and then back home for beers in the garden via a pit stop at the Kings Arms.


Forgive my nostalgia (actually that`s probably not the right word) but I remember when the pub by the railway bridge, The Anchor, (I believe) was, especially at night, as far as anyone ever ventured from the Market west along Bankside (the riverside) It was too dodgy and scary, and if you walked along there in the direction of Southwark Bridge in the dark you`d see, on the river wall, scurrying rats the size of badgers ! Always struck me as a paradox that a place right in the centre of London was always so devoid of people. Talking about mid to late 70`s, Oooh those were the days (not) !
 
Not a fan of the wheatsheaf nor southwark tav, think I've only been in them both twice in 10 years.

Haha funny that, those two are my favourites as far as BM go. Having worked around london bridge for most of the past 10 years i know most of the pubs fairly well.

The george is my fav in borough, but slightly out of the market. Southwark tavern is decent, wheatsheaf is good but always busy, but good if you can get in when its quiet.

Barrow boy and banker way too busy for me all the time, can never get a seat and they no longer show footie on tv either. And its unbearably hot in there too. Regret it every time.

The rake is decent if you want a proper beer. And market porter is decent also.

Honourable mention goes to the Horseshoe inn which is slightly further afield by the shard.

Anchor is a safe choice, but dont go there that often as every single staff leaving srinks seemed to be there back when i worked at lloyds bank (next door) so got a bit sick of it.


Incidentally, i realised the mum of one of the boys on my sons rugby team, who my wife knows quite well now was the old landlord of the gun by spitalfields market before it was sold a few years ago. That was a cracking pub about 100m from where i used to live, back in the day.
 
The Anchor used to be 10x better before it was extended and the hotel added on. The Horseshoe, I would not count as a BM pub. I'm glad no one has mentioned The Thameside Inn, a complete and utter rip off.

Anyone know if The Founders Arms (Young's non BM) is still about, had a feeling it might be demolished.
 
I am loving the fact that a thread called, 'The British Public' has developed into a discussion about which are the best boozers!
 
The Anchor used to be 10x better before it was extended and the hotel added on. The Horseshoe, I would not count as a BM pub. I'm glad no one has mentioned The Thameside Inn, a complete and utter rip off.

Anyone know if The Founders Arms (Young's non BM) is still about, had a feeling it might be demolished.
Founders Arms is still there. I walk home a few times in the summer and it normally has a large number of tourists sitting outside.
 
Back to the public, sorry. I spent half an hour on Gillingham Hight Street this morning, Mrs jogills seeking essential supply of logic puzzle books. That high street will not die unless someone shoots it, lots of people about of all ages behaving politely and doing their best to observe social distancing. I should have been cheered but it had the opposite effect on me. If that is the forseeable future then it's a desperate one and that's before the money, individual and collective, runs out. One or two shops have gone already and heaven knows how many jobs will survive the winter.

I think the public, if we are to judge them as one entity, are pretty good in the main. They have done significantly better than their leaders to date. There are many living in multiple occupation and poorly adapted flats, with no outside space, no savings, perhaps no access to a car and the imminent prospect of homelessness. If we are in the business of trashing our own at this stage in the game then I wonder what happens when teenagers have been out of school for six months and more adults feel they have nothing to lose.

Glad that I retain the ability to get angry, which saves me from despair. The only shop with people hanging about inside? The bloody betting shop! I passed the taped off childrens' playground on Woodlands Road on the way home. Let the least healthy among us huddle in front of a screen losing their last pennies but for heavens sake stop the children playing outsde, WTF!.
 
I couldn't believe that the high street couldn't even sustain a Maccy D's anymore.

When I was a kid my Dad and I had a ritual of going there before a game after driving around the M25. Thought I was losing my marbles walking down the High Street not seeing it. I got shamefully far before it dawned on me that it may not exist anymore!
 
Back to the public, sorry. I spent half an hour on Gillingham Hight Street this morning, Mrs jogills seeking essential supply of logic puzzle books. That high street will not die unless someone shoots it, lots of people about of all ages behaving politely and doing their best to observe social distancing. I should have been cheered but it had the opposite effect on me. If that is the forseeable future then it's a desperate one and that's before the money, individual and collective, runs out. One or two shops have gone already and heaven knows how many jobs will survive the winter.

I think the public, if we are to judge them as one entity, are pretty good in the main. They have done significantly better than their leaders to date. There are many living in multiple occupation and poorly adapted flats, with no outside space, no savings, perhaps no access to a car and the imminent prospect of homelessness. If we are in the business of trashing our own at this stage in the game then I wonder what happens when teenagers have been out of school for six months and more adults feel they have nothing to lose.

Glad that I retain the ability to get angry, which saves me from despair. The only shop with people hanging about inside? The bloody betting shop! I passed the taped off childrens' playground on Woodlands Road on the way home. Let the least healthy among us huddle in front of a screen losing their last pennies but for heavens sake stop the children playing outsde, WTF!.

Most days since the virus started have had long queues outside.

Plans for the high street are to take it back to having traffic running through it.
Plus, where the ex supermarket/underground car park is they are discussing changing that into flats.
 
I couldn't believe that the high street couldn't even sustain a Maccy D's anymore.

When I was a kid my Dad and I had a ritual of going there before a game after driving around the M25. Thought I was losing my marbles walking down the High Street not seeing it. I got shamefully far before it dawned on me that it may not exist anymore!

Nobody seems to know why McDonalds was closed. The media had asked but nothing came back.
 
Nobody seems to know why McDonalds was closed. The media had asked but nothing came back.
It's a private company, they don't have to justify their decision do they?

I like Gillingham High Street. Yes it's grim, but charmingly so IMO, and there's places where you can buy stuff (Sports Direct, The Works, Poundland), and good cafes / chinese. The WH Smiths is weird though, it always looks like it's shut!