| |
Never mind wine bars and bistros, support your local
• THE demise of a community is generally regarded as the result of poor housing, unemployment and people moving out to find a better standard of living.
This is true, but another reason that is overlooked is the framework that underlay the fabric of any community and that is the local pub.
The importance of them is vastly underrated in this world of wine bars and bistros, whose main aim is to sell you food that you don’t want and frown upon you if you have the audacity to laugh and talk out loud. The local pub has been around since early man sat on a bunch of grapes by accident an decided not to waste the juice.
The word local speaks for itself, not just that it’s the nearest pub but the one that is preferred by people who go there, for conversation about football, politics and any other topic that arises.
Many, including myself, get a warm feeling when walking in and being greeted by name by friendly publicans and bar staff.
Sadly, these bright and cheery lights among the gloom of the stampede of redevelopment that is all around us, have dwindled over the years to a few precious oases, where you can feel at ease and leave your worries at the door.
There used to be so many pubs like this but now the Cock Tavern, St Aloysius and the Eastnor in Somers Town and The Sovereign on the Regent’s Park estate are the standard bearers for an institution that has been a way of life, despite two world wars and the Depression between them. So support your local, because when they are gone, we will have gone.
BOB AUSTIN
Tolmers Square, NW1
|
 |
|
| |
