Pick me up - # 281
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Another in the "Bar Fly" series. Sometimes lying on the floor helps to produce a good photo.
This one has to be in colour to capture the warm and homely "tidy clutter" of a nice English pub bar counter: the nuts, the crisps, the sporting trophies and the team photos from regulars, and of course the pumps, all lined up, dressed and polished to display the badge of a good independent ale brewer.
But the details I like most, don't know why, are the coathooks under the bar. There is a bar in Aberdeen where they have this kind of thing, plus a brass striking plate along the underneath of the bar for that dying breed, the smokers (woops - pun intended). It gives you the impression that you come into the bar, divest yourself of outer garments, and arrange yourself for a long leisurely lunch. (Then you pick yourself up from where Chucker obviously ended one afternoon)
ReplyDelete@richard....well spotted. I did consider mentioning the hooks, so conveniently placed to attach a block and tackle to assist hauling up the fallen. I thik these are intended for rugby players who cannot afford sports bags and need somewhere to hang their boots: it's that sort of 1894 vintage place.
ReplyDeleteWhich pub? The rugby bar I remember falling about in is "The Sun", along from Richmond Theatre
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to blame photography for ending up lying on the floor of a pup! Good one, Chuckeroon!
ReplyDeleteThose hooks. Are they really for rugby players or is that a Chuckeroon joke? Might people hook a dog lead to them? I guess in the old days people didn't take dogs into pubs, did they? For all I know, maybe they don't now. I live in France where all is possible, remember.
Looks a great bar to lean against and put the world to rights with a glass of something good in the right hand.
@richard....Triple Crown near the Richmond grounds you would pass walking from Isleworth.
ReplyDelete@Jilly....hmmm, good idea. Ideal for hooking up the whippet on one hook and hanging the ferret bag on the other. Of course dogs can go into pubs. You need them to guide you home.
ReplyDeleteDid you take the photo before or after you had a pint or two?
ReplyDeleteI'm back again - it's amazing how much fun you can get from a pub photo. I've been perusing the large version and have some more observations. I approve that "Robinsons" has taken over "Pedigree" (an overrated beer in my opinion), and I like the SA font label above the bar (Brains SA aka Skull Attack, I believe) which reminds me of happy and hazy days spent in Cardiff. I like the fact that the bar has it's memorabilia, but isn't turned out like some faux antique shop. And the draught beers and europop are kept separate in their own part of the bar. Coffee machine is a bit of a let down though...
ReplyDeleteThe hooks are for hanging your jacket (or handbag!) on. It's from the days when you'd stand at the bar and have a pint or two.... or five.
ReplyDeleteMe, coming from 'up north', where pubs had more beer, less wine (see blackboard in background) and you'd stand all night at the bar, like Jilly said, and put the world to rights. You'd have to have access to your wallet or ciggies close at hand.
One of your better ones for me Chuckeroon. I'd been on many pub floors but never had such good focus.
Great picture. I love the warm tones and feel of the pub. I've held up the floor in a bar a few times in my life too!
ReplyDeleteIt's Sunday here and what better place to visit than a pub. Methinks I'll have a pint or two while watching my football team this afternoon.
Cheers!