This was the first pub I ever had a pint in, I was 15 at the time. We were allowed in the small room to the right as you entered. Two things I will never forget about that room, the pinball machine... where the highest score of the week earned you a gallon of bitter. If you put you coin in and started a new game as the score board was resetting you could tilt it and the numbers would be way up and possible get you the score. Managed it a few times. The other thing is a 'Pie' or what had been a pie, some say pork, some say meat. It was in a recess in a lintel over the very small bar, more of a serving hatch than a bar. The pie was legionary.. and had been there many years. I recall also a bald headed chap, his name escapes me now... I got to know him very well and we'd always have a chat and share a joke or two.... The reason I got to know him so well was he was the court usher, at Hyde Juvenile and Magistrates court. He was a proper gentleman and never once looked down me at that time. I was gutted when he died suddenly. Harold also collected Guinness Items, He had the original Toucan Lamp, The 3 Flying Toucans, a Zoo Keeper, and a set of animals... an Ostrich with a glass of Guinness stuck in its throat, a Seal with a bottle balanced on its nose, a Kangaroo with a Pint in its pouch.. There were a few more which I can recall at the moment.. He had much more as well. Harold let me have two small Guinness Bottles and give me two of the flying toucans, it took me years to get the full set. He retired to Dowson Road, where I believe he was robbed of a collection of Gold Sovereigns and Krugerrands. That was the last I heard about him... He was a great landlord, and though he let us in drinking he would not serve us to many... and never encourage us in the best room.
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This was the first pub I ever had a pint in, I was 15 at the time. We were allowed in the small room to the right as you entered. Two things I will never forget about that room, the pinball machine... where the highest score of the week earned you a gallon of bitter. If you put you coin in and started a new game as the score board was resetting you could tilt it and the numbers would be way up and possible get you the score. Managed it a few times.
The other thing is a 'Pie' or what had been a pie, some say pork, some say meat. It was in a recess in a lintel over the very small bar, more of a serving hatch than a bar. The pie was legionary.. and had been there many years.
I recall also a bald headed chap, his name escapes me now... I got to know him very well and we'd always have a chat and share a joke or two.... The reason I got to know him so well was he was the court usher, at Hyde Juvenile and Magistrates court. He was a proper gentleman and never once looked down me at that time. I was gutted when he died suddenly.
Harold also collected Guinness Items, He had the original Toucan Lamp, The 3 Flying Toucans, a Zoo Keeper, and a set of animals... an Ostrich with a glass of Guinness stuck in its throat, a Seal with a bottle balanced on its nose, a Kangaroo with a Pint in its pouch.. There were a few more which I can recall at the moment.. He had much more as well. Harold let me have two small Guinness Bottles and give me two of the flying toucans, it took me years to get the full set. He retired to Dowson Road, where I believe he was robbed of a collection of Gold Sovereigns and Krugerrands. That was the last I heard about him... He was a great landlord, and though he let us in drinking he would not serve us to many... and never encourage us in the best room.
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