Firstly, I must apologise for the irregularity of my recent posts. Unfortunately, we have a sick puppy at home, and aside from the vet visits, he does need pretty constant attention. He is on the mend, so hopefully, I will be able to get back on here most days.
So, this will be the first of several visits investigating the British public house. Later posts will detail more of the specifics, but today, I am more concerned with the disappearance of so many old pubs.
I started playing darts in local leagues at the age of 13. Okay, that was quite a few years ago, but it is disturbing how many of the pubs I used to play in have gone. Considering the fact that many of the pubs had been around for at least a hundred years - and many that were two or three hundred years old - it is scary to see what has happened in the last two or three decades. I accept progress, and changes in culture, but the pubs and inns of Great Britain form such a huge part of the national heritage.
Business may have declined, as more people are staying indoors on their computers, and the younger generation are more interested in the club scene, but still... One of the things about the "local" pub was that it was the centre of the local community; a meeting place so to speak. Sure, some went there just to get drunk, but it was the general atmosphere of such places that was so appealing. With oak beams, and a big, roaring open fire, the typical pub was a great place for a night out. So many pubs had wonderful kitchens, and provided some of the best - and cheapest - food that Britain had to offer. They were even great venues for dates!
The pub culture has seen a decline all over the UK, but seems much more evident in London and the southeast. Even without venturing into London itself, here are some of the pubs in which I used to play, that are no longer around.
The Cambridge Arms, Kingston-upon-Thames.
One of the best known darts venues in the country, frequented by many of the top players, the site is now home to a block of flats.
The Cricketers, Wrythe Green, Carshalton.
I used to play for this pub also, but now, it too is a residential area.
The St. Helier Arms, Carshalton.
This one is a little different. Only a few hundred yards from home, The Arms was a noted venue for live music. However, it was also known as a hangout for local criminals, and it is probably best that the pub no longer exists. Still sad, though...
The Morden Tavern, Morden.
I never played for a team at The Tavern, but represented the pub (after winning a playoff) in the Cockney Classic on Thames TV. I'm not exactly sure what is going to happen there, but the pub is no more.
The Angel, Sutton.
The last I heard, I believe some kind of a store was going to be built on the site.
The Dolphin, Sutton.
Again, I am not sure what is happening on the site, but it is no longer a pub.
The Plough, Wimbledon.
Not somewhere I played competitively, but somewhere we used to meet up up and play darts before going to speedway (it is right opposite Wimbledon Stadium). It is now a tiling store.
The Eagle, Croydon.
Another well-known darts venue for many years, it is now a community centre. At least they have retained the building, and the name; it is The Eagle Community Centre.
Other pubs in the area to have disappeared include The Bull, Mitcham (I used to work right next door), The Star, Mitcham, The Rose, Sutton (that went a few years earlier, and is now the Co-Op), and The Grove, South Wimbledon (been standing empty for years).
That is a lot in a relatively small area, and there are many, many more that are just a memory.
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