Time for a Pint – A Pictorial Pub Crawl

The 21st Century Pub

The pub, with origins going back several hundred years, is under threat as never before. Several reasons have been identified, most notably the availability of cheap (but often inferior) booze in supermarkets, tenancy restrictions and high rents imposed on landlords by the pub owners, and the smoking ban. Sadly, until the government recognizes that these little buildings scattered throughout the country are not only an irreplaceable community focus but also a major tourist magnet, unique to the British Isles and Ireland and contributing significantly to our national wealth, we are in danger of losing them forever.

Can I Do Anything?

Yes, turn your computer off now and go straight to the pub.

Tuesday 31 July 2012

Horden Pubs

Horden is a former coal mining colliery village situated on the East Durham coast.

The inhabitants of most colliery villages seemed to do most of their drinking in clubs. Horden, for example, had several clubs including the Conservative Club (known as the Tin Pot), the Victory club, The Legion, The Rugby Club and a most impressive building officially called the Miners Welfare but known to everyone as The Big Club. This was one of the largest buildings in the village, until its demolition in 2007/8. During its heyday it boasted several bars, a large concert room and even a library. With the demise of the colliery, the Big Club declined and shortly before its closure was little more than a drug den.

Horden did have a few pubs, notably The Bell (still open at the time of writing), The Horden Hotel, known throughout the village as The Trust (a large pub now closed), The Royal (now demolished) and The Hardwick (another large pub, now demolished).