Last night I made my first visit to a pub since February. Every few weeks I meet up with two good mates to have few beers, a bite to eat and put the world to rights etc. Usual old bloke stuff. I decided to walk down to The Angel (other boozers are available), a decision I immediately regretted. I will be honest and say that like a child getting nearer and nearer to the prize my walking pace picked up considerably, I was making a fair trot time I got within the vicinity of said hostelry.
We arrived and were shown to our booked table, booking a table to have a drink! It is all working well at The Angel, plenty of sanitisation stuff everywhere to allay your fears and a one way system for good measure. The three pints of Doombar were ordered, (other beers were not available on this occasion) and arrived at the table. The glasses were picked up, they were examined, they were chinked and finally after an awfully long time they were disposed of in a coupe of measured gulps. Fish and chips added in to the mix and job done. Then came the bombshell. the manageress who had came out on our arrival to say she was wondering when we would turn up, announced that because it was so quiet they would be closing at 9pm. The obvious joke of ok 12 pints of Doombar then didn’t get the approval it deserved.
Thing is fellow Edgers it is clear. We do have to overcome some of our fears and get back out into the big wide world. I speak as somebody with a serious illness that puts me in the risk category for good measure. There is talk of a winter resurgence, well if that is the case best you make the most of your new freedoms in the last remaining summer and early autumn months. The waitress did make a remark that we are paying her wages, true, but she speaks for many in that industry. Some of my own household also work in the hospitality sector and others have their own fledgling start up businesses. We need to help them, even The Edge depends on everybody getting back out there and bringing confidence to the advertisers that pay for EE not to be back at Tesco’s!
But back to the beer, we managed to neck down 2.5 pints, fish and chips and sticky toffee pudding in 1.5 hours. We were standing back out on Broomfield Road just after 9pm. It was momentous. I decided to walk home despite the offer of a pick up from Mrs M. A decision I immediately regretted, again.
And what was the power of three. Well I trundled back up School Lane warm in the glow of ale, food and friendship. Zoom and Whats App are ok but sitting down with real people will never be beaten.
One Response
Tut all this talk of boozing Motco!
Great article sir, I frequent The Whate Hart, 5 min walk from my home in Little Waltham, and i honestly think I’m doing my bit to support the economy! I have to say I only do it because we can sit outside beneath a brolly and a very effective heater. I would not sit indoors. But here’s the thing, that pub would’ve been rammed from early to late at weekends and most days too, how they survive with the scattering of people they get I do not know.
These are very difficult times for the pubs and restaurants I can’t imagine they are making money I think we are, as your waitress said, just paying the wages.