Sad Times

I just discovered that an old haunt of mine in London has closed its doors. Let me explain.

I was twenty two years of age and had just scored my first real job. The location of the office was set in a remote part of a chaotic yet affluent part of central. You could literally take twenty steps and escape the noise and chaos of London town and feel like you had escaped to the countryside (somewhat). I would begin my mornings taking a stroll from the tube station up and through Shepherds Market to a street called Charles Street that would lead me invitingly towards the pub that I would forever know as The Red Lion. What a place. What a time I had as a young kid drinking the night away. Sipping fine beer, leaning against the bar trying not to fall over in front of my older colleagues. Embarrassing...no...fun - HELL YES. I spent many a Friday night sleeping on the offices reception sofa for having missed the last train home. Much to the delight of my boss who found it hilarious.


Times change and living so far from my home makes me regret certain things in my life. It might sound daft but I see things changing from a far away vantage point and it makes me sad. No more red route-master buses, no more drinking on the tube, no more red telephone boxes and so many other things. Is an English pub without smoking still a pub? Its certainly saved some lives but at what cost. The steady decline of the British pub as we know it and the livelihood of many a landlord. Obviously the current state of the economy doesn't help. It probably wouldn't mean as much to me if I were living there. Who knows. Maybe I'd take it all in my stride.

Photo credit: Roll The Dice

Here's to you my friend. Thank you for the memories. May you be brought back to life sooner rather than later. Cheers.