Do you remember the year the Rubik’s Cube was invented? It was the same year Abba won the Eurovision song contest in Brighton, Leeds topped the first division while Manchester United were relegated. David Essex topped the charts with “Gonna Make You A Star”, Ceefax was launched, Bagpuss was first aired and a pint of beer was around 22p. It was also around the time that Lord Lucan disappeared, although Jeanie says he has now stopped sending her postcards.

That year was 1974.

According to our sources it was 47 years ago that Jeanie first graced us with her bar skills and has therefore had to endure a few bar stewards in her time. Despite her small stature she was regularly seen in tow behind a vacuum cleaner and she was an expert with a mop, which many of us saw the wrong end of when caught being cheeky.

Jeanie’s service spans across six decades, nine prime ministers (Harold Wilson to Boris Johnson), and more than 12,000 episodes of Coronation Street. Only the carpet has served longer, and it doesn’t scrub up as well.

Although Jeanie will no longer be a regular member of staff you will be pleased to know that on Thursday 19th August she was awarded an honorary membership at a low-key ceremony, and we all hope she makes good use of it from now on so we can continue to enjoy her wit, wisdom and anecdotes.

If you have any favourite moments you would like to share, post them in the comments below!

On the 77th anniversary of the D-Day landings, 6th June 2021, the long awaited British Normandy Memorial has now been officially opened.

The memorial honours soldiers who died under British Command on D-Day and in the fighting that followed.

The memorial records the names of the 22,442 people who were killed on D-Day and at the Battle of Normandy.

It has been built at a cost of £30m and is situated in Ver-sur-Mer on a hillside overlooking Gold Beach, one of three beaches where forces from Britain, the US, Canada and France landed to begin the liberation of Western Europe in 1944.

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The impressive and breathtaking memorial has 160 stone columns inscribed with the names of the fallen heroes and incorporates a bronze sculpture of three charging infantrymen.

The memorial website can be found at britishnormandymemorial.org and includes a full Roll of Honour database, the story of the making of the memorial and a phone app:

“The ‘British Normandy Memorial’ app is designed to accompany you as you make your way around the Memorial site; a virtual tour guide to help enhance your experience. You can also use the app to plan your future visit or simply learn more about the Memorial and its story from wherever you are.“

We are pleased to announce that we will be reopening at midday on 2nd December.
In line with other hospitality venues there will be a number of restrictions in place – and rather than tell you what you already know, here is what you can do:

• You will be able to visit with other members of your household
• You will be able to remove your mask when sat at a table
• You will be able to order tea, coffee and soft drinks
• You will be able to play snooker, pool and darts (although no better than you were able to before)
• You will be able to consume alcoholic drinks when ordering a substantial meal
• You will be able to enjoy the company of the staff and other members (what’s two metres between friends?)
• You will be able to make use of the facilities and relax after a strenuous Christmas shopping outing
• You will be able to take advantage of our “substantial meal” discounts, with a fixed price of £1.50
• You will be able to gasp in awe at our Christmas decorations (although this is not compulsory)

Carl’s A La Carte menu is back by popular demand and will be available Tuesdays through to Sundays.

Further information can be found on our Covid-19 Updates page.

For the continued safety of our staff and members, and to minimise any risk of transmission, we are not currently admitting children or dogs.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to Contact Us, or pop in and speak to a member of staff.

We look forward to seeing you again soon!

Normal hours will resume, and in line with government policies you will find a number of changes to the way the club will operate for the time being. For a more detailed explanation please see our Covid-19 Updates page.