Not long ago every town had at least one bank, usually several, as the different banking companies competed for the contents of your wage packet. Most, until recent times, were built in a solid, grand style no doubt to convince potential customers, that their bank was the most important and certain to keep your money safe.
Then 'virtual' money arrived and those local banks were no longer needed as receptacles for your physical money, and so they closed down in droves, much to the consternation of old folk who didn't understand (or trust) virtual money, and had to resort to stashing their cash under the mattress.
However one bank's undesirable assets are another mans treasure, step forward Timothy Randall Martin, and his Weatherspoons empire. Tim knows a useful old bank building when he sees one. I understand that just Googling (whatever that is) 'Weatherspoon Old Bank' will bring up a list of such buildings which he has re-purposed into thoroughly useful premises for purveying real ales, quality/value for money food and other stuff.
It can also be said without fear of contradiction that Tim invented the trend for punning names for his ex-bank pubs, which was later taken up by micros. For example a quick search through his list of premises will reveal several across the British Isles named 'Standing Order'.
And so I finally get to the point of this post, as on a fine February afternoon, friend David and I call in at one of the Weatherspoons 'Standing Order's in Southampton High Street.
Yes it's the classic Weatherspoons formula in an old bank, but when you're on to a winner why bother changing it? There are plenty of cosmetically 'different' pubs out their who struggle to get enough customers to earn a crust. Not so at the Standing Order, which, though a large premises, was bustling with the usual full spectrum of customers, from young to old.
 |
| Spacious...customers all cunningly hidden in a multitude of alcoves... |
Our first task was to study the real ales on offer at the two banks (no pun intended) of five hand pumps, while the bar staff keenly waited to serve us. Until we took a little too long to make our minds up, and then they got bored and went off to serve someone else.
 |
| Doom beer finds the competition tough in Spoons.... |
Finally two pints of Peerless Brewery's Oatmeal Stout were selected and Weatherspoons vouchers deployed. It cannot be emphasised enough that anyone who can retail a very good pint of real ale 'down South' for 2.15 GBP (never mind 1.65 GBP with voucher) deserves a knighthood for services to the community.
 |
| Perfectly Peerless...like Tim |
We found a seat, enjoyed the stout and thought about something to eat. As it turned out, Thursday is 'Curry Club' in Spoons...
 |
| Join the curry club... |
...difficult to resist a curry with poppadom, nan, mango chutney and another pint of real ale thrown in for 6.95 GBP , so a Rogan Josh and Chicken Tikka Marsala it was...
 |
| It was delicious...honest.... |
 |
| If hobgoblins played rugby... |
...you can always rely on Marstons/Wychwood to produce a very good ale for the 6 Nations...
 |
| Lacings looking as solid as Dan Biggar... |
We sat there contented, taking in Spoon-life...
 |
| A long view of Spoon-life... |
...including the usual historic artefacts...
 |
| From an age when cruise liners had lots of proper funnels... |
...and the unexpected....
...like the customers mug that toppled over the moment that his latte refill started to pour...
 |
| Unavoidably blurred action shot... |
 |
| Ooh-er - check the next inspection time before using the urinal... |
Long live Weatherspoons...great formula...always capable of a surprise or two...
 |
| ...sit up straight there and pay attention...! |
"a quick search through his list of premises will reveal several across the British Isles named 'Standing Order'."
ReplyDeleteI'm always up for a good pun. :)
"And so I finally get to the point of this post, "
Ok, it's been a busy week (may relate why in a PS) but I did not see that coming! (blush)
"customers all cunningly hidden in a multitude of alcoves..."
I think 'you lot' (that is; you Pub Men who do blogs... you know who you are) should have a pub crier, so to speak, who enters before you to announce your arrival so all the current customers can band together for a group photo. :)
"at the two banks (no pun intended) "
Still worthy of a slow golf clap so... (slow golf clap). :)
"Doom beer finds the competition tough in Spoons...."
I would've gone for the Oatmeal Stout.
"Finally two pints of Peerless Brewery's Oatmeal Stout were selected"
See! :)
"deserves a knighthood for services to the community."
No argument here!
"If hobgoblins played rugby..."
LOL. I kinda get that.
"from an age when cruise liners had lots of proper funnels..."
All the better to signal distress when needed with black smoke emanating from them? ;)
"Unavoidably blurred action shot..."
Unavoidable maybe... but understandable indeed. :)
"(what - any member of the opposite sex - or a member of staff...?)"
Good catch. Mayhap they just could've said 'any staff member'... though 'staff' and 'member' might still indicate 'male' to most. ;)
"always capable of a surprise or two..."
By jove! I think you've encapsulated the meaning of a meaningful life right there.
Cheers
PS - "'different' pubs out their "
I'll bite. Out their what? ;)
PPSS - I had planned to catch up on older posts from 'you lot' this week as my wife is 'oop' north visiting a gaggle of relatives. I thought I'd have oodles of time to peruse the blogs. Instead, I'm floundering madly trying to keep up with the sudden uptick in sales from her food truck - that I graciously agreed to run during her absence. Needless to say this is the only post for me today; and I only did one on Martin's blog (the one that had comments closed originally) yesterday.*
* But very glad I checked yours first today. :)
Glad you did too Russ - top quality and very entertaining commenting (as usual).
DeleteDare I suggest that your good lady - chose her week 'oop north' wisely - but somehow forgot to mention that business may be brisk while she was gone...? :)
While I’m tackling the tricky issues...
"I'll bite. Out their what? ;)”
...I’ve thought long and hard on this one - must have meant something sensible - but sadly can’t remember what it was (PS - it definitely was not a grammatical error ;)
“...should have a pub crier...”
Do you think Si might be up for the job...?
“...though 'staff' and 'member' might still indicate 'male' to most. ;)”
I see where you going with that ...good bit of literal thinking...
PS - I knew Weatherspoons must be something to do with the meaning of life... :)
Ta for the kind reply (and praise). :)
DeleteBelieve it or not every time my wife goes away there's usually an uptick in sales. I think she tells them all to buy more while she's gone so she can try to convince me to drive the truck all the time. :)
With regards to "their" I would've put money on it being a grammatical error, so now I'm intrigued.
As for Si... Si? Cor blimey that would be the mismatch of the century!
Oh and praise where praise is due. It was a long bloody day on Thursday and choosing your post to read before calling it a day was a wise move on my part. :)
Cheers
Thanks Russ - but - you’re making me feel bad now - ok - it was a grammatical error... :)
ReplyDeleteI’m off to write another post now - before Martin spots these comments and ‘outs us’ in his blog, for running a mutual appreciation society...
:)
I have stayed away for a few days to put Martin off the scent. :)
Delete(actually just too darn busy with mundane real life stuff) ;)