Travelling in Engerland
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Phew! The last couple of weeks have been manic, but goodly manic. Bobo and I jetted down to Yorkshire in his Ford Focus and stayed in an Ibis (Or 'Can't-Abide-is' as I later christened it after discovering a stray bicycle under the linoleum covered stairs). It was very clean and very cheap.
The only thing more underwhelming than the Ibis, was the English theme pub next door, called something imaginative like the Noble Comb. It was like an oversized works canteen with fake wooden beams, an assortent of incongrous lights that look like they were a BHS job lot, some fake stained glass panels at the door, a dodgy juke box, a cardboard cut out of a massive fruit shoot bottle with balloons round it and some saggy, faded craclers which were being used to entice customers to sample their Christmas 'Fayre.' there was nothing fair about it, it brought out all my Edinburgh snobbishness. The main crowd puller of the week semed to be a Wednesday evening event from 5-8pm for the laydeeeees. It was a sale of handbags, jewellery and accessories. Boy was I sad to miss that chestnut lol.
Posts
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 9:09:00 PM
God, I hate the forced jollity of those kind of bars/restaurants. And those lino covered stairs must have been fabulous!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 9:22:00 PM
Your wonderful description of the English theme pub reminds me why I never miss England. Well, except for a few cultural wonders like Tate Modern. When the Ladies Nights feature handcuffs, cigars and lawnmowers I'll know England has changed....
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 9:39:00 PM
Sitting in a dodgy pub at 5pm on a weekday evening being sold handbags and jewellery? Add in a make-up demonstration and you have one of my worst nightmares right there. *shudder*
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 9:46:00 PM
Ten me that the jukebox was playing Robbie Williams and my mental image in complete.
Regardless I'm sure it had nothing on the charms of the McPubs of Edinburgh, (or as they say Edinbro) so beloved by visiting 'Scotch-Americans' in their ten bob 'drinking-kilts' bought on Princes St.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 7:40:00 AM
NMJ: Before we went inside, I joked that the Ibis must use lino floor coverings, I never believed it would be true lol!
Nick: Why do people assume that because you are a woman, you will enjoy themed evenings where you 'enjoy' being sold cheap perfume, jewellery, candles (?), tupperware and other general useless rubbish?
Loth: I was imagining the much cheapness of the goods and wondering just how much I could buy for a fiver. Oh and make up would have been the icing on the cake, especially if it was done by an Avon lady.
GVH: It was playing 'Born in the USA,' by Bruce Chestnut, along with various drab 80s hit that failed to bring any joy to the faces of the morbidly obese couples playing on the slot machines.
Edinburgh pubs can be worse than this, GVH. Some open at 7am and have not changed their furniture since the 80s, with lurid swirly patterned carpets and dark wood interiors.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 8:22:00 AM
Hulla, if you're one of Sub's new invitees, can you ask her to email me at nickhereandnow@hotmail.com? She asked me to email her but she's already invite only! Thanks.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 5:11:00 PM
Gawd, what a nightmare, Hull. It resonated of every soggy evening I've ever had.
Stiff uppers called for.
XO
WWW
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 9:28:00 PM
Nick: No probs, I have let her know your address.
WWW: Stiff uppers and a poor eye for interior design lol.