Pubs with an escape route.

[Colin Hawken]

Does anyone remmber the two pubs near Southampton's Eastern Docks? The Grapes in Oxford Street and the Oriental in Queens Terrace,next door to Tommy Whites. Although the pubs were in different streets,they backed onto each other. If you were in one of them and someone you didn't want to see came in you could dive into the Gents toilet,shoot through the door into the back yard,then leg it into the other pub. Didn't matter which pub you were in there was an escape route. This fact was not known to a large percentage of the population but it was known to seafarers the World over. The Oriental and Tommy Whites are long gone. The Grapes is still there but I don't know whether or not it's still open.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi Colin, Hi shipmates, I think I had a few in those pubs. Do you remember the hole in the wall ? I never found out if that was the real name ? Why would a pub in them day need an escape route? the price of drinks were much cheaper then today you need a 2nd morgage to buy a round of drinks in most pubs

[Pete Leonard (Bruno)]

There is always that old chestnut about Board of Trade Sports day on one of the Castle boats. The man in the bowler hat asked a young lad standing by his lifeboat " where's the gripes?" and the lad quick as a flash said " opposite the Oxford sir"

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Colin
Yes mate i do recall both those Pubs,and me and my late Brother (Bless his soul) used to be in there quite often,the Juniper Berry of course being our favourite!
They wern't too far fromthe good old Jelicoe Seamns Mission.in Canute Road!

As i was fairly new at first to these Pubs,i never knew about all the inns and outs so to speak,but recall an incident in the one Pub!

There ws quite a hectic Barney started one Night and to cut it short,i remember seeing a few Lads darting into the Gents,now this puzzled me at the time,as i thought now why would someone run to the Toilet ,surely that was a definate trap to get waylaid!
But these geezers never reappeared,and it was only afterwards that i was told about the Escape route!
Yes indeed a good scapa exit!

So for Louis this is one example of why an Escape oute was needed

Peter L
Good one about the "Gripes" oh sorry "Grapes" haha!

Cheers


PS I was dating a nice Girl then who worked in the Oriental,had to duck and dive with her though as she was hitched to another Seaman,but he was always away ,and i am sure he ducked and dived with others as well!
Oh how naughty we were!
Not nice though!!

[happy daze john in oz]

The Grapes, yes I do recall it along with the Bargate, Horse and Groom, Scullards, Juniper Berry, and others that are now lost in ther mists of time. Also recall the bar at the station and having a few there waiting for the train home.

[Doc Vernon]

This old Pic will bring back some memories !
Now where was the Oppps!! haha!
So many places!Cheers

[Keith Tindell]

Hi All,
Any memories from the dance on a Wednesday night on the pier in Southampton?, i was sailing on Castle boats, and used to join the ship (Stirling Castle) on the Wednesday, and the pier was our first stop that night, lots of lovely young ladies!!!, this was circa 1960. Whenever i come to the mainland now i look at that derelct pier with fond memories, Regards Keith Tindell

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Keith T
Cant say that i recall the actual Days,but yes do remember the Dances there at the Royal Pier!
I was on the Sterling as well as other Castle Liners! 1958/9
If my memory is correct it was a very large Hall there and as you say many lovely Chicks!
Oh them lovely days!
In 1987, a serious fire completely destroyed the pavilion and bandstand at the pier head. a SAD LOSS!
Cheers

All gone now i believe!

BACK TO THE ROYAL PIER!

Just added,so i was correct about that Hall!
DAVID ST JOHN -CALL UP THE GROUPS!

Make sure to click on the Royal Pier Memories Link
This will bring it all back!
Cheers

[Pete Leonard (Bruno)]

Sorry to go off the thread slightly(although there is a connection.) Who remembers the name of the pub in Durban that was built into the dock wall. It had an alleyway that connected the dock with the street. There was a cape coloured customs man half way through,(sorry if that description is offensive but that was what they were called then) who would turn his back for a packet of fags.
Cheers
Pete

[alf corbyn]

i well remember the dance on southampton pier. i think one of the UCL shore staff organised it as we had a good suppy of nurses among others. i was also told that the glitter ball that spun round was the first one in england alf