Odd ones

[Ivan Cloherty]

Which year?

Captain, had a look on Google and I certainly do not recognize any of the hotels mentioned there. The barmaid used to pick me up in Karatha and take me through there!!! No hanky panky obviously, just a nice lass who thought I was better off out of Karatha!!!

Sorry can't remember

[David Williams]

During our times at sea we all at some time found a bar that was a bit odd or different. Sometimes tucked away out of site, some in full view.
I have been in many such odd ones, but maybe the oddest was in Ireland. I was in Cobh when one of the lads, an Irishman from up country, suggested we go ashore for a beer. He was one of those type of guys who would not go to the most obvious, and being a local lad I thought he would know where the best could be got.
We went out of town to a small village he told me he knew of where some of his family had come from.
When we got there he walked up to what appeared to be a local grocers shop and said we should go in. Inside was like any grocers shop, you could buy just about anything there from a bag of spuds to a dozen eggs or the daily paper.
Over to one side were two tables at which sat a couple of the locals drinking. He had us sit down there and the shop keeper came over to ask what we would like? Two beers please.
The shopkeeper went out to the back of the store and came back with two beers and two glasses.
He then went on to explain that such shops existed all over Ireland, fully licensed to sell alcohol as well as groceries, and were very popular with the locals, many of who did not want the noise of the local pub.
Years later on Holiday in Ireland I discovered that yes there are many such places, no doubt there are many other ODD bars around the world.

Hi John.
The "strangest" bar I visited was back in the fifties,
DANNY,S BAR in Antwerp.All the "women" shaved
and all the "men" wore make up.I was only about
15/16 so you can imagine what a shock it was.

Dave Williams

[John Arton]

The Marsden Grotto in Shields has just been voted the 4th strangest place to eat in travel website goeuro.co.uk
rgds
Ja

[robpage]

I quite liked Marsden Grotto , cool in summer , but it was a Vaux house , so the beer wasn't great , Used to go there New Years Day to watch the lunatics swimming through the arch in the Rock

[John Arton]

Mr. Page wash your mouth out with a pint of Vaux's SAMSON.
Agree Vaux ale not too good but that depended on the landlord
The arch is no longer as a number of years it fell in due to erosion.
Another interesting fact about Marsden beach.
In 1972 it was one of the first beaches where the girls went topless when sunbathing and were not arrested for it.
Used to take the girlfriend at the time there but despite my assurances that she had far better knockers than most of them on view, could never persuade her to go topless.
rgds
JA

[Captain Kong]

Here was an ODD ONE,
TOMBO MARY`S. Apapa side Lagos.
.
For all Elder Dempster and Palm Line men who got to know the legendary Tombo Mary..--

Tombo Mary's.


Apapa was the venue for our lads run ashore,
On the coast of Africa where tourists never tour,
The bar was Tombo Mary's where she ruled the roost all day,
Customers were seafarers - keen to spend their pay.


In this one-roomed shanty, with hard mud for a floor,
Palm fronds on the thatched roof and canvas for a door,
Our black mama Mary - a wondrous female sight,
Would choose a handy sailor for her carnal joys at night.


Raised up on a dias just behind the bar,
The centre of attention from here to Calabar,
Was a huge four poster bed with linen and fine lace,
Imported from some far off land and taking pride of place.

It`s where Mary held her lover-boy for a torrid night of fun.
Piccaninnies and the bar staff - at the setting of the sun -
Would sleep below this raft of love, with tassels hanging red,
While the sailor did his duty - in Tombo Mary's bed.

Author unknown, but he must have been there.

[cappy]

wasnt me

[robpage]

With prevailing North wind , I would have thought the girls very brave , but I expect it was good for muscle tone . My Golfing partner's family worked for the Nicholson Family who owned VAux Breweries and he swears Double MAxim i the best pint ever , or rather was , me , I always preferred Exhibition .

[William Gardner]

remember in oz bars shut on asunday local bloke said come with me went to garden centre round the back bottles of cold beer we got stuck in all illegale but who give a toss 59 60

[Red Lead Ted]

The Castle pub here in seaforth, Not many seaman used it i lived a stone's throw away from it. One end of the bar instead of an ice bucket there was a bucket of chilled ears , Other pubs had jars of pickled eggs the Castle had jars of pickled foreskins It was under new management every week It was actually used in filming a few scenes in the movie. Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Starring Vinnie Jones, with a few of the locals used as extras. They didnt have to act just be yourself the director said Terry.