pub in durban

[Phil Crawley]

Anyone remember the name of the Pub right in the docks at Durban.
Thanks.

[happy daze john in oz]

If you mean the old docks then maybe you are refereing to The Criterion. As you walked down the gangway the atrium of the hotel acted as the customs post. On the left of the atrium was the bar, on the right the restaurant and accomodation. In the early 60's it was operated by a Scotsman who had a love of smoked fish, something hard to get there. My mate Mick and I had found a way to collect amounts of smoked fish on the voyage over. On one voyage we had two boxes of kippers, a side of smoked salmon anf two very large smoked eels which we manged to smuggle ashore. two pair of kippers for the guy on customs and the rest for Jock. We drank in there for two days all free of charge.

[robpage]

There was a whole thread on this Phil called "Pubs with an escape route " I think

[Doc Vernon]

Indeed correct Rob!
Here is that Link!
Cheers

http://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/p...ape-route.html

[Phil Crawley]

Thanks for that John in oz, I have been thinking about it for days.

[happy daze john in oz]

Thanks for that John in oz, I have been thinking about it for days.

Like you I often think and talk about it with friends who also knew it. It features quite quite a bit in my book, 'Windsor Blue, Adventures with the Lavender Ladies.

[Doc Vernon]

Now its time to Publish that Book John!
Bet there is some good reading in there mate!
Cheers

Dont forget to send a Copy to me haha!

[Lou Barron]

I know this might be a different story from the pubs but here goes .I can remember the last time i was in Durban along the seafront i cannot think of the name it was called it could have been the Marine Parade(just as guess )Well anyhow there was a snake park along the sea front .There was a big pit in the middle of the park with a lot of venomous snakes in it and there was this guy walking around the pit also there were around the park was different pits with othe snakes .There a few of us guys off the ship and as we was leaving there was this guy with a snake wrapped round his neck and he asked if one of us wanted to handle the snake so i did it was not a bad feeling .I wander if that park is still there??? .This was in about March 1942

[happy daze john in oz]

Think that park may be well gone by now Lou, but somehow from what I have heard from a good friend of mine from Durban there are still a lot of slimy snakes there.

[happy daze john in oz]

Now its time to Publish that Book John!
Bet there is some good reading in there mate!
Cheers

Dont forget to send a Copy to me haha!

I have posted a number of excerts from it and will do some more later in the year.