Pubs

Nov. 14th, 2024 09:02 am
smokingboot: (Default)
[personal profile] smokingboot
This was playing on the jukebox as we walked in after the meeting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsQKo1BnwoM

I had no idea Elton John had this moment.

Then some guy stuck £6 worth of tokens in the jukebox, told us to choose because he had to go, and disappeared. R picked a whole bunch of songs I love and the night rolled on with good mates and a lot of laughter resulting in one of the best photos ever.



This makes me smile.

A very ordinary looking pub, but I like it. Far less ordinary looking, the conversation moved to discussing the Torphichen Inn, which is on the market.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/153500147#/?channel=COM_BUY

Strange though, everyone is saying it's going for £250,000 not £450,000, I've no idea how old that listing is. Torphichen has a great history, right beside the site of William Wallace's parliament and the the old preceptory of the Hospitaller Knights as well as a small strange standing stone with barely discernible cup and ring marks. I've long suspected the area was home to Knights Templar too, on account of the standing stone on Witchcraig with its cross of their order. The pub's more recent history is quite fun. Photos 4 and 5 of the listing show walls covered in scenes from Robert Burns' Tam O'Shanter. These were created by a political cartoonist who lost his job at the beginning of covid. The villagers helped him with the blocking of colours and in thanks he immortalised them all as the infamous

Warlocks and witches in a dance;
Nae cotillion brent-new frae France,
But hornpipes, jigs, strathspeys, and reels
Put life and mettle in their heels.
A winnock bunker in the east,
There sat Auld Nick in shape o' beast:
A towzie tyke, black, grim, and large,
To gie them music was his charge;
He screw'd the pipes and gart them skirl,
Till roof and rafters a' did dirl.—


I was told this by the man who pointed proudly to his likeness right there, the devil with bagpipes.

Why then is the inn for sale? Torphichen is a conservation village, well-heeled and community minded, but it's not a massive population. Maybe the business just isn't there. A couple of mates considered buying it, but say it entails a massive amount of work. Pubs! They're not easy. I've known one friend buy a charming place very close to Cheddar Gorge, and still couldn't drum up the custom from locals or tourists. Whimsy was thinking of buying one in Glastonbury, and I think she decided it was too much hassle so just got a nice house instead. I love that photo of R, but note the seats behind, empty in a town many times larger than Torphichen. Yes it's a cold Wednesday night but still... sometimes the idea is better left that way.

Date: 2024-11-14 03:49 pm (UTC)
mallorys_camera: (Default)
From: [personal profile] mallorys_camera
I think R needs to quit his job, and you & he need to buy & restore this!!! 😀

Profile

smokingboot: (Default)
smokingboot

February 2026

S M T W T F S
1 234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Feb. 2nd, 2026 04:23 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios