A little something that may interest you all ! In the late 60s I and a group of friends would gather on a Friday night and do The Run. It was half a pint of beer in every pub or hotel from Thorpe Station to the Trowel and Hammer. Here are some friends recollections. Maybe you have some stories attached to some of these watering holes. John has mentioned the fabled “Run” from Thorpe Station to the Trowel & Hammer. Owing to the time that has passed since our last attempts to finish this marathon and the state of the participants along the way, I consider this series of moveable feasts would benefit from a bit of audience participation to help confirm where we were and which pubs we visited. I have provided a list of my recollections but please correct my efforts where necessary so that we can establish the definitive list. The Run by Alek Wellesley 1) Thorpe Station Bar – The official start but irregular opening times and rebuilding of the Station meant it could not always be relied upon to be open. 2) The Compleat Angler (aka Norfolk Railway House or The Bamboo Rooms) – Is and always has been a bit of a dive but the reserve gathering place to start the event with a half of Starlight or Wantney’s Red Barrel. 3) The Nelson Hotel – Just over the road and a bit more salubrious with proper draught ale I seem to remember. 4) Fishers Free House (formerly Backs) – The “Free House” became a bit of a misnomer as, during the age of the “Run”, it was bought out by Scottish & Newcastle Brewery and offered the standard Scottish electric maltades and Newcastle Brown Ale. (Already you are no doubt recollecting the bloated feeling that this marathon instilled on the digestive system). There was another pub before Fishers, The Duke of Connaught which unfortunately closed before or, at least in the early days of the “Run”. It became an Italian Restaurant and I can remember having a drink here during this stage of its life but whether it was during the “Run” I cannot be sure. 5) The Prince of Wales – Another choice of Starlight or Wantney’s Red Barrel. 6) The Royal Hotel – serving Inde Coope, I believe, and so something like Double Diamond or Long Life would add a bit more fizz to the stomach. The Nags Head in King Street could possibly have been another staging post before or after the Royal – comments please. 7) Then along Castle Meadow to the Norfolk Wherry. A modernistic pub at the time on two levels serving Whitbread draught ales. From the top bar you descended to the lower bar on Back of the Inns and then over the road to: 8) The Walnut Tree Shades – a lively pub at the time with a similarly lively clientele 9) Then just round the corner to the King’s Head for another half. 10) The next stop was the Castle Hotel which, like the Norfolk Wherry, could be accessed from two levels, Castle Meadow and White Lion Street. From here the route is a bit uncertain. It could have turned right along White Lion Street, stopping at the Haymarket Stores, the Fruiterer’s Arms, Backs and George & Dragon, adding an extra 4 pubs to the list, or, if time was pressing at is usually was (10:30 or 11:00 pm closing times, don’t forget) we would stagger straight to: 11) The Lamb. An interesting pub at the time. Wood panelled throughout with beer dispensed through glass piston type pumps (never seemed to serve full measure). A varied clientele, family groups and hardened piss-heads taking a break from the next pub: 12) The Orford Arms – Another lively pub with a hardened following. Some a lot harder than others, but good music both from the Juke Box upstairs or downstairs in the renowned Cellar. 13) The next stop was the Coach and Horses. A reasonable and friendly watering hole I seem to remember. 14) Then to the Boar’s Head. In the early days of the “Run” it was a normal pub serving reasonable beers but latterly it decided it needed to rebrand itself as a pseudo night-club “Barbarella’s” with fizzy beers and strange ‘cocktails’. It closed for good in 1974. 15) Then up St. Stephen’s to the Trumpet. A pub above a department store replacing one with much more character which was knocked down for road-widening, civil improvements or the like. Totally characterless and only visited as it was on the “Run” and had to be included. 16) The next pub was a gem. The Champion, an excellent pub. Friendly landlady, good beers and a total waste at this stage of the “Run”. 17) The Coachmaker’s Arms was the next pub which was usually a quick stop to ensure you made it to the last pub: 18) The Trowel & Hammer. Once here you could settle down to a quiet drink to enjoy the time remaining before the “towels went up”. Otherwise, if time permitted and, if your stomach or legs would allow, a stagger to the Jolly Butchers to finish the night may have been proposed. So that’s it. I always thought it was between 20 and 22 pubs but I’ve only listed 18 although I have proposed others which would have bumped the numbers up to over 20. The biggest problem was the time. Getting started early enough, keeping people together, supporting the stricken few in their attempt to finish the course and try to get to the end before the last pub closed. Alek Wellesley CONTINUED
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 19:00:51 +0000
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