Looking Back - Part III <<<The Conclusion

So, here it is then, the final part of my 'Looking Back' Trilogy. It's been a fantastic week here at The Leopard, there's nothing like a celebration to put fire in your belly and a smile on people's faces! It was lovely to have the family here to celebrate our Six year anniversary, and it provided a rare opportunity for a few photos, most of which have most of us in them - getting us all together is difficult. Saturday passed in a haze of smiles, fizz, giggles, chatting to customers and culminated with The Silicone Taxis playing LIVE - they entertained both us & those who came to join our celebrations. Surprisingly, my guest appearance with The Taxis didn't empty the pub. The bass player did make me laugh though, when he asked his fellow band members what key they were playing 'Great Balls of Fire' in and laughed & said, "It doesn't matter, I won't be in it!" Needless to say, I won't be giving up my day job, (or indeed my night job) I ain't gonna make a living from singing (or as I prefer to call it, shouting - with attitude!) so you're stuck with me in my Landlady incarnation for while yet.

From attitude to gratitude! I have some 'Thank Yous' to get through (I promise not to go all 'Oscar speech' on your asses, but these things need to be said - well, written and hopefully, well written!. Whilst Leopard print may flow through my veins, there are many people who make The Leopard what it is. I have the good fortune of being the Captain of HMS Leopard, but undoubtedly, it's the crew and passengers who make the ship, and in this respect I am blessed. A huge thank you to all our customers. You're such characters, comedians, natural entertainers and all round pleasant folk, that you make both the pub and me tick! Thank you for creating a good, welcoming, friendly atmosphere, making my job so enjoyable, for sharing your good times, turning to us in the not so good times, amusing us with your stories, making us laugh, at times making us cry, and for supporting us over the last six years! I appreciate it immensely, your support & loyalty spurs me on both in working hard to bring you more of what you want and coming up with new ideas to keep you coming back!

I couldn't manage without my nearest and dearest. (And I mean that both personally and professionally.) Thank you to The 'N & D' crew you all work hard and support my (sometimes crazy) ideas, often going above and beyond. Being a boss & mum is an often difficult balancing act, but, for the most part, it's fun - we do laugh a lot! Our family has expanded quite a bit since we set sail aboard The Leopard, and aside from those who have joined our family via relationships or birth, this also includes many of those characters, comedians and pleasant folk I thanked in the previous paragraph, who we have happily 'adopted' into our extended family.

I would also like to thank the other people who contribute to, help out with, or support The Leopard's every growing wide and eclectic mix of entertainment and events. A big thank you to the many bands & singers who have graced the stage, Simon & Kirsty who provide our Karaoke Discos, The Quiz Teams, Poker Players, Members of our Book and Wine Club, Le Club Francais and Paranormal Group. You all bring something extra to The Leopard, and I am grateful to you all! Last but not least, I would like to thank Marstons (Great Ales, lovely pub) and my BDM, Chris for his help and support.

Right, this is beginning to sound like the 'Oscar' stylee speech I promised it wouldn't so before my metamorphosis into 'Gwyneth Paltrow (albeit with more honesty and heart felt gratitude, and less of the figure or bank balance) is complete, I'll get back to looking back!

This year also marks my 40th in this wonderful industry we now call hospitality. Back in the day (1976) there was no umbrella heading for the industry into which I fell. There were pubs, clubs, hotels and restaurants, either independently owned outright or, in the case of pubs leased to publicans by various breweries, but they each, pretty much, had their own distinct personalities and identities, and the only pub 'chains' to be found then were those around the grassed area that may have also boasted a rusty swing and a couple of tables (The term 'Beer Garden' had yet to be applied to such areas). When I first started, as a waitress, those who peopled such venues were either called customers or diners, guests was used only to define those who actually stayed in hotels. The people who ran these esteemed places were called Landlords, Restaurant Owners or Hoteliers (managers were seldom heard of, so in the main those who ran these paradises of relaxation and entertainment had a vested interest in their success!) and they were held in quite high regard. They were not only an integral part of the community, but many did great charitable works. Moreover this was in those heady days when pubs were plentiful and packed, so there was money to be made by those lucky enough to have their name over the doors. Those who owned and ran these business were 'people people' and they employed other like-minded people persons whose job titles actually described the work they were employed to do: Barmaid, Waitress, Cook, Pot Basher, Chambermaid and Pop Man. Occasionally the word 'Head' (which didn't have the same connation as it has now) was added to these simple job titles to denote a little more status, a minor increase in pay and often, a few more headaches.

The job title BDM (Business Development Manager) was yet to be invented by breweries, but publicans across the land were visited, on an almost weekly basis, by their Brewery 'Rep'. The Rep would turn up in their company car with a smile on their face, goodies in the boot and a cheerful repartee to share with both publican and customers. They usually came from 'old landlord stock' so they knew the pub business. Not only that but they'd know not only all of the landlords and customers' first names, but the names of the customers' dogs too. No easy task as many of these reps had over forty pubs on their patch, each packed to the rafters with customers and dogs. After a drink (often a pint) and a chat with everyone, the Rep would toddle off to their cars, open the boot and release the loot! T-shirts, ashtrays, glasses, drip mats, bar runners (the lovely brass ones that were a bugger to clean) and other, now much sought after, 'pub stuff' (now referred to as POS or point of sale kits) would be ferried into the pub by the Rep, and often times the helpful customers who fancied a t-shirt. This stuff was given freely back then, now it is incentive led - more often than not, publicans have to purchase 'so many' barrels of this or 'so many' cases of that to get POS. It was also known, if a landlord had been fortunate to have had 'a good week' (and they rarely had anything other back then) for the Rep to add a couple of bottle of spirits to the haul of freebies, and/or 'pop a free barrel' onto the next dray delivery. Whilst this must've been a nightmare for the stock takers and accountants, it meant that the landlord could offer at worst competitive prices or, at best, a few free pints to his loyal & happy customers.

Barrels have, in the time I have been in this trade, changed too. Going from wooden to metal. I miss wooden barrels, I used to love a pint straight from the wood! Yes, they could crack and split, which could mean wading through froth and ale in the cellar, but the wood added to the flavour & quality of the beer. It also meant that the 'art' (and it was, and still is, an art) of keeping a good pint was made somewhat more difficult, but many good publicans rose to the challenge. Whilst the equipment in a cellar has necessarily altered, especially with regard to serving and cooling, I do miss that rhythmic, rubber mallet hitting brass tap and the comforting, reverberating, softened thud that echoed in the wood, that I often heard when I first began to learn how to look after beer. I was lucky, I received 'on the job' cellar training from some proper old school (shirt, tie and aproned) Landlords, and I was also fortunate to work with a multitude of ales too - including both Marston's, Bass, and during my time in Dorset, Badger Beer!

These old time publicans taught me tricks of the trade in the cellar that surpassed the usual Barley Wine and Finnings stories. Whilst 'up top' (behind the bar) I was taught to remember lengthy orders, smile, add up, be jovial, pour a good pint, crack jokes, wash glasses by hand, put the ordered drinks in the correct glasses, be mindful that the top of the glasses 'belonged' to the customers and my hands (no matter how clean) should not encroach upon that area, put glasses and bottles in front of the customer with the branding facing them, always have a clean glass cloth to hand (preferable over my shoulder) to polish the glasses, make sure the correct change was given, always be presentable and to show a little cleavage as it helped with tips. The love of working with and serving the public was, and still is, something that can't be taught. That either naturally occurs or it doesn't - although it can be nurtured and improved through experience.

The atmosphere in pubs has changed over the years too. For one thing it's smoke free now. That familiar blue haze that was a feature in all pubs is gone. The smoking ban replaced the blue haze and brown wallpaper with clean air (or as clean as it can be given other air pollutants) and allowed pubs to experiment with colour schemes. Yes, it has also contributed to another atmospheric change in pubs, as smokers reportedly turned their backs on pubs post-ban and left them bereft of customers or they huddled together in the quickly erected pubs' smoking areas to enjoy their habit (leaving non-smokers alone and conversationless inside), but (and even though I smoke myself, and mourned the breakdown of the happy marriage that was cigarette and pint - indoors) I don't miss not being unable to close my eyes at night because they would sting so much from the smoke, nor do I miss the constant battle of trying to keep tables and drinks free of ash, carpets and furniture cigarette burn free, or removing fag ends from glasses before they could be put in the glass washer. Customer numbers in pubs generally may have decreased a little, but I don't believe that is due to the smoking ban in isolation.

Despite there being less than half the legislation regarding the sale of alcohol back then, compared to now, which meant people could drink more (and in a shorter space of time) 'trouble' was, in many pubs, a rarity. There was an underlying respect for both Landlord, the premises and other the customers that kept trouble at bay. I can recall being completely mortified, as a still-wet-behind-the-ears barmaid, the first time I witnessed 'trouble' the other side of the bar. It was a Friday night, and a local couple began having a 'quiet disagreement' about something, the pub was busy, so I was busy and I didn't know what they were actually arguing about. A few minutes into this argument, the man said something to his wife, and then picked up his pint to take a drink. I was serving a customer who was stood next to this couple, both my customer and I jumped as the sound of the glass smashing in the man's face broke through the chatter and laughter of a normal Friday night. The wife had smacked the bottom of the glass just as her husband was taking a drink. On purpose. The impact on his teeth and jaw smashed the glass and cut into his face and mouth. There was blood everywhere, I was riveted to the spot, traumatised by the unfolding scene. It was a baptism of fire for me, in the years that followed I learned to act first and be traumatised later.

If alcohol related, anti-social behaviour has increased, it is wrong to simply blame pubs (and longer licencing hours). Look instead at the three factors that have bought about the problem. Firstly, that underlying respect for publicans, patrons and premises which has sadly declined over the years is the result of general societal changes. Secondly, higher rents together with increases in wholesale prices, general running costs and pub overheads have impacted on pump prices, whilst supermarkets offer up alcohol cheaply as 'loss leaders'. This combination has bought about a change in some peoples drinking habits - some now indulge in 'Prinks' (pre-drinking, prior to actually going down the pub) which can often lead to anti-social behaviour as the in-pub price and measures (which arguably helps the customer in regulating their intake) are removed. Then there's the third factor. Drugs. Not only are drugs now more easily obtainable, these day they are mixed with all manner of crappy chemicals and other garbage to assure a higher profit for the dealers. They are often also taken with alcohol. Publicans can deal with customers who have had one too many drinks, but those who have done a line, or injected or digested some other drug are at best unpredictable. It's a sad reflection of the times when publicans receive training to deal with drug abuse.

As a General Assistant in a hotel, I remember myself and other staff, being slightly amused by a guy who had wandered into the hotel's public bar, ordered two drinks, despite him being alone and pulled two bar stools next to each other, sat on one, and carefully placed the second drink he'd purchased on the bar, in front of the empty stool and began sipping his drink. The barman had presumed the second drink was for someone who would be joining him. However, when the guy started talking to 'John' in the empty chair and ordered another drink because 'John' didn't like lager, the barman began to think something wasn't quite right and called various colleagues, including myself, to the bar for a second opinion. We watched as 'John's' friend asked a barmaid for a pen and some paper, which was provided. This was placed in front of 'John' along side his second drink. Having seemingly caught the bemused look on the barmaid's face, 'John's' mate lent forward, beckoned with his forefinger for the barmaid to lean closer too, then he looked left and right as though to check that the enormity of what he was about to say would be heard by only the barmaid and in hushed tones stated - "John's working on the lyrics for his next song, please don't tell anyone he's here, he won't get anything done if his fans recognise him." The Barmaid leaned further in, as if to collude in his secrecy (she was actually looking at his eyes and breathing in deeply) and quietly asked "Has he written anything I would know?" At this, 'John's' companion slowly and dreamily began to giggle, the giggles turned to quiet laughter, between laughing and whilst shaking his head in disbelief, he elbowed the 'apparition' at his side and said "Bloody hell, John, we've found someone that's never heard of The Beatles".

From this episode I gleaned several things. Books and talk can't replace the lessons you can learn from real situations and someone who is wiser. Despite three stints at two different higher education establishments, the university of life wins hands down! The barmaid, who was older & more experienced than the rest of us, was no stranger to the lingering, pungent, distinct smell of Marijuana, had realised that he guy was stoned, but posed no threat and set about making sure he got home safely. Fair Dues. A drug that can make you believe you are in the presence of greatness, whilst confirming the belief that you 'should give peace a chance', cant be all bad. (I am not condoning drug use, in any of it's numerous forms, but at this time - early 80s - weed was organic, additive free and far removed from today's paranoia inducing, stronger strains).

Despite John Lennon's then recent and untimely death, he lived on through his music and in the mind of this beer sipping 'friend' who had clearly found something in The Beatles and John Lennon's work which I had missed. I decided that both should command more of my attention. If a band, a member of that band or their music could have such a profound impact on a person that mind altering substances could not shake it, then there had to be something in that music! Which means, that by default, Marijuana led to my discovering a love, and appreciation of The Beatles, which has grown over the years, I suspect many other peoples link between The Fab Four and cannabis is less tenuous!

So, given my love for The Beatles and their music, you can imagine my embarrassment last Saturday when, having dealt with those 'Great Balls' I was asked to 'do another' with The Silicone Taxis, that 'another' being The Beatles well known hit - Twist and Shout - and my not be able to remember all the words. As I said to Ringo later that night, as he lay upon my bed "Oh the shame!" I think he forgave me, tickling his ear and neck seemed to seal the deal. I blame my Beatles incompetence on the celebratory drinks - but if you can't have a couple of beers on your six year anniversary - when can you?

Looking Back <<<The End.