Private party
As you know, The Gunmakers is closed at weekends. Or, at least, that's the theory. In reality, we're booked up most Saturday nights for private parties (click here for details). In the last month alone we've been the venue for two wedding receptions, an engagement party and a 30th birthday.
Tonight, a very nice Scots chap who shares my love of Oor Wullie and the Broons is celebrating his 40th with an absolutely lovely crowd of pals. Chef's knocked them up a first class buffet and Harvey's Sussex Best - the birthday boy's favourite ale - is flowing.
These private parties present the most remarkable opportunity to indulge in a bit of people watching. I've learned that birds of a feather really do flock together. When we're open to the general public, I see a mixed crowd (although thankfully the rougher elements stay away). On a Saturday, you see just how similar groups of friends and family really are. Here's an example: tonight, not a single person's gone out for a cigarette. (I suppose that isn't surprising - these are educated, middle class people in their 30s and 40s.)
One of the busiest Saturdays I've ever had was last year, when half the Greeks in London descended for an engagement party. Despite being packed to the rafters and going through cases of vodka and gin, I didn't sell a single pint of ale. But then there was one party when cask beer accounted for over 80% of takings*.
* Yes, that was your party, Tony.
9 comments:
Christ I wish I was in London tonight amongst a bit of sanity.
Here in Ireland today 15,000 people descended on a small town to witness an appearance by the Blessed Virgin Mary as a result of a video appearing on You Tube.
I'll say that again.15,000 people turned up to see if the Virgin Mary turned up.
This is nothing to do with beer except I think I need one.
Here's the video that sparked off the hysteria.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK-UiwKhTdw
For all the diversity there is in London, I share your observation on this.
I guess most of us are just content to have more of 'our kind' around us. Almost all of the people I socialise with in London are people I knew before I came here.
Does seem a bit of a shame when you consider how much life there is in this city though.
I have to counter the idea that middle class groups are better than working class groups (although how you distingish these days I know not). Nothing ruins a night out for me more than a bunch of public schools boys talking shite about their city careers or simular predictable stuff. I find if you go on personalities your group will range from Oxford PPE graduates to ex 80's footy hooligans, and the latter is proberbly the more intelligent!
Clarkeoneil:
I have to counter the idea that middle class groups are better than working class groups
Why did you feel the need to counter a notion that no-one put forward?
If hearing people with different backgrounds to you just talking is so upsetting as to ruin a night out, you have to accept you're the prejudiced one.
But then you read a blog written by someone who went to a private school and who is also an Oxford graduate, so you're clearly able to set aside those prejudices when it suits you! ;-)
Oor Wullie - now that's a blast from the past, Jeff!
Not a blast from the past for me - I still get the Oor Wullie or Broons annual for Christmas from my parents every year.
Hep ma boab!
(Well, someone had to say it.)
Hep ma boab!
(Well, someone had to say it.)
I'm quite proud of that 80% cask ale figure, TBH Jeff - it's not like there were no women there either! (Although it may just indicate that those that were there were just lightweights generally...!)
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