Pubs, Roasts, Father's Day and Entropy
The list of goings-on in pubs in our ‘Quote of the Week’ at the bottom of this post was assembled by Mass-Observation during the second war. This government organisation sent out hundreds of paid ‘Observers’ into society, effectively to eavesdrop on our forebears and record what they said – in this instance regarding the public house as part of ‘the sub-social life of a working class district’. Old-style folk in hats and coats speak of spitting and smoking, trade unions and secret societies, dominos and quoits.
Disappointingly, few of these activities go on in the Blue Stoops. Or perhaps some do, but surreptitiously, such as a trade in black puddings. And/or ‘embrocation’.
Notwithstanding, I like to think that the essential entropy of pub-going has not fully disappeared. Entropy as in ‘the energy in a system no longer available for useful work.’ Isn’t that the point about pubs? Are they not places where nothing useful happens, and certainly not work? You might talk, spit or pay out some losses on a bet. Watch a dog show. Buy or sell bootlaces. But we are not, generally, trying to prove Goldbach’s Conjecture, though while your mind is untethered who knows what Eureka moments may come?
Which brings me, slightly tortuously, onto Father’s Day. If, like me, it’s your big day on 15th June, you might be the kind of chap for whom an afternoon of light pointlessness is exactly what you need in your life. Possibly accompanied by a pint of healthy Allsopp’s ale and a large-ish slab of good beef. And genuinely excellent red wine from an out-sized bottle. If that’s the case, you will be pleased to learn that these things are available at The Blue Stoops.
In fact we are actually offering for the first time a ‘proper’ Sunday Roast that day. It has been remarked upon that while we serve the very finest roasted meats and potatoes, and even assorted vegetables, something essential has been missing from our Sunday.
We have thus far failed to acknowledge the absolute indispensability of a lunch specifically including all of the above, with a Yorkshire Pudding, on a plate with gravy. Is there a Stoopsian twist to this new proposition? Have we ‘deconstructed’ or ‘rethought’ our national dish? Shamingly, we did think about both. But no, we came to our senses and Jake and Lorcan are just going to make the best damned Sunday Roast that they can, with a choice of Beef, Chicken or a seasonal special which might be anything from Porchetta to Venison. I have insisted that bread sauce be served with the Chicken.
The magnum on the day will be a Chateau Beaumont Haut-Medoc from the legendary 2005 vintage, and as always on Sundays will be available by the glass and carafe. In addition to the standard wine list, our famous hand-written Blue Book of intriguing and particular wines will also be on hand, just ask.
Quote of the Week
From Pubs & People: A Study of the Sub-Social Life of a Working-Class District
Compiled by Mass-Observation, 1943
[the excellent use of caps is from the original text]
These are the things that people do in pubs:
SIT and/or STAND
DRINK
TALK about betting, sport, work, people, drinking, weather, politics, dirt
SMOKE
SPIT
Many PLAY GAMES
cards
dominos
darts
quoits
Many BET
receive and
pay out losing and winnings
PEOPLE SING AND LISTEN TO SINGING: PLAY THE PIANO AND LISTEN TO IT BEING PLAYED
THESE THINGS ARE OFTEN CONNECTED WITH PUBS….
….weddings and funerals.
quarrels and fights.
bowls, fishing and picnics.
trade unions.
secret societies. Oddfellows. Buffs.
religious processions.
sex.
getting jobs.
crime and prostitution.
dog shows.
pigeon flying.
PEOPLE SELL AND BUY
bootlaces, hot pies, black puddings, embrocation....