HAIR OF THE DOG
Thousands of our nation’s pooches have been missing out on walks to “go and see a man about a dog” while our boozers are closed.
To let our British pubs know how much they are missed, the Daily Mirror is running a Save Our Pubs campaign, and readers are being asked to write in about their favourite locals.
My colleague Paul Routledge – the well-known supper of pints at The Old White Bear in North Yorkshire, which also doubles up as his post room – got the ball rolling last week. And today, my pug Boris insists on writing his own ode to a pub crawl of bar-room floors…
“My evening walks have lost all purpose since pubs closed their doors. In happier times, we would walk briefly through the park so I could ‘mistake’ someone’s foot for the bench, and wee on them.
“Then we’d trot straight on to St James Tavern, or Jimmy’s as my owner says – like it’s her BFF. I like the squeal of attention from the ladies in there, especially the ones who clasp me to their bosoms. The doggy bar snacks from the jar on the bar are top-quality too.
“Then half a pint later, my owner takes me to The Wykeham Arms, which I think is her favourite because it allows dogs – but not children.
“Then on the way home we stop off at our little local, The Fulflood Arms, which doesn’t serve meals where I can beg a chip, but it’s still the best hunting ground for dropped crisps, nuts, and best of all, pork scratchings. I hope the pubs open soon – I’ve lost far too much weight.”
Email me at siobhan.mcnally@mirror.co.uk or write to Community Corner, PO Box 791, Winchester SO23 3RP.