Landlords of closed city centre pub had been in boxing ring
CLIVE Williams in his foreword to my book The Illustrated History of Cardiff’s Pubs writes: “One pub in particular that has disappeared has fond memories for me – the Criterion in Church Street.
“During the early 1960s it was run at different times by former boxers Feeny John and Dennis Reardon.
“Reardon won a boxing gold medal in the 1938 Empire Games at Sydney.”
In The Pub-Goers Guide Book, published and compiled by JMF Kruipers and Robert Lindseth in 1967, we further learn that the Criterion was: “A small old-fashioned pub without affections.
“Each of the three bars would be good places for a drink if it were not for the amazing conduct of the landlord.
“We recommend this pub for a drink when the landlord is not there or for an entertaining three minutes otherwise.”
Well, one well-known sporting personality who kept the pub from around 1930 to 1960 was Johnny Walsh who was a good friend of British heavyweight champion boxer Jack Petersen, so I wonder whether it was mine host Mr Walsh that the fun pub guide was referring to?
Johnny was also a boxer himself and during the First World War had won many army boxing competitions.
He was also a useful rugby player who played for St Albans. During the 1912-1913 season he dropped a goal which won his team the Mallet Cup.
All I can remember about the Criterion is that you had to walk down some steps to get inside.
In days long gone, the Criterion was known as The Old Shoulder Of Mutton and it was a place where the town’s
sporting folk would meet to arrange exhibitions of Billy Gale’s walking prowess.
Billy, a wiry little man, performed great feats of endurance walking, and his first walking exhibition took place at Canton market in 1876 when he is reported to have walked 1,000 miles inside 1,000 hours.
On the opposite side of Church Street is the still surviving Old Arcade and, in The Cardiff Records, published at the beginning of the 20th century, we are informed that: “A part of this inn is built over the passage from Church Street to the Market, hence the name. This was the first of Cardiff’s numerous arcades.”
At one time it was known as the Birdcage Inn as the landlord was skilled in making cages for larks and linnets, which he fashioned in his spare time from old floor boards.
The bar was decorated throughout with these birdcages, which he sold to his patrons – hence the name the Birdcage Inn.
Please send your letters/pictures to Brian Lee, Cardiff Remembered, South Wales Echo, Six Park Street, Cardiff CF10 1XR or you can email brianlee4@virginmedia.com – please include your phone number as I cannot reply by letter.