It is the end of another tedious week - and for that we are very grateful!
Inevitably, it's time for a party - and, indeed, we have one to attend tonight. However, it's a bit of a poignant one...
Way back in the mists of time, when Madam Arcati and I first arrived in London [26 years ago], our social orbit was limited, mainly revolving around West London where we lived at the time, and if we did go "into town", our pub of choice was the Admiral Duncan (before the bomb!). However, fates collided soon afterwards. One of the bar manager [the much-missed] Sinders' friends was a tall, striking, rather OTT blonde lady, who ran a pub in Soho. That was Sally. One of the Madam's colleagues while working at the Cafe Rouge restaurant chain who became a close friend had recently left the company to manage an outlet of another chain restaurant in Soho. That was Lou. And lo and behold, the two premises were opposite each other, and so a new social circle was created!
The pub was The Shaston Arms, scene of many a night of debauchery (of the late-night-drinking "lock-in" variety), many birthday parties and other celebrations - and of course, the "home turf" of our Pride Day breakfast meet-ups, to finalise our outfits and charge our system with bacon butties and bubbly before the madness of the day kicks off!
Just last November we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the pub's opening (and of Our Sal being its landlady), when the brewery Hall & Woodhouse even renamed it The Lady Shaston in her honour!
Come 2025, and Sal broke to us at the Eurovision party some very bad news indeed. The landowner of the Carnaby Street area in which The Shaston is located is Shaftesbury Estates. For some reason only known to the gnomes who run that operation, they have decided they want to change the whole area - and served notice on Hall & Woodhouse to vacate!! So The Lady Shaston is no more, and closes this month.
The party tonight is its farewell.
Will we laugh? Will we cry? We will certainly say...
...CHEERS! And thanks for all the memories!
Meanwhile...
...After all that sombre news, and bearing in mind today also happens to be one to avoid if you happen to be paraskevidekatriaphobic, here's something joyful to cheer us all up:
I doubt Pharrell and Daft Punk were even born when this film was made...
Thank Disco It's Friday [the Thirteenth]!
Have a great weekend!
