I was pleasantly surprised to see The Exmouth Arms was still open when I had a rare visit to the town recently. That was the Friday pub of choice for (long) lunchtimes in the mid 1980s.Not strictly "Exeter" I know but another once-loved Devonian hostelry being destroyed by the spivs and speculators of the "property" world.
Closed Exmouth pub is set to be demolished
The historic pub was once a farmhouse and could now be replaced with two five-bedroom homeswww.devonlive.com
Only went there once and that was almost 20 years ago but it was a very strange place indeed....tone set by the barmaid suggesting I be discreet when I went to take a £20 note from my wallet to pay for a couple of drinks.
The last bastion left standing which featured Exeter's trio of formidable female licensees, along with the Honiton and Welcome Inns.
Playing pool. Cider at 27p per pint. Those were the days - circa 1981.
Having worked across the road, on the reception desk for a good while, it could offer some entertainment at times. Particularly when a patron wandered in asking if we had a toilet he could use. Officially we didn't but if someone waiting with a tax query was desperate we could escort them through. He did have a tax query as it happened. Can I have your name and book you in to see one of our advisors then. Of course, it's PJ Proby.
When did you work at HMRC?!
Many years ago, a person I knew who was a regular in my old haunt of The Stocks Bar worked in the tax office at that location(Amanda iirc) she came in one Friday evening laughing that she’d had a few Irish Navvies come in, asking about Tax Rebates. She politely pointed out that you have to pay tax to be entitled to a rebate ! They left in a huff
Are you sure it wasn't our very own "AL"-manda - doing some undercover work for HMRC?Many years ago, a person I knew who was a regular in my old haunt of The Stocks Bar worked in the tax office at that location(Amanda iirc) she came in one Friday evening laughing that she’d had a few Irish Navvies come in, asking about Tax Rebates. She politely pointed out that you have to pay tax to be entitled to a rebate ! They left in a huff
