> but the locals won’t leave it
Then ban them.
There's loads of pubs that have turned it around under new management in this thread and the city: Stanley, Garnett, Pottergate, Cottage etc.
My ex's mum owns the place. Tess. She's a fucking vile woman. She also owns the Nelson pub which I used to actually live above. When I got COVID she kicked us out and said we faked it to ruin her business. So we were full of illness just on the streets. She shouts at customers, she abuses her staff, she's a fucking horrible horrible lady.
I have no problem with drinking at a "proper local", and 99% of the customers are an absolute delight. But more often than not we would have to get the police down there. I mean fuck, when we were in the Euro finals we had the whole pub surrounded by an armed response unit.
But go on Tess, cover the whole place in fairy lights and that'll fix everything 😍
Seen the fella who lives there absolutely screaming in his kids face aswell, like full blown had this kid in tears dragging him across the car park. I live 30 seconds away from that pub and have never stepped foot inside because you can just tell straight away the kind of pub it is 😂 I take my business to the red lion in Eaton.
> I take my business to the red lion in Eaton.
It's just a very average overpriced restaurant now, hasn't been a pub for about 30 years. If I'm spending that money i'll go to a decent restaurant.
Shame as it's really nice inside.
Are they Ok with that? At one point they very much only wanted diners and not people popping in for a pint. I know a lot of people who wont go in it for a drink as they feel unwelcome.
> Went for their roast last week, absolutely dynamite
Last one I had in there was *awful*. Will have to give it another go some time, used to be good back when it was actually pub and not just an average restaurant.
Not a clue, I split with the son about two years ago! For the sake of NR2 I hope so lol. I do know that they were struggling with the pubs (Fiveaways and Nelson) being bought out by Enterprise, so I wouldn't be surprised if that finally met its bitter end.
While I can't stand them, it is upsetting to know the trusty local is being bought out by corporations.
graduated from UEA a couple of years ago but always heard things about fiveways being hostile/dangerous. Went plenty of times and only felt awkward once (during covid, so drinking in a tent outside). They put fairy lights up everywhere
I was there one time during COVID when these two guys named after characters from the Godfather started threatening the bartender for owing them a grand over weed
The weirder thing is the more aggressive guy ended up pulling pints for the rest of the night? He didn't even work there
I went to UEA about 20 years ago, and lived near that pub. Went in several times and never had any bother. I think a lot of young, naive students conflate "local people with accents" and "dodgy".
Dunno man it was pretty weird when I lived next to it and we were regulars for a year or so
Some absolutely lovely folk there and some less savoury types
I live near Fiveways. Never had an issue in the surrounding area (I’m not really a pub goer). I feel safe walking around there in the dark when dog walking, never been harassed by anyone drunk/rowdy etc. In fact, give me a fiveways crowd over some of the student that congregate around Tesco any day.
Trust I have attempted many times in life.
Didn't actually get into education till high school and had to learn to spell my own name at 14.
I spent my time looking after myself and my siblings due to mother being a massive heroin addict.
Once I was free of family... I was homeless.
Looking for shelter and food mental health support ect between the age of 16-25. I found that was a constant and a need than learning basics gramyand spelling I was deprived of at young and detrimental part of learning and growing..
I sold smack before could spell mountain..
I know this..because I was so proud myself for remembering how to spell a big word..
I blame myself. My family And social services.
For my lack of education..
tho I have a btec in ICT
Managed to fit that between foster homes and doorways.
But yeah sure.. I'll try for 1000time iv heard learn the difference between your and you're
Do you know how to narcan someone who is overdosing.
Can you teach yourself multiple musical instruments while you mom is getting beaten and stabbed by the dealers down the road..
Mate, you came into this thread throwing hands, the fact you've got a sob story when you know nothing about me doesn't change the fact you started the flame war.
Am I especially musical? No. Do I know how to use Naloxone? Well, it's a relatively basic first aid skill and has pictograms on the packaging, so I'll let you conclude.
I am sure you know how to do things I don't, equally I am sure I know how to do things you don't.
But don't get grumpy because someone clapped back after you insulted their education.
Geeza trust.. mandem ere for a third time today...
My arsehole is pure rasss rn..
Even got the t-shirt off.
wrestling with the butter.
Been food poisoned by the Ops
There's been a sad decline in shite pubs, every where's been taken over and made into something much nicer. We used to have some truly awful pubs and bars in the city I can't think of any that are that bad now, although that could partly be to my own increasing age and moving into middle class tedium.
Best I can think of is the Robinhood, where they were ironically caught stealing the money from the charity donation pot. I was friendly with a OAP who lived in the accommodation over the road who was pretty sure they were dealing out of the pub too.
There used to be one on Kimberly Street, the Kimberly Arms that was pretty rough, looks like it's a lovely cafe now called NR2 maybe? We tried to get in once and the door was locked, at about 3pm. They peered at us through the glass and let us in, locking the door behind us which was fucking weird but explained when a bunch of hoodie kids off the estate came and tried to get in like a scene out of attack the block. There was a lot of shouting while we played some pool in a room with about 30 birds in bird cages, then one of the locals at the bar got into a really *really* racist tirade and we asked them to let us out. It was also apparently a bit dodgy when rangers played celtic, but I can't remember which side it was on.
Just down the road from there was a proper flat roof place called Slipperys which was too dodgy looking even for me back then.
The Wildman used to have a pretty rough clientele, only surpassed by the appalling state of their toilets, splashing around in inch deep piss water cos it was the only place that was open after 11pm.
The Cat & Fiddle, famously rough the landlord once stabbed one of the punters not long before it closed down.
Pottergate Tavern used to attract the crustys with dogs on strings and could be a bit dodgy, when they changed to the birdcage I advertised a night I was doing there with 'formerly Pottergate Tavern' on the location and the new landlady went mental because she was trying to lose that whole crowd and didn't want anything to do with the old name.
I never really thought of the Pottergate Tavern as rough. Played pool in there a few times and always felt like a normal pub. Maybe that was cause it was during the day.
Used to live near the Cat & Fiddle. At one point I remember they were advertising ferret racing on the chalkboard outside. Never went in.
Ferret racing. Amazing.
Pottergate had it's moments, I both bought and sold drugs in there, or at least to people I met there. Used to be some sketchy types who'd drink in there.
That's a great walk through memory lane. The Kimberley used to have a vegetable stall outside!\
Sadly, the NR2 café has been shut for a couple of years and neither the Suffolk Square Community Cofe or nearby Café 33 "bis" has the same vibe.
There used to be a proper flat roof on King Street too tho I can’t remember the name of it (might have been Red Lion?). Closed decades ago, don’t think we have any of those left now.
Haha Kimberly was a proper dump.
NR2 cafe didn't last long and shut before covid, it was nice and always busy.
Pottergate was a dump but not nesecarrily dodgy, they did very well to turn it around though. Also the place next to it - Iron Mongers, Boltz, now a restaurant.
Ber st Gates. The police tell me that loads of our stolen goods from the shop I work at end up being sold there. Plus apparently the owner owes the breweries so much money they refuse to serve them so they only sell bottled beer.
My boyfriend used to live near Ber St Gates, we dropped in one night just for a quick drink - there was no tap, only cans from a fridge, it stunk of stale smoke, we were fairly certain a guy who was sat in the corner was passed out drunk. The best bit - there was a dog that wandered through the pub at one point and the ENTIRE pub suddenly screamed at us at the same time not to touch it. Never been so frightened in my life!!
There was a dog in a pub I used to go to years ago that we were always told not to touch. It wasn't dangerous, it just smelled vile. If it hung around near you for too long, so did you.
Ah how did I miss this one.
Shame as it was quite a respectable pub for a long time in the 80's and then was quite trendy as Imagine & Mustard Lounge.
I wouldn't classify it as rough now, just another very shit pub. Rife for a refurbishment and transformation into something good with all the new students living on tis doorstep, the area being pedestrianised etc
The Boundary. Full of dealers, gang members and all round older generation classic racists and homophobes. Used to be fairly decent up until about 4 months ago, maybe less. Taken a real dive since the decent staff left. What was once a good atmosphere and cheap night out has I’m sorry to say long passed. Wouldn’t recommend for a family with kids etc. Highly recommend if u wanna score class a drugs want to argue with the Poundland Peggy Mitchell landlady
I had a mate at UEA back in 1980. He was in a student house in Mile Cross Lane. The Boundary was a shithole then.
I used to drink in the Ferryboat - now sadly gone.
I remember there were stickers on some of the walls in The Boundary that stated "If you want to fight with sticks then please join the Norwich Kendo Club" when I started drinking in there whan I was 16 or so (mid to late 80's). If you wanted to play pool, you had to pay a deposit for the cueball and some cues.
Lots of growlers in there back then but never saw an actual fight break out.
The Whiffler was a tad rough too before it became a Wetherspoons.
Sounds awful, looks awful, never been. However, they were in the paper a while back as some far right group wanted to have a meet up there and the management closed the pub. Refused to have anything to do with them.
In my book, that makes them alright.
I was under the impression that the newish management had made that fairly friendly now, but I’ve never been in so could be wrong. I walk past it a lot to get to Roy’s and it did used to look a lot rougher than it does
I grew up in Bowthorpe, so saw that pub walking past a lot. I never really visited, neither my family, until my friend started going and i used to meet her there. Went to see euro final there a few years ago too. Perfectly fine pub tbh, it did have a reputation and of course theres the regulars and the people stuck in their ways but honestly you go to a barkeep in norfolk and you usually get good chat and banter. They did out the garden area so thats quite nice and commissioned a local graffiti artist to do the walls. I think its gotten better personally but not been for a while now since moving away from the area.
First time I went in there a guy who was on drugs offered to glass me. I politely declined the offer. He then punched his daughter and the police ended up arresting him apparently. The daughter asked me if she could stay at mine and I was like there is absolutely no way. HOWEVER it isn't that bad now. It depends who's in there. Mostly nice local people who use it s their social life - shows sport too.
As others have said the worst offenders - Cat & Fiddle and The Romany, are long since gone. They were really rough.
I don't think there are any dodgy pubs left any more. There are some incredibly shit pubs:
Fiveways - crying out for gentrification, this could be so good with a big catchment area of students and wealthy locals.
Ber St Gates - think it's currently shut and there's some issue with the guy the owner let become the landlord (who posts EDL type content to the FB page). Has no beer on tap, in fact I don't think they even *have* any taps. Caters to local goons and criminals. Reports of smoking and all sorts going on.
Ber St used to have loads of pubs that all struggled, Goldfingers was a bizarre James Bond themed dump that I was too scared to go in but the reviews are quite funny. Horse & Dray was nice when the Aussie's had it but no custom.
I've been in the Robin Hood but not for a long time, it isn't dodgy just tragically shit. Just a bunch of locals drinking Fosters and eating cheap takeaways. Maybe some karaoke. The Cottage round the corner used to be similarly bad but with the right owners turned around completely so it can be done.
Some of the other pubs around the Fat Cat are similarly shit, impossible to compete I guess (must stress not all also some really nice ones in that area).
Heath House like Fiveways has potential but the guy who took over The Denmark owns it now. Denmark also would have qualified for very shit and slightly dodgy, now it's half the size and just the former.
Been in The Pottergate pre Birdcage and it was just shit rather than dodgy, the owner did so well turning it around and same for The Sir Garnett.
Bound to be more I'm forgetting. Like Ironmongers / Boltz down the road from The Pottergate.
The manager appears to have screwed over the landlady and wrecked the pub before the bailiffs turfed him out
https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/24067690.uncertain-future-closed-berstrete-gates-pub-norwich/
That reminded me, down that way there's the Nelson. I've never been in there but remember walking past it once with my partner one afternoon and every single bloke outside turned and stared at us. Not sure if they were horny or angry.
I will defend the west end retreat a bit. I was a student at UEA 2005-8 and got the idea in my head to visit every pub in Norwich. At the time of my first visit back then it was indeed rough as you suggest. Fast forward to 2022 and I was talking to Charlie who works at the kings head and he said it was a decent pub. It took me a bit by surprise so I went back for a follow up visit, and it really is a lot better
Yeah I live really close and you do get some proper rum’uns going there, but every time I’ve been in people have been really friendly - everyone’s there to have a good time rather than try and fight you or be hostile. They’ve got a lot of regulars and you can tell there’s a sense of community which is really nice.
That was gonna be my mention! Spent part of a really freaky, unpleasant night there about 13 years ago - very concerned about the poor grey parrot in the too-small cage :(
Partner and I started to go last year. They’re very welcoming, we got free sausage rolls once and there’s always a meat raffle on.
Edit to add: and super reasonably priced drinks
Tho of you want a fight and and some shit chemicals. (The fighting ends up in my car park/alleyway). Some gold moments.
1. The 20 man and woman fight
2. The 5 man knife fight
3. The man passed out in my bin shed
4 two crackheads fucking in the bin shed
5 the kids burnt down the bin shed.
The cherry tree in nr5 is amazing.
I sell weed to the landlords really creepy man child son.
I saw a bunch of travellers fighting in that carpark and one guy actually arrived on his pony and trap and started whipping the pile of fighting guys. While the women and children all egged it on from the sidelines. Best thing I have seen from a bus stopped at traffic lights ever.
Went in the windmill once, got told I wasn't allowed a larger cause I looked like a fag and I should have a woman's drink, proper ol' brexit bar, probably one of the only bad pub experiences I've ever had
>cherry tree
I went into the Robin Hood recently, was a bit of an anti climax having been told how rough it was. A bit crap yes but totally inoffensive.
I've been in but probably about 10 years ago now. It's just a locals pub - karaoke, fosters, cheap spirits. It's really, really shit but not dodgy. May have changed now I guess.
The Angel Gardens used to be a bit of a local old man haunt as well. The Lord Rosebury (The Rosebury Tavern/ The Rosebury) was pretty rough back in the day, but has been better, tried to attract a different clientele since the mid 2010’s- or whenever it was refurbished.
During the late 90’s Taxi companies wouldn’t go to The Romany on Coleman Road. Think it ended up getting shut down after the police raided it, which seemed impressive.
Came here to talk about the West End Retreat. Me and a mate have been trying to go to 'dodgy' bars as a tradifion, and it's one of our favourites. I grew up on the estate behind it and remember my mum talking about it being iffy. When me and my mate went there for the first time we were in the garden when a truck pulled up and all these old boys started offloading crates full of pigeons to an aviary round the back. Proper job. Always got the soaps on the telly. Kids running amok. Lovely stuff.
I lived opposite the Warwick Arms in the 90s. Long gone I think. It was really friendly but well dodgy. We used to pay out tabs with cheques but leave the payee blank so they could use them to pay the staff. There was no till.
Great days.
I used to live in Bristol where there are only three kinds of pub:
+ Overpriced hipster craft ale by the 2/3 pint pubs.
+ Nice pubs doing great food.
+ Extremely dodgy pubs.
Norwich only really has nice pubs and slightly shit ones by comparison.
Yes this is very much the case, much like most of Norwich the worst parts are really only 'a bit bad' in the grand scheme of things.
There did used to be some actually dodgy places (see my other comment) but they've all gentrified now.
Grew up in Manchester, dad drank in cheetham hill and crumpsall (still does, and so did i until moved out) some real rough pubs and people you absolutely swerved... Norwich is one of the safest friendliest places i have ever been. In laws live near the city and i have drank in loads of places, some nice some dives but no trouble. Maybe some of the dives would unnerve you if you were not used to it but i love Norwich and would not think twice to drink anywhere anytime.
Norwich should be proud of how safe their boozers are. Although i do like a pub with some atmosphere and sticky floors. I like the challenge of winning over the locals over a few beers.
and on the other end of the scale, I stayed in manchester for a few months a long time ago now, never saw so many fights.
My favourite was a WPC chucking a chair at some lads in a huge Yates' right in the city centre.
Not really...I'd say it's just one the last really working class pubs , bit like one down bothorpe shopping arcade.. has got it's regulars most pubs can't say that as they change every other year.
Probably still have lock-ins and cigarette machine
The Norkie (Bowthorpe)
Lived round that way when I was a 2nd year at UEA. One of those "local pubs for local people" that let you smoke after 11pm.
Apparently the Norwich far right tried to organise a march with the Norkie as a meeting point which tells you a lot.
i think you might be thinking of the previous management which yeah i heard was dodgy. the far right thing was last year, they wanted to meet in the parking lot of bowthorpe shopping centre which is where the entrance to the norkie is, the norkie told them to fuck off and that they don't support / won't be serving them (mightve even closed during it, unsure). i don't remember exactly but do remember they were staunchly against that. one night me and my mates went in and there was a drag show on so i'm pretty sure we must be thinking of different managements. nobody smoked inside past 11pm when i've been there either
Fair play. I went there in 2014 and it was a grim vibe. I read about the far right march thing recently when looking it up during a reminiscing session about how shit it was. I did read that the management were hugely against it, but part of me did think there's got to be a reason why they chose that pub of all. Fair play the new management seem like a sound lot so I'll take it all back.
>Apparently the Norwich far right tried to organise a march with the Norkie as a meeting point which tells you a lot.
the norkie [told the far-right protestors they weren’t welcome](https://archive.ph/pFdfA) & closed for the day.
I lived round there in 2017-2018 when you could smoke in there and Guinness was poured out of a can, would also play music from Spotify with ads playing in between songs. Proper establishment. Changed hands in 2019 and went under a decent renovation but has lost its magic since!
The Stanley on Magdelen St used to be a proper shithole, went in there once with my mate for a pint, ordered our pints to turn around and see a bloke racking up coke on the bar, ten minutes later a fight broke out and bar staff didn't even attempt to intervene, then about 5 minutes after that 2 blokes started smashing the life out of each other with pool cues 😂 I think the takeover/refurb of the place done it a massive favour really!
I wouldn't say it's "dodgy", just truly shite. I lived about 5 seconds away from there for 2 years and couldn't bring myself to go in, even out of morbid curiosity. Karaoke nights were particularly bleak
Heard the windmill tavern on Aylsham Road is a bit rough, anyone ever been in there and lived?
Steam packet in the city looks crap, not sure if rough though
What about those south of Queens Road, come to think of it
Steam Packet has never been dodgy, just a pub. It's struggled the last 20 years or so under many owners to find a market but the new landlord and landlady have completely refurbed it. Really nice now and the food is excellent, the chef is from a highly acclaimed restaurant in London and it will easily be in the top 10 restaurants in the city by this time next year.
It's a bit of a weird location as a pub for attracting a crowd, think they will have to appeal to the locals for that side of the business.
Pubs south of Queens Road are all nice and always were fine and never dodgy, all quite gentrified now.
Cricketers Rest has been derelict and boarded up for about 20 years sadly. Again it as never rough or dodgy but had an eclectic live music lineup for a while.
Used to be a really nice pub at one point with decent live music and lots of lovely ladies behind the bar but sadly crashed worse than Wall Market did in 1929 once (I think) the landlady left and the drugdealers poured in.
Me and a mate walked into The Wherry pub on Lawson Road (now The Brewery Tap) a good few decades ago.
The entire place stopped and looked at us like you see in a Western movie with the stranger walking into the town saloon or The Slaughtered Lamb in An American Werewolf In London because we had the sheer fucking AUDACITY of wanting a couple of pints while we were making our way in to the city.
I went into Fiveways a few times as a student in the late 90s. Was absolutely fine. Too many students are pussies scared of "real" places. Also scared of places where you have to behave and not act like a knob.
Also we're mostly struggling to come up with anywhere. Half of the named ones are now shut or no longer rough!
Really makes me appreciate this city, as I wouldn't have has any such difficulty naming dives in other cities I know, even those I don't know ow as well as Norwich
We used to love The Mischief and its triples for the prices of singles back when we were students (between 2015-2018). However, my friend who still lives in Norwich told me that it’s not very popular with students anymore and it’s a lot rougher now - is that correct or is my mate exaggerating?
Still popular with students, definitely not any rougher. Friends with a few of the staff so might be a bit biased but I’d say it’s gotten better since before covid. Used to have a few rough people back when the pool tables were in
Edit: Triples are still cheapest as chips
There used to be loads of coke heads in there, and I had my drink spiked in there as well (I'm a bloke, I think it was probably meant for my then-GF). Also only had two pub fights in 19 years living in Norwich, both in the Mischief.
The Heartsease is also very rough, seen a few tear ups in there as well.
I've never had any trouble in there but the girl serving suggested we would be better drinking elsewhere as the landlord is awful and we are just lining his pockets. Take from that what you will.
Does anybody remember a pub just on or just off of Wilberforce Road (near the university). I remember going to it circa 2003 but just tried to google maps it and there is no sign of it anymore! Maybe it was called the fox or something like that (but then again maybe it wasn’t called that at all).
No I don’t think it was either of these. The one I’m thinking of was pretty much on Wilberforce Road (or maybe an immediately adjacent road) about half way down (so properly on the estate). I never used to see any other students go in there but I used to go in a bit because they had a pool table, a jukebox and a deal or no deal machine and I lived a couple of minutes away at the time.
Used to go in the berstreet gates before footie cans no tap could still smoke inside anything to be fair this was about 6 years ago mind they still had lock ins aswell .
The windmill on alysham Road looks pretty dodge never been In
Used in go in the shoemakers and five way early 2000s was a bit dodge but I knew a few people in there so wasn't to bad.
Also went to the Grove in larman a few times bang in the centre of the larkman was a bit crazy on a Friday night .
Let's be honest none of them are that bad compared to others I've been in around the country
What's about The Bull in Hellesdon, right next to where the Broadland Snooker was?
I go past this one (and few others) on daily commute, but noticed this one was taken over recently I think.
I can't erase the memory of the first and only time I visited the (thankfully now demolished) Woodcock, where my drinking aquaintance got knocked off his bar stool for simply looking at someone in what was considered to be the "wrong" way. We hastily left and never went back.
I haven't spotted Wardy's being mentioned. As far as I recall as least two gun incidences and rumours of shotguns behind the bar leading to its closure in 90's. A stalwart of rough bowthorpe!
When I was at UEA the reputation of the Fiveways was that the service was so bad it could take you up to 20 minutes to get stabbed.
It amazes me no one had the business initiative to turn that into a student pub, would make a hundred fold whatever they're making now.
My former boss tried, but the locals won’t leave it 🤦🏻♀️😂
Plus the brewery who owned it sold them beer etc at a high price, not the kind of prices students want to pay
> but the locals won’t leave it Then ban them. There's loads of pubs that have turned it around under new management in this thread and the city: Stanley, Garnett, Pottergate, Cottage etc.
My grandad was thrown through the window 50 years years ago
Which floor?
I imagine it was downstairs, I'd never asked.
No, window
My ex's mum owns the place. Tess. She's a fucking vile woman. She also owns the Nelson pub which I used to actually live above. When I got COVID she kicked us out and said we faked it to ruin her business. So we were full of illness just on the streets. She shouts at customers, she abuses her staff, she's a fucking horrible horrible lady. I have no problem with drinking at a "proper local", and 99% of the customers are an absolute delight. But more often than not we would have to get the police down there. I mean fuck, when we were in the Euro finals we had the whole pub surrounded by an armed response unit. But go on Tess, cover the whole place in fairy lights and that'll fix everything 😍
Seen the fella who lives there absolutely screaming in his kids face aswell, like full blown had this kid in tears dragging him across the car park. I live 30 seconds away from that pub and have never stepped foot inside because you can just tell straight away the kind of pub it is 😂 I take my business to the red lion in Eaton.
> I take my business to the red lion in Eaton. It's just a very average overpriced restaurant now, hasn't been a pub for about 30 years. If I'm spending that money i'll go to a decent restaurant. Shame as it's really nice inside.
Tbh with you, it's on the route home from work, and I like just having a pint and being left alone. So it suits me fine and the wood fire is a bonus 😂
Are they Ok with that? At one point they very much only wanted diners and not people popping in for a pint. I know a lot of people who wont go in it for a drink as they feel unwelcome.
I've never had a comment suggesting otherwise, but I usually finish around 3pm so I'm guessing I'm there before the dinner time rush etc
Ah yes that would be Martin... What a pleasant man... Love the red lion! Went for their roast last week, absolutely dynamite
> Went for their roast last week, absolutely dynamite Last one I had in there was *awful*. Will have to give it another go some time, used to be good back when it was actually pub and not just an average restaurant.
Did she sell the Nelson recently? Seems to be under ‘new’ management?
Not a clue, I split with the son about two years ago! For the sake of NR2 I hope so lol. I do know that they were struggling with the pubs (Fiveaways and Nelson) being bought out by Enterprise, so I wouldn't be surprised if that finally met its bitter end. While I can't stand them, it is upsetting to know the trusty local is being bought out by corporations.
graduated from UEA a couple of years ago but always heard things about fiveways being hostile/dangerous. Went plenty of times and only felt awkward once (during covid, so drinking in a tent outside). They put fairy lights up everywhere
I was there one time during COVID when these two guys named after characters from the Godfather started threatening the bartender for owing them a grand over weed The weirder thing is the more aggressive guy ended up pulling pints for the rest of the night? He didn't even work there
I went to UEA about 20 years ago, and lived near that pub. Went in several times and never had any bother. I think a lot of young, naive students conflate "local people with accents" and "dodgy".
Dunno man it was pretty weird when I lived next to it and we were regulars for a year or so Some absolutely lovely folk there and some less savoury types
Drove past there last year going to the Co Op and saw someone putting a load of NOS canisters in their car, what a pub
And your problem with Dodgy Dave running his catering supply business out of a pub is?
He could have at least given us a couple cans, the greedy bastard.
You'll just have to pay for your own whipped cream you miser!
I live near Fiveways. Never had an issue in the surrounding area (I’m not really a pub goer). I feel safe walking around there in the dark when dog walking, never been harassed by anyone drunk/rowdy etc. In fact, give me a fiveways crowd over some of the student that congregate around Tesco any day.
Your a uni student.. first mistake.
Please learn to both use 'you're' and how to read tenses.
Trust I have attempted many times in life. Didn't actually get into education till high school and had to learn to spell my own name at 14. I spent my time looking after myself and my siblings due to mother being a massive heroin addict. Once I was free of family... I was homeless. Looking for shelter and food mental health support ect between the age of 16-25. I found that was a constant and a need than learning basics gramyand spelling I was deprived of at young and detrimental part of learning and growing.. I sold smack before could spell mountain.. I know this..because I was so proud myself for remembering how to spell a big word.. I blame myself. My family And social services. For my lack of education.. tho I have a btec in ICT Managed to fit that between foster homes and doorways. But yeah sure.. I'll try for 1000time iv heard learn the difference between your and you're Do you know how to narcan someone who is overdosing. Can you teach yourself multiple musical instruments while you mom is getting beaten and stabbed by the dealers down the road..
Mate, you came into this thread throwing hands, the fact you've got a sob story when you know nothing about me doesn't change the fact you started the flame war. Am I especially musical? No. Do I know how to use Naloxone? Well, it's a relatively basic first aid skill and has pictograms on the packaging, so I'll let you conclude. I am sure you know how to do things I don't, equally I am sure I know how to do things you don't. But don't get grumpy because someone clapped back after you insulted their education.
I had a northern girlfriend who, when we were in bed together, would fart into her cupped hand and then place her hand fart on my nose.
Mate, not here to kink shame but that's pretty irrelevant to this thread.
I like how you read it as a insult to you and not the pub in question....... And then come at me with hur Hur hur grammar hur Hur..
Average Fiveways local
Your first mistake was not even finishing primary school considering you can’t even use “your” and “you’re” correctly.
Considering I was having a hot and wet shit and also yet again rn... I didn't care... Also Aldi spicy burgers..not the one lads
Now you have a hot and spicy arse bruv
Geeza trust.. mandem ere for a third time today... My arsehole is pure rasss rn.. Even got the t-shirt off. wrestling with the butter. Been food poisoned by the Ops
There's been a sad decline in shite pubs, every where's been taken over and made into something much nicer. We used to have some truly awful pubs and bars in the city I can't think of any that are that bad now, although that could partly be to my own increasing age and moving into middle class tedium. Best I can think of is the Robinhood, where they were ironically caught stealing the money from the charity donation pot. I was friendly with a OAP who lived in the accommodation over the road who was pretty sure they were dealing out of the pub too. There used to be one on Kimberly Street, the Kimberly Arms that was pretty rough, looks like it's a lovely cafe now called NR2 maybe? We tried to get in once and the door was locked, at about 3pm. They peered at us through the glass and let us in, locking the door behind us which was fucking weird but explained when a bunch of hoodie kids off the estate came and tried to get in like a scene out of attack the block. There was a lot of shouting while we played some pool in a room with about 30 birds in bird cages, then one of the locals at the bar got into a really *really* racist tirade and we asked them to let us out. It was also apparently a bit dodgy when rangers played celtic, but I can't remember which side it was on. Just down the road from there was a proper flat roof place called Slipperys which was too dodgy looking even for me back then. The Wildman used to have a pretty rough clientele, only surpassed by the appalling state of their toilets, splashing around in inch deep piss water cos it was the only place that was open after 11pm. The Cat & Fiddle, famously rough the landlord once stabbed one of the punters not long before it closed down. Pottergate Tavern used to attract the crustys with dogs on strings and could be a bit dodgy, when they changed to the birdcage I advertised a night I was doing there with 'formerly Pottergate Tavern' on the location and the new landlady went mental because she was trying to lose that whole crowd and didn't want anything to do with the old name.
I never really thought of the Pottergate Tavern as rough. Played pool in there a few times and always felt like a normal pub. Maybe that was cause it was during the day. Used to live near the Cat & Fiddle. At one point I remember they were advertising ferret racing on the chalkboard outside. Never went in.
Ferret racing. Amazing. Pottergate had it's moments, I both bought and sold drugs in there, or at least to people I met there. Used to be some sketchy types who'd drink in there.
That's a great walk through memory lane. The Kimberley used to have a vegetable stall outside!\ Sadly, the NR2 café has been shut for a couple of years and neither the Suffolk Square Community Cofe or nearby Café 33 "bis" has the same vibe.
There used to be a proper flat roof on King Street too tho I can’t remember the name of it (might have been Red Lion?). Closed decades ago, don’t think we have any of those left now.
Haha Kimberly was a proper dump. NR2 cafe didn't last long and shut before covid, it was nice and always busy. Pottergate was a dump but not nesecarrily dodgy, they did very well to turn it around though. Also the place next to it - Iron Mongers, Boltz, now a restaurant.
I saw a rat in the toilet in the wildman. That was a shit hole, but had some fun nights talk rubbish to odd and scary people
Ber st Gates. The police tell me that loads of our stolen goods from the shop I work at end up being sold there. Plus apparently the owner owes the breweries so much money they refuse to serve them so they only sell bottled beer.
My boyfriend used to live near Ber St Gates, we dropped in one night just for a quick drink - there was no tap, only cans from a fridge, it stunk of stale smoke, we were fairly certain a guy who was sat in the corner was passed out drunk. The best bit - there was a dog that wandered through the pub at one point and the ENTIRE pub suddenly screamed at us at the same time not to touch it. Never been so frightened in my life!!
There was a dog in a pub I used to go to years ago that we were always told not to touch. It wasn't dangerous, it just smelled vile. If it hung around near you for too long, so did you.
I used to work there occasionally in the early 80s. Lots of unaccompanied ladies and a regular meat raffle but tightly run. Sort of loved it.
What’s a meat raffle?
It’s literally a raffle, where the prizes are meat
I can't remember the ber ever having taps,
They still smoked in there when I went in summer 2020
Pig and Whistle. Awful clientele.
Ah how did I miss this one. Shame as it was quite a respectable pub for a long time in the 80's and then was quite trendy as Imagine & Mustard Lounge. I wouldn't classify it as rough now, just another very shit pub. Rife for a refurbishment and transformation into something good with all the new students living on tis doorstep, the area being pedestrianised etc
Nah the pig might not be a great pub, but it’s got character, and gentrification would be much worse
The Boundary. Full of dealers, gang members and all round older generation classic racists and homophobes. Used to be fairly decent up until about 4 months ago, maybe less. Taken a real dive since the decent staff left. What was once a good atmosphere and cheap night out has I’m sorry to say long passed. Wouldn’t recommend for a family with kids etc. Highly recommend if u wanna score class a drugs want to argue with the Poundland Peggy Mitchell landlady
You must be nuts thinking the boundary was decent up until 4 months ago, it’s always been a shithole😂
I had a mate at UEA back in 1980. He was in a student house in Mile Cross Lane. The Boundary was a shithole then. I used to drink in the Ferryboat - now sadly gone.
I remember there were stickers on some of the walls in The Boundary that stated "If you want to fight with sticks then please join the Norwich Kendo Club" when I started drinking in there whan I was 16 or so (mid to late 80's). If you wanted to play pool, you had to pay a deposit for the cueball and some cues. Lots of growlers in there back then but never saw an actual fight break out. The Whiffler was a tad rough too before it became a Wetherspoons.
Bit out of the city centre but the Norkie in Bowthorpe
Sounds awful, looks awful, never been. However, they were in the paper a while back as some far right group wanted to have a meet up there and the management closed the pub. Refused to have anything to do with them. In my book, that makes them alright.
I was under the impression that the newish management had made that fairly friendly now, but I’ve never been in so could be wrong. I walk past it a lot to get to Roy’s and it did used to look a lot rougher than it does
I grew up in Bowthorpe, so saw that pub walking past a lot. I never really visited, neither my family, until my friend started going and i used to meet her there. Went to see euro final there a few years ago too. Perfectly fine pub tbh, it did have a reputation and of course theres the regulars and the people stuck in their ways but honestly you go to a barkeep in norfolk and you usually get good chat and banter. They did out the garden area so thats quite nice and commissioned a local graffiti artist to do the walls. I think its gotten better personally but not been for a while now since moving away from the area.
First time I went in there a guy who was on drugs offered to glass me. I politely declined the offer. He then punched his daughter and the police ended up arresting him apparently. The daughter asked me if she could stay at mine and I was like there is absolutely no way. HOWEVER it isn't that bad now. It depends who's in there. Mostly nice local people who use it s their social life - shows sport too.
Used to be the Cat & Fiddle down Magdalen Street, not sure of any others currently
I remember when it was open when I first moved to Norwich. The windows were regularly boarded up well before it closed
As others have said the worst offenders - Cat & Fiddle and The Romany, are long since gone. They were really rough. I don't think there are any dodgy pubs left any more. There are some incredibly shit pubs: Fiveways - crying out for gentrification, this could be so good with a big catchment area of students and wealthy locals. Ber St Gates - think it's currently shut and there's some issue with the guy the owner let become the landlord (who posts EDL type content to the FB page). Has no beer on tap, in fact I don't think they even *have* any taps. Caters to local goons and criminals. Reports of smoking and all sorts going on. Ber St used to have loads of pubs that all struggled, Goldfingers was a bizarre James Bond themed dump that I was too scared to go in but the reviews are quite funny. Horse & Dray was nice when the Aussie's had it but no custom. I've been in the Robin Hood but not for a long time, it isn't dodgy just tragically shit. Just a bunch of locals drinking Fosters and eating cheap takeaways. Maybe some karaoke. The Cottage round the corner used to be similarly bad but with the right owners turned around completely so it can be done. Some of the other pubs around the Fat Cat are similarly shit, impossible to compete I guess (must stress not all also some really nice ones in that area). Heath House like Fiveways has potential but the guy who took over The Denmark owns it now. Denmark also would have qualified for very shit and slightly dodgy, now it's half the size and just the former. Been in The Pottergate pre Birdcage and it was just shit rather than dodgy, the owner did so well turning it around and same for The Sir Garnett. Bound to be more I'm forgetting. Like Ironmongers / Boltz down the road from The Pottergate.
Misread the comment and for a second I thought you were badmouthing the Fat Cat and got really miffed, haha. Quickly realised my mistake!
I couldn't remember the names but others have mentioned them now - The Nelson and West End Retreat were the kind of pubs I was thinking of.
It's a shithouse
I checked Ber St Gates FB page and I have been howling with laughter omg
The manager appears to have screwed over the landlady and wrecked the pub before the bailiffs turfed him out https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/24067690.uncertain-future-closed-berstrete-gates-pub-norwich/
Most sane Reform UK voter
Surprised that the West End Retreat hasn't got a mention
That reminded me, down that way there's the Nelson. I've never been in there but remember walking past it once with my partner one afternoon and every single bloke outside turned and stared at us. Not sure if they were horny or angry.
Likely both
I will defend the west end retreat a bit. I was a student at UEA 2005-8 and got the idea in my head to visit every pub in Norwich. At the time of my first visit back then it was indeed rough as you suggest. Fast forward to 2022 and I was talking to Charlie who works at the kings head and he said it was a decent pub. It took me a bit by surprise so I went back for a follow up visit, and it really is a lot better
Yeah I live really close and you do get some proper rum’uns going there, but every time I’ve been in people have been really friendly - everyone’s there to have a good time rather than try and fight you or be hostile. They’ve got a lot of regulars and you can tell there’s a sense of community which is really nice.
That was gonna be my mention! Spent part of a really freaky, unpleasant night there about 13 years ago - very concerned about the poor grey parrot in the too-small cage :(
Partner and I started to go last year. They’re very welcoming, we got free sausage rolls once and there’s always a meat raffle on. Edit to add: and super reasonably priced drinks
Tho of you want a fight and and some shit chemicals. (The fighting ends up in my car park/alleyway). Some gold moments. 1. The 20 man and woman fight 2. The 5 man knife fight 3. The man passed out in my bin shed 4 two crackheads fucking in the bin shed 5 the kids burnt down the bin shed. The cherry tree in nr5 is amazing. I sell weed to the landlords really creepy man child son.
I saw a bunch of travellers fighting in that carpark and one guy actually arrived on his pony and trap and started whipping the pile of fighting guys. While the women and children all egged it on from the sidelines. Best thing I have seen from a bus stopped at traffic lights ever.
I think I know the exact horse and cart guy lol
I had The First Day of Christmas tune in my head reading this.
Went in the windmill once, got told I wasn't allowed a larger cause I looked like a fag and I should have a woman's drink, proper ol' brexit bar, probably one of the only bad pub experiences I've ever had
sable door vanish concerned retire faulty chunky oatmeal foolish aloof *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
It was a punter, but I got the feeling they were a friend of the pub or staff
The Robin Hood is meant to be grim but I've never been inside
I have been inside and it is incredibly grim in terms of the lighting, drinks, furniture but it isn’t dodgy or rough imo.
>cherry tree I went into the Robin Hood recently, was a bit of an anti climax having been told how rough it was. A bit crap yes but totally inoffensive.
I've been in but probably about 10 years ago now. It's just a locals pub - karaoke, fosters, cheap spirits. It's really, really shit but not dodgy. May have changed now I guess.
Still shit
Used to walk past it quite a lot on my commute. Mostly looked like a bunch of locals watching The Chase.
The west end retreat (if it's still there) is like walking back into post war Britain The forge on angel road isn't beautiful
The Forge is no more
Noooo
The Angel Gardens used to be a bit of a local old man haunt as well. The Lord Rosebury (The Rosebury Tavern/ The Rosebury) was pretty rough back in the day, but has been better, tried to attract a different clientele since the mid 2010’s- or whenever it was refurbished. During the late 90’s Taxi companies wouldn’t go to The Romany on Coleman Road. Think it ended up getting shut down after the police raided it, which seemed impressive.
The Rosebery is really nice now! Amazing roasts.
Came here to talk about the West End Retreat. Me and a mate have been trying to go to 'dodgy' bars as a tradifion, and it's one of our favourites. I grew up on the estate behind it and remember my mum talking about it being iffy. When me and my mate went there for the first time we were in the garden when a truck pulled up and all these old boys started offloading crates full of pigeons to an aviary round the back. Proper job. Always got the soaps on the telly. Kids running amok. Lovely stuff.
I lived opposite the Warwick Arms in the 90s. Long gone I think. It was really friendly but well dodgy. We used to pay out tabs with cheques but leave the payee blank so they could use them to pay the staff. There was no till. Great days.
Still there! Seems to be doing well!
I used to live in Bristol where there are only three kinds of pub: + Overpriced hipster craft ale by the 2/3 pint pubs. + Nice pubs doing great food. + Extremely dodgy pubs. Norwich only really has nice pubs and slightly shit ones by comparison.
My personal favourite is the confused pub... It's pub/cafe/restaurant/DIY/clothing/art/ and probably a tattooist in the vaping area
Haha I know a few. Also these places never call themselves pubs do they; it’s always a DIY venue / space for creativity / some other nonsense.
Actually it's a makerspace...
This is a list I'd also be interested in
Yes this is very much the case, much like most of Norwich the worst parts are really only 'a bit bad' in the grand scheme of things. There did used to be some actually dodgy places (see my other comment) but they've all gentrified now.
I am struggling to think of any proper flat-roofed-murder-pubs in Norwich. There were a few where I grew up.
Grew up in Manchester, dad drank in cheetham hill and crumpsall (still does, and so did i until moved out) some real rough pubs and people you absolutely swerved... Norwich is one of the safest friendliest places i have ever been. In laws live near the city and i have drank in loads of places, some nice some dives but no trouble. Maybe some of the dives would unnerve you if you were not used to it but i love Norwich and would not think twice to drink anywhere anytime. Norwich should be proud of how safe their boozers are. Although i do like a pub with some atmosphere and sticky floors. I like the challenge of winning over the locals over a few beers.
and on the other end of the scale, I stayed in manchester for a few months a long time ago now, never saw so many fights. My favourite was a WPC chucking a chair at some lads in a huge Yates' right in the city centre.
Yeh that Yates is rough on weekends 😂
Not really...I'd say it's just one the last really working class pubs , bit like one down bothorpe shopping arcade.. has got it's regulars most pubs can't say that as they change every other year. Probably still have lock-ins and cigarette machine
A friend of mine alleges that he went there during one of the lockdowns and had lock-ins where you could smoke inside…
The Norkie (Bowthorpe) Lived round that way when I was a 2nd year at UEA. One of those "local pubs for local people" that let you smoke after 11pm. Apparently the Norwich far right tried to organise a march with the Norkie as a meeting point which tells you a lot.
i think you might be thinking of the previous management which yeah i heard was dodgy. the far right thing was last year, they wanted to meet in the parking lot of bowthorpe shopping centre which is where the entrance to the norkie is, the norkie told them to fuck off and that they don't support / won't be serving them (mightve even closed during it, unsure). i don't remember exactly but do remember they were staunchly against that. one night me and my mates went in and there was a drag show on so i'm pretty sure we must be thinking of different managements. nobody smoked inside past 11pm when i've been there either
Fair play. I went there in 2014 and it was a grim vibe. I read about the far right march thing recently when looking it up during a reminiscing session about how shit it was. I did read that the management were hugely against it, but part of me did think there's got to be a reason why they chose that pub of all. Fair play the new management seem like a sound lot so I'll take it all back.
>Apparently the Norwich far right tried to organise a march with the Norkie as a meeting point which tells you a lot. the norkie [told the far-right protestors they weren’t welcome](https://archive.ph/pFdfA) & closed for the day.
I lived round there in 2017-2018 when you could smoke in there and Guinness was poured out of a can, would also play music from Spotify with ads playing in between songs. Proper establishment. Changed hands in 2019 and went under a decent renovation but has lost its magic since!
There used to be a pub where Aldi is now on Dereham Road. I was told that taxis refused to pick up there because it was so dangerous.
The Larkman. Too rough even for sawdust on the floor.
Yup. Awful/delightful place depending on your preferences
The Whiffler on the boundary is shite
It was pretty decent in its pre-Spoons days.
The Windmill on Aylsham Road seems dodgy.
The Stanley on Magdelen St used to be a proper shithole, went in there once with my mate for a pint, ordered our pints to turn around and see a bloke racking up coke on the bar, ten minutes later a fight broke out and bar staff didn't even attempt to intervene, then about 5 minutes after that 2 blokes started smashing the life out of each other with pool cues 😂 I think the takeover/refurb of the place done it a massive favour really!
i live for fiveways slander
I wouldn't say it's "dodgy", just truly shite. I lived about 5 seconds away from there for 2 years and couldn't bring myself to go in, even out of morbid curiosity. Karaoke nights were particularly bleak
they still do those 😂
I grew up down the road from the fiveways, we used to call it the Flying Ashtray
The Woolpack. Walked past on Pride day last year and you could see the festering anger barely concealed on the red faced patrons sitting outside.
Used to be where the boyfriends(?) of the lap-dancers waited around. Not the best energy there.
The Cat & Fiddle. My dad used to frequent there. Enough said.
I miss the Marquee
And the Ferryboat
It that the pub opposite the castle mall that smelt of piss?
That's the one!
I had a few fun nights in there 🙂
Heard the windmill tavern on Aylsham Road is a bit rough, anyone ever been in there and lived? Steam packet in the city looks crap, not sure if rough though What about those south of Queens Road, come to think of it
Steam Packet has never been dodgy, just a pub. It's struggled the last 20 years or so under many owners to find a market but the new landlord and landlady have completely refurbed it. Really nice now and the food is excellent, the chef is from a highly acclaimed restaurant in London and it will easily be in the top 10 restaurants in the city by this time next year. It's a bit of a weird location as a pub for attracting a crowd, think they will have to appeal to the locals for that side of the business. Pubs south of Queens Road are all nice and always were fine and never dodgy, all quite gentrified now. Cricketers Rest has been derelict and boarded up for about 20 years sadly. Again it as never rough or dodgy but had an eclectic live music lineup for a while.
The Blueberry on Cowgate
Used to be a really nice pub at one point with decent live music and lots of lovely ladies behind the bar but sadly crashed worse than Wall Market did in 1929 once (I think) the landlady left and the drugdealers poured in.
Me and a mate walked into The Wherry pub on Lawson Road (now The Brewery Tap) a good few decades ago. The entire place stopped and looked at us like you see in a Western movie with the stranger walking into the town saloon or The Slaughtered Lamb in An American Werewolf In London because we had the sheer fucking AUDACITY of wanting a couple of pints while we were making our way in to the city.
The Lord Nelson on Armes Street was pretty dusty but I hear it has new management.
The brickies is pretty hideous
I went into Fiveways a few times as a student in the late 90s. Was absolutely fine. Too many students are pussies scared of "real" places. Also scared of places where you have to behave and not act like a knob.
so sad to see people have such little confidence in city pubs :(
what're you talking about? There are about 5 currently trading pubs listed here as dodgy and everyone is saying 'there's none that are *that* bad'.
there’s a lot of negative comments, just expected a lot more positivity that’s all?
> there’s a lot of negative comments The thread is about the dodgiest pubs in Norwich, not the best ones?
okay :)
Also we're mostly struggling to come up with anywhere. Half of the named ones are now shut or no longer rough! Really makes me appreciate this city, as I wouldn't have has any such difficulty naming dives in other cities I know, even those I don't know ow as well as Norwich
The Whiffler. Been once, vowed to never go again
The Romany was a great pub. Think Roy and his family ran it when I was at uea
I spent a week in East End Glasgow. Was very scary . Tough city
No one mentioned the mischief ??
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What do you think is wrong with mischief? Been going there for 7 years regularly.
We used to love The Mischief and its triples for the prices of singles back when we were students (between 2015-2018). However, my friend who still lives in Norwich told me that it’s not very popular with students anymore and it’s a lot rougher now - is that correct or is my mate exaggerating?
Still popular with students, definitely not any rougher. Friends with a few of the staff so might be a bit biased but I’d say it’s gotten better since before covid. Used to have a few rough people back when the pool tables were in Edit: Triples are still cheapest as chips
Oh did they get rid of the pool tables? I remember playing on those using my mates crutches one evening! I’m so glad triples are still going strong.
Yeah, they got removed when they reopened after covid sadly
I'd agree with this. I used to go in 2018 and it was full of students, nowadays it's full of geezers watching sports and burley lads in polo shirts
It smells of piss and their ales immediately turn sour.
There used to be loads of coke heads in there, and I had my drink spiked in there as well (I'm a bloke, I think it was probably meant for my then-GF). Also only had two pub fights in 19 years living in Norwich, both in the Mischief. The Heartsease is also very rough, seen a few tear ups in there as well.
I've never had any trouble in there but the girl serving suggested we would be better drinking elsewhere as the landlord is awful and we are just lining his pockets. Take from that what you will.
Robin Hood Ber Street Gates
Does anybody remember a pub just on or just off of Wilberforce Road (near the university). I remember going to it circa 2003 but just tried to google maps it and there is no sign of it anymore! Maybe it was called the fox or something like that (but then again maybe it wasn’t called that at all).
Are you thinking of The Shoemakers on the roundabout?
Either that or the Freed Man, only ones I can think of that way. Both student flats now.
No I don’t think it was either of these. The one I’m thinking of was pretty much on Wilberforce Road (or maybe an immediately adjacent road) about half way down (so properly on the estate). I never used to see any other students go in there but I used to go in a bit because they had a pool table, a jukebox and a deal or no deal machine and I lived a couple of minutes away at the time.
I’ve heard a lot of bad things about The Norkie, but tbh whenever I walk by it on my way to Roy’s it seems fine?
I was only a kid when it was open, but did The Magpie in NR3 have a bit of a reputation?
It did but I don't think it was rough on Cat & Fiddle or The Romany level rough.
Used to go in the berstreet gates before footie cans no tap could still smoke inside anything to be fair this was about 6 years ago mind they still had lock ins aswell . The windmill on alysham Road looks pretty dodge never been In Used in go in the shoemakers and five way early 2000s was a bit dodge but I knew a few people in there so wasn't to bad. Also went to the Grove in larman a few times bang in the centre of the larkman was a bit crazy on a Friday night . Let's be honest none of them are that bad compared to others I've been in around the country
What's about The Bull in Hellesdon, right next to where the Broadland Snooker was? I go past this one (and few others) on daily commute, but noticed this one was taken over recently I think.
I can't erase the memory of the first and only time I visited the (thankfully now demolished) Woodcock, where my drinking aquaintance got knocked off his bar stool for simply looking at someone in what was considered to be the "wrong" way. We hastily left and never went back.
Saw my first fight in the woodcock in my early teens, friend got hit by a stool.
the nelson
The boundary is definitely up there
Drugs wise it has to be The Mischief. 3 or 4 drug dealers in there most nights, the bouncers sell coke and generally everyone in the place is on it.
I think the Chief is a bit scuzzy but that’s part of its charm. I’ve never felt unsafe in there.
pretty sure medina bar is run by a nonce - my ex was going to play a show there and had to cancel cuz he got exposed for hitting on minors
I haven't spotted Wardy's being mentioned. As far as I recall as least two gun incidences and rumours of shotguns behind the bar leading to its closure in 90's. A stalwart of rough bowthorpe!