They opted for the upstairs room at The Old Royal as the destination for their goodbye celebration due to its proximity to their former place of work and more significantly because the venue was free...don't believe all you hear about banker's bonuses!!
The function room upstairs at The Royal (as it is usually known) was ideal for the party just the right size and, although there was no real ale on draught, the bar staff were happy to fetch my pints of Marston's Pedigree from the bar downstairs.
We filled our boots at the fabulous buffet and, given the months abstinence from proper food and drink, I can't begin to describe how nice my pint and samosa combo tasted !!
Unfortunately an early train to London the next day meant that we had to leave before nine which in hindsight probably wasn't a bad thing as Shelley's friend Michelle (who also hadn't drunk for a month) was already suggesting a round of shots at that early hour of the proceedings !!
UPDATE February 8th
A torrential downpour meant that our criteria when choosing a pub to move to from The Old Joint Stock was simple, it had to be one that was showing the Scotland v England six nations rugby international and, more importantly, it had to be very near !!
The Old Royal fitted the bill nicely, although we'd already visited the pub once in 2014 we only went to the upstairs function room, this time we frequented the downstairs bar which was full of shoppers, sports fans and punters eager to escape the dreadful wet weather. Pleasingly England were ten nil up when we took our seats near the tv.
One of the best things to happen to pubs in recent years, in my opinion, has been the introduction of the smoking ban, unfortunately our visit to The Old Royal was one occasion when I'd have been happy to have smoking reinstated as somebody near us (we think we knew the culprit) emitted foul stenches on a regular basis. It was almost enough to put me off my pint of Marston's Pedigree !! If he'd been an animal there would have been a strong argument for him to be put down !!
The rain outside and the departure of the alleged culprit meant that we stayed for another so I opted for a pint of Greene King IPA to celebrate us crushing the rebellious Scots twenty nil.
UPDATE 28th February
My third visit to The Old Royal was a truly historic one not only were me and friends Kap and Lindsey joined by my youngest nephew Simon (together with my brother Dave, his wife Julie and my other nephew Tom) on the occasion of his 19th birthday. The night also produced an event that I didn't think I'd ever witness.....Tom got a round in.....
He didn't seemed too impressed when he passed me my pint of Greene King IPA and I remarked 'Thanks Tom, I don't know whether to drink it or frame it ' !!
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