It would appear that the mis-management of the Royal Oak, the once favoured haunt for Charlton diehards, is nearing a conclusion. After it closes it's doors at 11pm this evening it will shut until further notice. Perhaps this is the step that the freeholders finally need in order to take legal action against the leaseholder and absentee landlord, Clive Still. It really is a sorry tale and a classic case of "how not to run a pub." The real tragedy is that Clive has been unable to accept any of the various offers made to him for the pub over the last three years. His valuation has always sat comfortably beyond what anyone has been prepared to pay, a number of them experienced publicans who know the score. Cutting his weekly losses (especially during the close season) is one thing but this could well be the final nail in the pub's coffin in terms of it's potential as a thriving back-street local. I only hope he doesn't live to regret not taking the £69,000 offer he was made at the last-ditch auction in April.
In the meantime, I suspect the Oak might be the place this evening for a free drink or a late one until the pub is dry. Having said that, by it's recent standards, there might not be a lot of 'stock' left to consume.
Oh Dave that is just shocking. Will you be going down. im stuck at work but i might send Ian down. does this mean what we owe the lottery wont need to be paid?
ReplyDeleteVery sad to see a piece of Charlton history dying out like this. You would think matchdays were enough to make it viable.
ReplyDeleteB - I have an appointment with the dentist at 7pm but might make an Elephant Man-like appearance later.
ReplyDeleteVince - That's what's really annoying. If the pub was half-managed outside matchdays it would be viable. The current landlord couldn't hack it and hasn't been hands-on for a couple of years. Run by temporary bar-staff. No food, no maintenance, no care etc etc no beer half the time.
B - I have an appointment with the dentist at 7pm but might make an Elephant Man-like appearance later.
ReplyDeleteVince - That's what's really annoying. If the pub was half-managed outside matchdays it would be viable. The current landlord couldn't hack it and hasn't been hands-on for a couple of years. Run by temporary bar-staff. No food, no maintenance, no care etc etc no beer half the time.
Real shame. Part of our tradition gone. I note you said the RoD will now be your defaut choice Dave. I still like the Bugle but we are running out of options.
ReplyDeleteVery sad to hear, but honestly it was already in decline for some while. After the refurbishment it looked more like a dentist's waiting room in my opinion.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thedabblingduck.co.uk/the_pub/about.asp
ReplyDeleteThe link is to a pub which was closed in a village, its fate was to be turned into housing..until four locals bought it. Now it's thriving, albeit with a change of name.
Shame an independent valuer can't give their assessment of price, and something done.
Anyway, I hope you had a good pint for all of us too far away...
I heard the freeholders are puting a temp. manager in there over the next few weeks. May be a blessing in disguise?
ReplyDeleteAgree with Brenda, re. bonus ball money!
Early reports suggest it may have got a bit messy last night? Could someone please confirm.
It went to pot when he took over and ruined every single character it had. It also stank of bad drains, maybe that's why the beer tasted so bad. Very very sad but there is life after the Oak and it goes by the name of The Rose of Denmark.
ReplyDelete