Newhaven

Old Chain Pier

Photograph from Edinburgh Calotype Album  -  Volume 2, Page 95  -  Chain Pier ©

Recollections

Please also click here to read a Brief History of the Old Chain Pier

 

Recollections

1.

Mike Jarron
East Lothian

Betty Moss

2.

Geoff Bonney
South Africa

+ Question

+ Answers

Betty Moss

The Bar

Clients

Argument

Return Visit

3.

John White
Edinburgh

Betty Moss

4.

Donald Grant
Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland

Sunset over the Gasworks

O'Rourke Family

5.

Jack Craig
Silverknowes, Edinburgh

Today

6.

Stephen Paterson-Fife
Singapore

Betty Moss

O'Rourkes

'Lock-in'

'Working Girls'

7.

Rab Duncanson
Sunbury, Victoria, Australia

Betty Moss

8.

Jim Gentle
Aberdeenshire

1960s

Beer

Betty Moss

9.

David King
Trinity, Edinburgh

History

10.

Harry Hunter
Fife, Scotland

Gallery over the Sea

Gents

11.

Trish Lack
Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland

Betty Moss

12.

Allan Dodds
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England

Betty Moss

13.

Douglas Bryce
Pilton, Edinburgh

Jeff

14.

Steve Aitken

Barman

Betty Moss

Cellar

15.

Stuart McCann
Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia

Betty Moss

16.

Ian Ruickbie,
Johannesburg, South Africa

Betty Moss

17.

Peter Stubbs
Edinburgh

Food

-  The Old Chain Pier

-  The Starbank

-   Porto & Fi

18.

Ian Ruickbie
Johannesburg, South Africa

Betty Moss

19.

Malcolm J B Finlayson
Arbroath, Angus, Scotland

Grocery Shop

Spirits

Residence

20.

Carole Mills (née Manson)
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Chaise Lounge

21.

Stuart McCann
Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia

Not in  Newhaven

Shops nearby

22.

Iain Ruickbie
Johannesburg, South Africa

Grocer

'Bow Tow'

23.

Eric Arbuckle
Largs, North Ayrshire, Scotland

Shrunken Head

Betty Moss

 

  Recollections

1.

Mike Jarron

East Lothian

Betty Moss

Thank you to Mike Jarron, East Lothian who wrote:

"There are a lot of reminiscences about the Old Chain Pier Bar in Betty Moss's day. eg the time she went storming into the gents' waving her cutlass to sort out a disturbance."

Mike Jarron, East Lothian:  January 30, 2007

 

Recollections

2.

Geoff Bonney

South Africa

Thank you to Geoff Bonney, originally from Hexham, Northumberland, and now living in South Africa, for sending his memories of Betty Moss at the Old Chain Pier in the 1960s.

Geoff wrote:

Betty Moss

"I have a vivid recollection of Betty Moss from a visit in the 1960s.  She was a little spelk of a woman in a brightly coloured kimono, with a gold chain belt, those fancy glasses, & ear-rings dangling onto her shoulders; curly gingery hair, so sparse one could see through to her scalp, eye-brows just painted on with eye-brow pencil, but what a character!

The Bar

"The bar was adorned with an incredible array of memorabilia, from shrunken heads with a variety of weapons and tankards, to loads of business cards and old-style humorous, seaside resort post-cards."

Clients

"I was with friends at a table facing the bar.  Next to me was an attractive, but rather tarty, young blonde; beside her a dapper little man in a business suit. Two young fellows, evidently dockers, came in & went to the bar. Not long after they’d been served the young blonde got up, went over, and started talking to one, a handsome young chap."

Argument

"Suddenly she hung a whacking roundhouse on his jaw, at which, to our amazement, he burst into tears & ran around to the back of the bar. She then picked up his pint & threw it at him. At this Betty picked up a cutlass & chased the blonde out of the pub, locking the door."

It was pouring with rain.  Loud shouting ensued and we could see a high-heeled shoe being brandished above the frosted glass lower-half of the front window. The row subsided after a time and I noticed the young woman’s hand-bag was still on the seat near me. I pointed this out to the little man, still sitting there, and said I wondered if anyone in the pub knew her and where she lived. He said ‘It’s alright. I know her - I’m her husband!’ A while later Betty unlocked the door and we were able to leave.

Driving back along the road we saw the soaking wet young woman, lying in the porch of one of the houses opposite, with her husband comforting her."

Return Visit?

"Sadly, I’ve never had the opportunity to visit The Old Chain Pier pub again, but I’ll never forget it!

I wonder, does anyone know when Betty died and at what age?"

Geoff Bonney, South Africa:  January 11, 2008

 

Question

1960s

David Wylie, Edinburgh, writes:

 "I'm looking for some information regarding the Old Chain Pier.  I have been informed by several people that in the late 1960's people were able to walk out over the pier where there was a small bar at the end of the it.

However I have been unable to find any information on this, are you able to help me?

David Wylie, Edinburgh:  April 3, 2008

Comment

1960s

From the photos and postcards that I have seen of the old pier, it appears that little or nothing was left of it, following the storm in the late 19th century.  The Old Chain Pier Bar is still in business.  It still stands at the end of the old pier, but it is at the southern end of the pier where the pier met the land.

However it is interesting that several people have mentioned walking out over the pier in the late 1960s, so perhaps a short length of pier, close to the land, did survive until then.

Please email me if you  know anything about this.

Thank you.    -  Peter Stubbs,  April 3, 2008

Answer 1

Within three hours of adding the question above to the web site, I received a reply from Frank Wilson.  Thank you Frank.

Francis wrote:

Balcony

"When Betty Moss owned the Old Chain Pier Bar in the mid- '60s the bar was along the seaward wall.  When you entered from the west side there was a passageway on your left before reaching the bar this led to the toilets and on to a rickety balcony overhanging the Forth.

The wooden flooring were spars with gaps of an inch between the spars.  Thank goodness their was no £1 pound coinage then.

The structure had seen better day.  It wasn't for the faint hearted.  That's what your reader must be alluding to.

This is my first reply to any website so hope this is helpful."

Frank (Francis) Wilson, Wester Hailes, Edinburgh:  April 3, 2008

Thanks Frank.  That's helpful.  And your reply is confirmed by message from Ian Taylor, below, which reached me a few hours later, before I'd added your message to the web site.

Answer 2

Ian Taylor, now living in South Glasgow, wrote:

Drinks

"I visited the Old Chain Pier in the mid-'60s, as a quarter of a foursome.  We ordered 2 pints of beer, a gin and tonic and a white wine and soda.

I think the latter two drinks were a bit poncy for Betty and we finished up with 2 pints of beer and 2 halves of lager!

In those days you could go through a door at the back of the pub on to a sort of veranda over the water, in which many glasses were visible, obviously chucked there in high spirits.

How Betty could keep up with this, I don't know.  Perhaps the poncy drinks weren't available because she had no suitable glasses left!"

Ian Taylor, South Glasgow:  April 4, 2008

Answer 3

Thank you to Frank Ferri who replied

Pub Balcony

"The pub did have a little balcony/veranda at back overlooking the sea, but it never ever had a bar there, only the main interior bar  -  except possibly in the 1800s as a ferry point, before the pier was blown away"

Frank Ferri, Newhaven:  May 2, 2012

Recollections

3.

John Wright

Edinburgh

Thank you to John Wright for leaving this message in the EdinPhoto Guest Book.

John wrote:

Betty Moss

"I went to Betty Moss's once with my mate, Norrie Bews.  He was a character and I'm sure Betty's suited him right down to the ground.

I had been pre-warned by him, but thankfully there were no shenanigans that night.  Norrie died at a young age and I think of him often.

John Wright, Edinburgh:  June 7, 2008

Recollections

4.

Donald Grant

Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland

Thank you to Donald Grant for sending me his recollections of drinking in the Old Chain Pier (below) and in The Starbank.

Donald wrote:

Sunset over the Gasworks

"I found all the stories of 'The Chain' as we called it, and it brought back some memories. I well remember the old rickety balcony out the back and spent many summer evenings out there with friends watching the sunset over the gasworks.  Very picturesque !!

It was common to see seals swimming around in the water as well as plenty rather unpleasant items floating around as a result of the antiquated sewage system that was still being used for the city."

O'Rourke Family

"By the time we started drinking there (roughly 1970) Betty had gone, and the pub was owned by a family named O'Rourke who we were led to believe were related to Jimmy O'Rourke who played for Hibs at the time.

I remember that on one occasion they thought they would try a new beer and got a supply of Watney's Red Barrel in.  A few of us gave it a try but decided it was pretty awful stuff.

I don't think it lasted more than a couple of days before disappearing never to be seen again.

It was always a friendly pub when we were there and was reasonably busy no matter what night of the week you were there, which in our case was most nights!"

Donald Grant, Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland

 

Recollections

5.

Jack Craig

Silverknowes, Edinburgh

Thank you to James Craig who wrote:

Today

"The Old Chain Pier Inn has changed quite a bit. It has been enlarged to its commercial advantage, but maybe not to its character.

It used to be tiny.  I can remember ordering a drink and a pie from the stout lady, who I think owned the place. I got the drink, and the pie was slapped on the counter!

It was worth the visit."

Jack Craig, Silverknowes, Edinburgh:  August 25, 2008

Recollections

6.

Stephen Paterson-Fyfe

Singapore

Thank you to Stephen Paterson-Fyfe for posting a message about the Old Chain Pier in the EdinPhoto Guest Book.

Stephen wrote:

Betty Moss

"I remember the Old Chain Pier very well.  I was taken once, as a kid, with my parents to say hello to Betty Moss.

O'Rourkes

"In the early 1970s, I used to go a lot to the pub - in the days of the O'Rourkes?  Although Betty had gone there was still a lot of atmosphere, and the balcony over the river."

'Lock-in'

"I remember one night a guy left, closed the door behind him and took the handle out of the door (by mistake) leaving the rest of us stuck in the pub for a few hours until a locksmith came and let us all out."

'Working Girls'

"There were also various 'working girls' who were locals. They were not so much girls as old pros, with hair in beehive style and black lace dresses."

Stephen Paterson-Fyfe, Singapore (formerly Edinburgh and Fife)
 Message posted in EdinPhoto Guest Book, September 22, 2008

Recollections

7.

Rab Duncanson

Sunbury, Victoria, Australia

Thank you to Rab Duncanson, formerly of Redbraes Place and now living in Australia, who wrote:

Thursday Nights

"I used to drink at Betty's on Thursday nights in the late-1960s with:

-  John Wright  (3 above).
  I worked beside him at Ferranti's and played fitbae wi' him.

-  Joe Exley

-  Peter Johnsone

-  Norrie Bews

Betty Moss

"Betty lived on the other side of the street.  A taxi used to pick her up, do a U-turn and out she would get.

She brandished a cutlass and a starting pistol at closing time and sometimes an old football rackety thing that she would wave round her head."

Beer

"Betty served possibly the worst draught beer in Edinburgh or Leith. If you were a regular, you only drank bottled beer.  The rumour was that you couldn't get a pint if the tide was oot.

No matter what you asked for, draught, lager, Extra, you got the same luke warm light beer."

Whisky

"I remember standing beside two young American sailors one night who, after a mouthful of the ill-tasting brew, decided to sample whisky instead.

They asked for ice in their whisky and Betty replied "Ice?  Dae ye think I'm running a Brothel?  Ice indeed!""

Rab Duncanson, Sunbury, Victoria, Australia:  January 14+15, 2009

Recollections

8.

Jim Gentle

Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Thank you to Jim Gentle, now living in Aberdeenshire, who wrote:

1960s

"The stories above relating to the Old Chain  Pier brought back old memories from the 1960's when we used to drink there.

I remember Betty Moss having a tape recorder playing music and a black & white television on with the sound turned down.

Beer

"The beer was pretty rubbish, but at my age what did  I know? We just liked the atmosphere.

Those were the days of pints of Heavy and pints of Light."

Betty Moss

"One story goes that when a customer complained that the Light was cloudy, Betty replied, "What do you expect for 1s 3d, thunder and lightning?"

She was a real one-off. When we were much younger she could be seen on warm summer days in a sort of bikini lounging outside her pub - not the most attractive sight in the world."

Jim Gentle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland:  November 21, 2009

Recollections

9.

David King

Trinity, Edinburgh

Thank you to David King, Secretary and Webmaster of the Granton History Group, who wrote:

Further Historical Information

"I was interested to see the latest recollections of the Old Chain Pier bar.  Although I live just across the road, I got here after Betty Moss’s days!

Further historical information can be found on these two pages of the Granton History Group web site:

Chain Pier

- Chain Pier Bar

David King, Trinity, Edinburgh:  November 22, 2009

The page in the second link above also includes a small photo of Betty Moss.

 Recollections

10.

Harry Hunter

Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland

Thank you to Harry Hunter who wrote:

Gallery over the Sea

"There was a wee gallery/veranda out the back of the bar which overhung the sea. You walked passed the Gents to reach it."

Gents

"The 'door' for the Gents was a curtain on a spring.  This became shorter with the passage of time and was often less than was decent.

I remember at time Betty would barge in, waving her sword and roust anyone out.  This could be a bit disconcerting, I can tell you"

Harry Hunter, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland:  December 14, 2009

 Recollections

11.

Trish Lack

Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland

Thank you to Trish for writing about her experience of Betty Moss.

Trish wrote:

Betty Moss

"Here is my experience of that fine? 'lady'.

My dad was a seaman.  He was not a drinker, but he knew of betty Moss, so she intrigued me.  One night in the 1970s, I talked my husband and another couple into going to the bar, 'just to see'?

So as you can imagine, we are all, or most of us, at 20, gorgeous and slim. (Those were the days!)  We girls then, certainly were.  So in we went, lambs to the slaughter!

As we entered, all was quiet.  There was only one other person in there, a man.  Betty gave us a look, and I nearly screamed,  but we bravely went in, she asked us what we wanted.  A few orders later, we had our drinks.

The only thing was, the glasses were not clean.  I mean, I saw her shake other glasses out and wipe them with some God awful looking 'cloth'!

My Gin and bitter lemon was in a glass that looked like she had just picked it up from the street!  I really didn't want to upset her, but i really didn't want to drink from that glass!   So I didn't.  We left!

We noticed the postcards on the walls from all over the place.  She certainly was some woman!

Trish Lack, Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland:  January 29, 2010

 

Recollections

12.

Allan Dodds

Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England

Thank you to Allan Dodds who wrote:

Betty Moss

"In the early 1960s, female undergraduate students used to be introduced by their male partners to Betty's as part of their extracurricular liberal arts education because the Old Chain Pier Bar was a legend in its own time.

At closing time, if people weren't mindful of the then strict licensing regulations, Betty would brandish her cutlass and 'skelp' any late drinkers on the 'erse' by way of encouraging them to leave the premises in a timely fashion."

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  February 17, 2010

 

Recollections

13.

Douglas Bryce

Pilton Edinburgh

Thank you to Douglas Bryce who wrote:

Jeff

"Betty had a Barman called Jeff.  One evening a pal ordered two pints and a Hamlet cigar.  After pouring and serving the beer Jeff said,

'We’ve no’ got any Hamlets.'

My pal asked, 'What cigars have you got?''

Jeff went to look again, and said 'I’ve only got  Will's Wiffs or Hamlets.'

To which my pal Tam replied  'Och, well I'll just have a Hamlet then.' "

Douglas Bryce, Pilton, Edinburgh:  March 2, 2010

Recollections

14.

Steve Aitken

Blackburn, Lancashire, England

Thank you to Steve Aitken who wrote:

Barman

"I worked at the Old Chain Pier Bar as a barman while I was a student in the 1970's.  Betty Moss was gone but was still talked about and vividly recollected! I used to have to walk on the rickety wooden platform at the back (which hung over the water) to collect the empties. If memory serves me correctly there were about two or three smallish tables for sitting at and an old wooden rail to stop people falling off."

Betty Moss

"Behind the bar there was a wooden shelf in a sort of recess that had the cutlass proudly displayed, and also two large wooden barrels.  I was told when I started there that the barrels were reputed to hold the remains of Betty's two husbands!

I never did get the chance to look inside, or even to discover if she was married, let alone twice.  It would be nice to know the truth. No doubt the barrels went up in smoke along with everything else in the fire in 2004."

Cellar

"The trap-door was also behind the bar and led to an incredibly deep cellar which you had to climb down a long rung-ladder to get to, about twenty feet or so.  It always used to fascinate me because it must have been well below the water line and yet I don't remember it being damp.

I once forgot that the door was open and headed across the bar to serve someone with an empty glass in my hand and disappeared suddenly as I dropped down the hole. Fortunately my feet hit the stepladder and my elbows stopped me going any further.

It was a great place to work for a while, and was full of real characters. The current pub is very nice, but does not have nearly as much atmosphere!"

Steve Aitken, Blackburn, Lancashire, England:  April 9, 2011

Recollections

15.

Stuart McCann

Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia

Thank you to Stuart McCann, Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia, for posting a message in the EdinPhoto guestbook.

Stuart wrote:

Betty Moss

"For the lass who wasn't impressed with old Bett Moss,  I can tell you that in her younger years she was a 'paragon of virtue'.

I lived opposite the old Chain Pier Bar in the 1930s, and when my Dad was in bed with a dose of the cold, more than once Betty gave me a half bottle to take across the street to him.  Betty was a fine woman and good to us kids.

I'm approaching my 84th birthday on the 18 January 2013. Life has been good to me here, but like most Scots 'my heart is aye at hame'."

Stuart McCann, Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia.  Stuart added: "As you can see we've moved down from the mountains around Swift's Creek and now live in Bairnsdale which is 100 km south of the creek.":

 Message posted in Edinphoto guestbook, 2 January, 2012

Recollections

16.

Iain Ruickbie

Johannesburg, South Africa

Thank you to Iain Ruickbie, Johannesburg, South Africa, who wrote:

Betty Moss

"I came across this Edinphoto web site page by chance, and found the various comments and memories of the Old Chain Pier quite fascinating.  Here are mine:

-  I was born within 'crawling distance' of 'The Chain', and in the 1960S it was my local for 10 years.

- Betty died in 1970.  It was reputed that she had signed up to leave her body to medical science, 'This will give the bastards something to think about!'.

-  My brother sold Betty the television that she had in the bar but never allowed the sound to be turned on, except the one night of the Beatles' TV spectacular in 1964.

- The comments on this page about swords, shrunken heads, bamboo glasses etc are all true.  However everyone seems to have forgotten the pink elephants.

-  When Betty died her son who was harbour master in Kowloon came back to oversee the sale of the pub, and then went back to Hong Kong.

-  Betty’s sister lived a little bit longer, as did the two wee fat dugs.

-  I had a pint at the Old Chain Pier, two weeks ago.  I can honestly say that it is a very nice pub serving good bear and food.  However all my chums from that era have moved over to the Starbank which is even better."

Iain Ruickbie, Johannesburg, South Africa:  June 23, 2013

 

Recollections

17.

Peter Stubbs

Edinburgh

Thanks Ian for your comments in Recollections 15 above.

Food

The Old Chain Pier

"It's good that The Old Chain Pier is still in business, despite the fire that destroyed the interior in 2004, and that you enjoyed your visit there.  I've had a few meals there recently, and enjoyed them all.  The food has been good as has the atmosphere, with the restaurant overlooking the Firth of Forth."

The Starbank

"I've never eaten across the road at The Starbank, though I went there several times around 2008 when the Granton History Society used to hold their meeting there.

Unfortunately, it is now several years since the Granton History Society last held a meeting."

Near Newhaven Harbour

"There are also several other restaurants about half a mile to the east at and near Newhaven Harbour.

One of the most recent to have opened is the café-deli-bistro, across the road from Newhaven Harbour, Porto & Fi, on the corner of Newhaven Main Street  and Craighall Road.

I've enjoyed coffee and scones there.  It also seems to have a good reputation for its meals."

Peter Stubbs:  Edinburgh, 23 June 2013

Recollections

18.

Iain Ruickbie

Johannesburg, South Africa

After reading the message from Iain Ruickbie that I added above as 'Recollections 16' yesterday, I emailed Iain and asked him if he could tell me more about the pink elephants.

He has now replied:

Betty Moss

"Anyone who drank in 'The Chain' in the 1960s would have seen pink elephants, one way or another.

Betty had an eclectic collection of memorabilia most of which was sent to her by her son:

the gaudy kimonos she always wore

the oriental slippers

the bamboo glasses

the extra-long ivory cigarette holders

-  shrunken heads

several dangerous looking swords, etc.

    AND

-  the pink elephants, somewhere on the back wall of the bar."

Iain Ruickbie, Johannesburg, South Africa:  June 24, 2013

 

Recollections

19.

Malcolm J B Finlayson

Arbroath, Angus, Scotland

Thank you to Malcolm J B Finlayson who wrote:

Grocery Shop

"My maternal Grandfather, James Brown, owned the grocery shop opposite the Old Chain Pier for a number of years, probably from the 1920s to the early-1940s.

My uncle Morris assisted, and both enjoyed a good business arrangement with Bette Moss."

Spirits

"Apparently, when Bette ran out of spirits, she would buy a supply from my grandfather.

Very often, at the close of the shop for the day, Morris, who enjoyed a tipple, would cross the road and buy it back - at Bette's prices.  And so the happy business cycle continued for many a year."

Residence

"The shop has been converted into a residence still containing large windows, indicative of it having been a shop at one time."

Malcolm J B Finlayson, Arbroath, Angus, Scotland: 29 August, 2013

 

Recollections

20.

Carole Mills (née Manson)

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Thank you to Carole Mills who wrote:

Chaise Lounge

"Does anyone remember the Old Chain Pier pub at Newhaven?  I remember it from around 1961 or 1962.

It was run by a lady who lay on a chaise lounge.  Anyone would get their own drinks and leave money in the till.  It was workmen from The Shore, mainly."

Carole Mills (née Manson), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (since 1965):  Feb 24+24+25, 2014

Recollections

21.

Stuart McCann

Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia

Thank you to Stuart McCann for writing again after reading the comments from Carole Mills in her Recollections 20 above.

Stuart wrote:

The Old Chain Pier

Not Newhaven

"Carole refers to The Old Chain Pier as being in Newhaven, but it is well and truly in Trinity Crescent.

Newhaven

The Old Chain Pier is, in fact, just under half a mile to the west of the centre of Newhaven, but that seems to be far enough for the people of Newhaven to consider it to be 'not Newhaven'.

I've been told that, for centuries, Newhaven was a community that was very conscious of its boundaries and could be critical of any residents who socialised or married outside the Newhaven community.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  April 21, 2014

Although I went to Newhaven School as a boy, we never considered ourselves to be 'Bow Tows' as the Newhaven lads were called."

Shops near

The Old Chain Pier

Grocer

"I was interested to read in Ian Finlayson's Recollections 19 above that his maternal Grandfather, Mr Brown owned the grocers shop opposite the Chain Pier bar.  Well, two of my pals worked in the shop.

 - John Lambert and his little brother, Andrew.  John drove Brown's grocers shop van."

Butcher

"Jimmy was the message boy for the butcher next door to Browns.  Jimmy made deliveries on his bike to local folk.

I believe that the Lamberts lived in No.8 Trinity Crescent, the building that had two pillars outside its front door.

The Lambert family lived in the basement of No.8.  There were 5 sons** and 3 daughters:

John.

David.  He cut hair at the hairdresser at the foot of Craighall Road.

Andrew. who worked at Browns the grocers,

George. (wee George).

 Ruth (?)

Margaret.

Betty.

How they all squeezed in, I'll never know but they were all lovely people!

Lambert Family

**  Stuart:   Who was the 5th Lambert son?
Was it Jimmy who worked for the butcher?

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  April 21, 2014

 

Age 85

"I had my 85th birthday last month and still going reasonably well. They made us old trawlermen tough."

Stuart McCann, Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia:  February 25, 2014

Recollections

22.

Iain Ruickbie

Johannesburg, South Africa

Thank you to Iain Ruickbie, Johannesburg, South Africa, for writing again.

Iain wrote:

Grocer

 near The Old Chain Pier

"The grocer referred to in Recollections 21 above was eventually taken over by John Lambert, and advertised as such.  It was a licensed grocer.

Many a time, a customer would come in and find no one to serve them, as John and his drinking cronies would be in the cellar which was accessed by a trap door in the floor.

John, on hearing the front door bell ring, would then stagger up and serve . When he closed shop he would cross over the road for a pint with Betty at the Old Chain Pier."

'Bow Tow'

"I went to the primary school at Newhaven.  If you did not live in the village you were definitely not a 'Bow Tow'.   Until about ten or fifteen years ago, there was a pub in Newhaven called the 'Bow Tow Bar'."

Iain Ruickbie, Johannesburg, South Africa:  August 11, 2014

 

Recollections

23.

Eric Arbuckle

Largs, North Ayrshire, Scotland

Thank you to Eric Arbuckle for sending his memories of the Old Chain Pier.

Eric wrote:

Shrunken Head

"Mention has been made of the bizarre items on display at the Old Chain Pier.  I remember, in particular, the shrunken head which during the period when I was a regular bore the message 'That cocktail sure was dry' !”

Betty Moss

"Betty Moss, on being interviewed by one of the posh Sunday newspapers, retorted to the comment that her beer was very cheap with “The b-----s wouldn’t buy it otherwise”.

 Eric Arbuckle, Larges, North Ayrshire, Scotland:  October 18, 2014

 

Old Chain Pier
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