Illustration by John Sadler www.johnsadlerillustration.com

• AS the pubs reopen and before we start getting all nostalgic about how it’s just not the same as before, it’s worth recording how the culture of our public houses had already changed almost beyond recognition even in my short 50-odd years as a drinker.

First of all most pubs were empty five nights a week in Camden Town, with just a handful of lonely young lads sipping pints and missing home.

Only at weekends did they fill up with men and women of all ages and often raucous sing-songs would blast out until chucking out time.

Punch-ups were a very regular occurrence. I’m amazed that there are so few these days. And that scarcity existed long before social distancing made pub fights problematic to stage within the rules.

W HALL
Camden Road, NW1