Christ it was rough, but it was fun, people were close, everyone knew everyone and stuck up for each other. The Diggers is probably the greatest traditional pub the Uk has ever seen. As an apprentice, I remember being taken in there at 16 with my journeyman and sinking 4 pints of heavy for the first time. It’s that good that the first two didn’t touch the sides, but I was asleep home in be by the fourth at 8.30. A short but sweet Friday night out.

My capacity rapidly improved, but what a pint. I’ve been all over the World and nothing touched it. Everyone I’ve taken there man or woman from all corners utterly agreed.

The Golden Spot was the Yeaman bar and sounds like no change there bar the name thank christ. As for the Polwarth Tavern, my mum still dran in ther until a couple of years ago and Aunty Betty is probably still serving behind the bar.

Happy days and so many hilarious memories. You know when Billy Connolly left his first wife he bought a flat in Bryson Road and became well known around Polwarth. When he moved out he let it to an up and coming young comedian by the name of Robby Coltrane who also frequented these pubs as habit, mixing with us all and found often outside the chippy, with a haggis supper in his geat coat at midnight, having the crack.

Life now in the South of France is very pleasant, but I still gag for a pint of heavy and the gallows banter of the pubs and terraces, no matter how good the cheap wine is down here!

Come on the Jambos!

Thanks

John