A couple of weeks ago I arrived at the pub on Sunday rather later than usual. I immediately noticed a pong. The source of this became evident as sitting not too far away was a young man and woman of, shall we say, unconventional attire. It was not them though that produced the niff, but their accompanying two rodents, one a ferret and the other a flat faced polecat. The sweet musky smell of the polecat pervaded the pub, but fortunately they left soon after and all was well, leaving us locals shaking our heads with incredulity.
They were back yesterday and in bigger numbers - the humans, not the animals. I noticed the young girl had a kind of cage backpack for her beasties. Again luck was with us. On a very fine day indeed there was nowhere for them or their malodorous mammals to sit, so they went and sat outside, again leaving the sickly smell behind them. I didn't get a chance to have a word with the landlady about her views on this, but to me it didn't seem right to allow such niffy creatures in our small pub.
What do others think?
Pan-C used to keep ferrets. His house stank to high heaven - partly due to the ferrets. They always stayed in the cage though. Who carries ferrets and polecats around with them? Bizarre to say the least.
ReplyDeleteThe landlady will have to get a NO POLECATS sign made specially.
It's amazing what some people regard as acceptable behaviour. In addition to annoying other pub-goers, these animal "lovers" clearly haven't thought about what it must be like for an animal that has evolved to roam in the wild to be bounced around in a tiny cage. Whichever way you look at it, these two are completely selfish.
ReplyDeleteTalismann, you do realize that ferrets are not rodents? They are mustelids, which is a pretty diverse order of Carnivora. This includes the Weasel, Marten, Badger, Mink, etc.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the big deal about bringing these critters into pubs? I thought it was old world tradition to bring them into pubs and put them down your trousers?
If I had my way children and animals would never be allowed in pubs, but then I'm a grumpy old git. Perhaps there should be special pubs just for smelly (all) animals, smelly people and screaming snotty-nosed kids so that they can share in mutual miasma.
ReplyDeletePaul: you've just described the Wellington in Southport last time I was in there!
ReplyDeleteI thought you were Northern and proud of it? Are you don't take your ferret with you everywhere? ;-)
ReplyDeleteThere's a pub on the other side of Manchester that tried to stop the old lads bringing their dogs into the public bar by putting up 'No Dogs' signs. Peace reigned for a few days until they brought in a veritable menagerie one lunchtime. I think the largest non-dog was a goat.
ReplyDeleteSausage: I resisted stuffing them down my trousers and yes, I know they aren't rodents, but you get my drift.
ReplyDeleteHandling inconsiderate customers is one of the hardest parts of the job I find.
ReplyDeleteAs we are in the mountains we get lots of smelly, wet and muddy walkers and dogs. We don't really mind them. That's why our public bar is rough and ready. We have a comfortable bar for posh residents. We also allow down to earth residents in the posh bar, but we'd probably ask them to leave their polecats and ferrets at home.
Kids however.......
Dave: "Kids however..." Exactly. One pub in Southport banned children, not just because they were running wild and being a nuisance in the pub, but were dashing out into a busy street. The licensee told me she was sick of running after them while the parents supped on obliviously, adding, "It's a pub, not a creche."
ReplyDeleteWhy do so many British parents feel it's all right for their offspring to be a damned nuisance to everyone else? Until parents make children behave, I'll avoid pubs that allow them. Parents of well-behaved children tend not to spend 6 hours boozing in a pub letting their bored offspring go on the rampage.
As for animals, I don't mind a well-behaved dog, but I certainly wouldn't frequent any pub that allowed ferrets and polecats.
I was just waiting for the comments about kids. Thanks for not disappopinting me. Why don't parents just cage their nasty offspring up in a cellar so adults never have to see them?
ReplyDeleteRon: you were obviously so keen to take offence about any reference to children that you missed my comment that, "Parents of well-behaved children tend not to spend 6 hours boozing in a pub letting their bored offspring go on the rampage." I've seen that kind of behaviour so often, but my posting clearly accepts there are well-behaved kids and responsible parents. I'm convinced these constitute the majority; as usual, it's the irresponsible minority who attract attention.
ReplyDeleteRedNev, I was actually referring to Paul Garrard's comment.
ReplyDeleteAs a responsible parent, I never my kids with me on a session of more than 5.5 hours.
Okay, fair enough. I don't endorse those extreme comments either.
ReplyDelete