I just calculated the number of years I've known the Cross Keys (Llandudno) for. I remember walking there with my mother in the blackout - so it must have been a Saturday night, Summer 1944, and then I would have been 6 years old. So 66 years. :speechless: At that time The Cross had a side door at the left of the frontage. That led to a corridor with a door off it immediately to the right which led to a smallish room called the Snug. Further down the corridor was an off sales hatch from which Mam would buy me a glass of lemonade, park me on the bench which ran alongside the wall of the frontage at right angles to it, then go into the snug to meet my Nain and any of her sisters there. Our outing lasted about an hour during which I'd get regular visits to see if I was OK and hadn't wandered off. ZXZ
Much later on my favourite had to be the London in Upper Mostyn Street. When we were playing at the Stage Door, the London had slipped in to be my temporary home and when the owner Roy (Watson) and Margot were absent I used to help run the pub with the then cellarman my old mate Mel Taylor. Long wet days! See to the cellar and the kitchen in the morning, serve through opening times, separate fighting customers, run the darts team (a 16 year old Nev Southall was a star), then, as we had accommodation, the bar was sometimes open until 4 am. The Welsh Opera were regulars when in town as was the national rugby team and many others, as well as regulars 'Chalkie' and 'Winnie' amongst others. Interestingly heady and sometimes foggy headed days.
Mike.