I'm pretty sure it was late 1978 when Space Invaders caught my eye and cash. By 1987 I was working at the other end of Holborn and didn't get to those pubs.
By 1987 video games had moved on and if a pub still had one it was all combat or shoot-em-ups where you had to gather enhancements. The last time I came across a Space Invaders machine was in this pub in North Wales which you may be aware of. It was in the late 1990s and was a table top one that the then landlord had been made a considerable offer to buy from some Japanese tourists.
WC2 page from "Real Ale in London" - 1981 edition.
Scan.pdf
Never tried Chudley-I think they were in North London,nor Tisbury , from err,Tisbury.Godson's I think evolved from a chain of East End pubs;anyway I remember going by tube (big adventure) to a pub opposite the London(?) Hospital in Whitechapel,where I tried Godson's.Probably novelty value, as they must have been one of the earliest new breweries.
"At that moment I would have given a kingdom, not for champagne or hock and soda, or hot coffee but for a glass of beer" Marquess Curzon of Kedlestone, Viceroy of India.
This , from the inestimable Boak and Bailey, throws light on the murky story:https://boakandbailey.com/2014/08/or...ipster-brewer/
"At that moment I would have given a kingdom, not for champagne or hock and soda, or hot coffee but for a glass of beer" Marquess Curzon of Kedlestone, Viceroy of India.
Chudley was in Maida Vale (Made of Ale...) hence Lord's Bitter. Another was called Local Line with a picture of a train. We had it in our social club for a while, in polypins. Very much a one man band, Tim (iirc) Chudley did the deliveries himself.
According to the breweries section of the aforementioned guide, Godson's were the first new brewery in London in the 20th century.
How times have changed.
Last edited by NickDavies; 18-05-2019 at 08:34.
I knew all three but Chudley probably the least so. Godson was linked to the Murphy chain of pubs in East London. The White Hart in Whitechapel was their flagship pub and more recently became the centre of gravity for One Mile End brewery (check the pub address). The Lord Rodney's Head was one of thir better known outlets, was used for CAMRA meetings and is the place Wittendon visited to sample the beers. Tisbury is a stop on the line from Salisbury to Exeter and this pub was very much associated with the brewery. Visiting this place explains how I have been to the Beckford Arms which has appeared on more than one of those weekend supplement brigade lists.
As for Chudley it all gets a bit vague. The Sekforde Arms in EC1 was originally a rather nice Charringto's pub that became a Free House before Young's took it over. I have a recollection of going there in the 1980s and having a beer called Draught Excluder that was around 6% abv. I THINK it was brewed by Chudleys but can't be certain. I would have tried Chudley beers at other locations but don't have details.
I've had 4 different ELB beers in the Wanstead George this week and they all run rings around the three breweries mentioned!
My 1988 GBG has Godson's Draught Excluder and Chudley's Local Line brewed by Gibbs Mew, as blogged later by B&B. It notes that they took the beers on when Godson Chudley closed in 1987. Draught Excluder is listed as 1066 OG, pokey stuff indeed.
I doubt the beers/brands still exist as trademarks but if they do they'd belong to Marstons via Ushers and Wychwood.
Last edited by NickDavies; 18-05-2019 at 22:00.