Trophy Tavern
One of the unusual Bristol LH coaches, bodied by Marshall of Cambridge, which were, I think, unique to the Royal Blue coaching fleet of the Western National Omnibus Co. It is seen shortly after leaving Marlborough Street Bus & Coach Station, Bristol, on Sunday 15th May 1977.
Not normally an habitué of public houses, I was once or twice prevailed upon to patronise the Trophy Tavern, across the road there. It was one of several pubs grouped around the bus station. Bus drivers preferred the White Horse, a matter of paces from the bus station's exit and usually standing room only, or the Bay Horse, a more commodious establishment a hundred yards further off.
Perhaps the Trophy Tavern was a little too genteel, with its pastel-coloured plush seats and, I seem to remember, nautically themed décor and decorative impedimenta. It occupied the ground floor of Avon House, constructed in great haste as the headquarters of the County of Avon (laughter) and must, therefore, date from about 1973-4. It seemed rather like the bar of a large Rank cinema, and the relief sculpture that formed the exterior of the ground floor was but a foretaste of the period delights within. What a pity I never thought to photograph such things. I hated them then and, incapable of sloughing off the accumulated prejudices of a lifetime, don't really care for them now. But they have acquired Period Charm and it would be nice to think that something remained. At the time they seemed permanent ...certain to endure for the rest of my life at least... but Google Maps street view shows a Beefeater restaurant called the Bristol Fashion. The bas-relief affair has been removed and replaced by a grisly post-modern arcaded frontage.
Trophy Tavern
One of the unusual Bristol LH coaches, bodied by Marshall of Cambridge, which were, I think, unique to the Royal Blue coaching fleet of the Western National Omnibus Co. It is seen shortly after leaving Marlborough Street Bus & Coach Station, Bristol, on Sunday 15th May 1977.
Not normally an habitué of public houses, I was once or twice prevailed upon to patronise the Trophy Tavern, across the road there. It was one of several pubs grouped around the bus station. Bus drivers preferred the White Horse, a matter of paces from the bus station's exit and usually standing room only, or the Bay Horse, a more commodious establishment a hundred yards further off.
Perhaps the Trophy Tavern was a little too genteel, with its pastel-coloured plush seats and, I seem to remember, nautically themed décor and decorative impedimenta. It occupied the ground floor of Avon House, constructed in great haste as the headquarters of the County of Avon (laughter) and must, therefore, date from about 1973-4. It seemed rather like the bar of a large Rank cinema, and the relief sculpture that formed the exterior of the ground floor was but a foretaste of the period delights within. What a pity I never thought to photograph such things. I hated them then and, incapable of sloughing off the accumulated prejudices of a lifetime, don't really care for them now. But they have acquired Period Charm and it would be nice to think that something remained. At the time they seemed permanent ...certain to endure for the rest of my life at least... but Google Maps street view shows a Beefeater restaurant called the Bristol Fashion. The bas-relief affair has been removed and replaced by a grisly post-modern arcaded frontage.