22/11/2014
To all our wonderful customers of the past 24 years,
The time has come to end the speculation... After two years on the market, we can finally say we have sold. We will be closing business at the end of trading this Sunday 23rd November.
We hadn't wanted to confirm before now as we were unsure if a sale was going through and we didn't want to disrupt trading. But alas, it has now sold, and we are all now moving onto pastures new.
This is a start of a new era for all of the Daviu family, as The Bricklayers Arms has been such a huge part of all of our lives. Two generations of children have been raised here, over two generations of countless great friends made, and an indescribable amount of fun, laughter, and ridiculous activities had here (some probably too saucy to mention for the facebook public..!).
We just wanted to recall a few memories and give tribute to all the great people that have crossed our doors...
We've seen the pub change from a smaller bar with outside toilets, to having the extensions to fit in those all important teles (Ben's main concern being able to see the football from any vantage point in the bar).
We've seen the garden packed to the back wall, hundreds of people cramming in to see the fantastic England World Cup matches. People were sitting on the wall, ordering takeaways from our Indian restaurant neighbours whilst watching the big screen!
Fancy dress NYE's were always packed; as were every Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in the hey day. People would go out the front and walk round the block to get to the toilets as it was quicker than pushing through the crowds! Millennium in particular was a fantastic night.
We'll always remember Long Haired Dave, our fabulous caretaker, the eternal hippy.
Also, our cellarman, Shorts Dave; busting those shorts every day of the year.
Who can forget when Murray shaved his head for charity; only to ask after being given so many compliments, "Why the f& #* did no one tell me to do it earlier?!"
Also the time Murray ate Swedish "stinky fish". The pub stunk for THREE WHOLE DAYS afterwards.
Wally, wonderful Wally, collecting for The Poppy Appeal every Sunday. You'll always be treasured.
Ben's 2x 50th surprise parties, Ben's 60th pig roast. Ann's surprise 50th and 60th parties. Incredible memories and an unbelievable amount of people turning out each time with birthday wishes. Specifically Sue and Tony performing Dirty Dancing. You were, and still are, fabulous!
Will and Kate's wedding; a fabulous day of celebrations in the pub, feeling great British Pride.
Our beautiful Nana's surprise 70th; thinking she was helping out for a function, she nearly dropped the tray of food she was carrying as she walked into the back room to roars of "SURPRISE!!"
Ben shaving half his moustache for Children in Need, raising hundreds of pounds.
The Bricklayers FC teams, in particular winning the Sheffield Jackman cup! And numerous leagues. Also for bringing so many to the pub on Saturdays and Sundays over the years, including the German teams. They even extended their support to Hen Parties, with one Saturday night ending up with some of the footballers helpfully standing on the tables and stripping butt naked...
The tonne of stag and hen dos passing through our doors.
The countless wedding receptions, Christenings, 'land marked' (and regular) birthdays held in the back room.
Spain winning two Euro Cups and a World Cup consecutively, with 'We Are the Champions' played each time on full volume, not going down so well, for some reason? (Sorry... Not).
Ben demonstrating his Spanish blood and total disregard for health and safety, whilst lighting fireworks with a fag hanging out of his mouth.
To all those supporting the pub quizzes the last three years; thank you for the laughs, competitive banter, and, quite frankly, the rudeness. I'll never forget the sorry decline of team names all becoming ph***ically based. Hundreds of pounds has been raised for Meningitis Research Foundation and Cancer Research UK, well done to you all!
Also the support of everyone who has attended the meat raffle the past three years. Yet more fun, competitive banter and ph***ic references to the Sunday sausages. You all love a bit of sausage.
The Pipe Smokers and The 41 Club. We thank you for your regular charming attendance and devotion to Ann's steak and kidney pies...
All the thousands of wonderful beef and turkey Christmas dinners Ann has cooked; "I never want to see another bloody turkey."
A special mention also to Ann's world famous, chilli con carne. The secret recipe will be taken to the grave...
Thank you to Save, Ringwood, and Grant Thornton for our Manic Fridays! Thousands of lunches ordered by you guys.
We have to mention Barcelona and the banter Ben has had over football; he's spent years of his life up to all hours, laughing, arguing, redintheface debating, standing his ground for his beloved team. Many hours were also spent playing spoof with his "lucky coins".
Ben's amazing hanging baskets and his fake letter from council (i.e. customers) demanding that he "take them down from the listed building as they distracted people from driving"... You could see the steam coming out of his ears!
In 2012, when we were lucky enough to watch both the Olympic and Paralympic torches (held by our very own Dawn and Solie respectively) pass the front of the pub. An incredible moment on both occasions, with huge crowds uniting together once again, in great British pride.
To all our friends who are tradesmen, who have saved the day on more than a few occasions. So many to name but we will always remember the help and support lent.
To all the staff and dreymen at Fullers, Dayla, Wells and Youngs, XT... we will miss the weekly comraderie and the helpfulness of you all.
To all of the hundreds of barmaids/kitchen staff that we have had working. Thank you all for your hard work, fun and dedication (most of you anyway)! Ben would like to say a special thank you to the barmaids with the biggest t**s.
A special mention to all those lovely friends that we made whom are no longer with us; George, Gil, Wally, Roger, Billy, long haired Dave, Shorts Dave, Council Dave, Debbie, Alistair, Lee, Graham, and most recently, Gino.
Our dog, Mitchell, his balloons, and his huge, beautiful heart.
So the time has come to bid farewell. We can't tell you how much we thank you for all your support, company, laughs, love, and memories.
We wish you all the best, and from the very bottom of our hearts, the hugest thank you. ######
http://youtu.be/Qy9_lfjQopU
"So Long Farewell" from the 1965 film version of THE SOUND OF MUSIC
