01/09/2016
We were sent this last night and I just thought I'd share it.....
The Lot was a pub in London.
It probably shut down because the company that owned it decided they didn't want it in their portfolio anymore.
Being able to buy two pints and still have change from a tenner. Who doesn't want that in London? And even if you could do the same elsewhere, you probably would have still gone to The Lot. The rather uninspired nightlife of Richmond offered this place - almost a cocoon - of unpretentious drinking. People from all ages and walks of life chose it over other Richmond establishments.
Popularity of The Lot could be down to several offers it had throughout the week, but it must be said that Wednesday night ‘Crunch’ was undoubtedly the most attended amongst its varied clientele. With drinks starting from £1.50, it definitely presented a cheap night out. For a location that has the happiest people in London living there (albeit, probably not the people who drank in The Lot), the younger drinkers were certainly kept happy here. With their change-from-a-tenner it meant they kept coming back week on week and helped the pub stay open just a little bit longer than it probably would have lasted otherwise.
However, as with anywhere that has a concentrated group of drinkers, sometimes issues happen and companies have to respond. Particularly when the local council get involved. This resulted in doormen being required for Wednesday nights and unfortunately a surcharge having to be levied on the customers for the payment of these. Once you'd entered those double doors though, your first £1.50 drink awaited.
As people descended almost seemingly all at the same time, this could mean that queues formed as the doormen diligently carried out their job of checking IDs and bags.
Getting served at the bar was the next challenge. Every single member of staff worked on a Wednesday night and they did their best to serve the customers as quickly as possible. With large groups arriving at the same time all wanting the same thing, it meant that there was likely to be a bit of a wait, but that drink was still at the end of it. You kind of just resigned yourself to waiting. And sometimes even got chatting to strangers who were in the same position as you. It was part of the ‘Crunch’ experience.
Any pub has a finite number of seats and space, so if you happened to get there earlier in the evening you were one of the lucky few. Standing was alright as well though. Leaning against the quiz machine or the condiments stand (careful not to make it collapse!) had a certain charm and actual let you take in the rest of the pub.
With a jukebox for the customers to select from 1000s of songs, it could be quite loud. If you've paid for music you want to be able to hear it. And Wednesday nights really weren't for holding a deep-and-meaningful anyway. A drink and a good time, that's what it was for. And as with any jukebox that is first come, first served this could mean that you got periods of a certain type of music, but that's fair enough if people have paid for it.
Occasionally, someone might throw up outside. Didn't happen much though, and was to be expected. Not everyone can handle their drink.
When last orders were called at 10.45 you often got a rush to the bar. Some made it there before time was called at 11pm, some didn't. Drinking up time was given and people were asked to start leaving. This could be rather rapid due to the aforementioned issues that resulted in changes having to be made. Also, the staff kind of wanted to be able to get home. After five hours of constant onslaught, who wouldn't want to be done for the night?
When I now walk past where The Lot used to be I remember the good times. I remember the time I spent there, the atmosphere it provided and the reasons why I continued to go back. I remember standing in the corner (possibly) looking haggard and having a Jägerbomb.
Do I like that it has been replaced by a bar that is at the other end of the spectrum? No. It has taken away what was essentially a community pub. That community being the customers who came back time and time again. But all good things must come to an end, and hey, the new place is alright if that's your thing. It's different, but I don't think anywhere else could be The Lot.
Nor should it be.
