Lost locals

London pubs: hearts of oak

The Royal Oak pub in Temple Fortune has closed and London-RIP is, frankly, gutted. Read our obituaries to this little-known, 145-year-old boozer.

Royal Oak RIP part one: the 70s

Everyone has at least one local at some point in their lives � eg a pub where you'll always find someone you know � and the Royal Oak was mine when I was a teenager in the 70s. The strange thing about it then was how out of place it was � the back bar in particular. It was as if a pub from the wrong side of the tracks in a small town had somehow materialised in the middle of a supremely dull, affluent suburb.

For me, it was a place of paralytic teenage drunkenness and occasional, furtive stoned-ness � great, in other words. There was pool and a large room at the back with music, just the sort of things to delight people too young to be in there in the first place. I think the more adult, respectable drinkers hung out in the front bar, although I rarely went in there.

Temple Fortune�s other pub, the Golden Eagle, closed years ago and, although nothing has been confirmed, the Oak has been swiftly wrapped in scaffolding and is rumoured to be earmarked for luxury flats. The final nail in the coffin then, for any sort of community nightlife in the area, and another bit of everyday heritage sacrificed to the seemingly insatiable demand for unaffordable housing. I wonder what it�s like to grow up around there now? Very boring, I should think.

Royal Oak RIP part two: the 80s

The Royal Oak has, begrudgingly, figured greatly in my life. I went through a period of going there in the early 80s meeting up with a group of fellow locals drinking and furtively smoking in the back bar. It even has a place in London musical history in that members of the Pogues, Spider Stacey in particular, would drink voluminously there.

It was my local and although there was nothing particularly memorable about it, perhaps that is the point. The era of the nondescript local boozer serving beer and such gastronomic delights as Scampi Fries seems to be thing of the past. Pubs nowadays seem to be either anonymous, rapidly shrinking, formulaic chains, or gastro pubs. A pub like the Oak was a democratic and inclusive venue in a Victorian building of local historical interest. It meant something.

All life was there. The last time I went there was a choice between an Anne Summers sale and a stripper, as well as young orthodox Jews having a pint. The Oak was clearly never classy but provided a focal point for the neighbourhood. Now it�s gone and an already sedate area is all the more dull. The more seasoned local drinkers are lost without it. Without pubs such as the Oak, the idea of community becomes ever more meaningless.

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Message:	13/13
Date and time:	16/12/2009 at 17:49:27
Sender:	Terry

In the late 40's as a child I lived above the Royal Oak in Stanley house with my young parents,we shared a large flat with a couple of my parents friends,all relaxed in the Oak for many an evening.I had a wonderful childhood in Temple Fortune.

Message:	12/13
Date and time:	18/10/2009 at 10:26:33
Sender:	Chris

The Royal Oak is still boarded up. God Bless the Developers. Gavin, get it touch with me at jonachris@sky.com

Message:	11/13
Date and time:	11/10/2009 at 23:27:52
Sender:	Gavin

I've known this pub for several years as a french barman. Great memories of all the commuity who came there during the mid nineties. I woundn't miss the opportunity to come one's more and have a drink in this place which still keep a bit of magic in my heart

Message:	10/13
Date and time:	16/07/2008 at 15:55:08
Sender:	Dawn

Sad to hear that it closed down - I have happy memories of wandering through the bar, watching people playing on the fruit machines, etc when my parents ran the pub (early '80s to mid 90s).

Message:	9/13
Date and time:	02/07/2008 at 19:28:14
Sender:	Malcolm

The Royal Oak was my first introduction to pubs when in my teens, back in the 60's. In those days no food was offered. But there was a family feeling among the locals who gathered there. I thought it had more atmothsphere than the Golden Eagle at Henley's Corner. I live in the U.S. now, but I'm saddened by the knowledge that my old familiar grog shop is no longer there.

Message:	8/13
Date and time:	28/04/2008 at 12:24:14
Sender:	David

Does anyone have any details on what was the only pub underground at Kings Cross station, that sadly disappeared following the Kings Cross fire in 87. If so please email me at dlintonbon@hotmail.com

Message:	7/13
Date and time:	22/02/2008 at 16:19:53
Sender:	Chris

I'm sorry, I made a mistake, there are two pubs left in NW11.

Message:	6/13
Date and time:	22/02/2008 at 15:18:46
Sender:	Chris

I used this demolished building from the 70's until it's closure. To say it is an utter disgrace to close the only pub in the area is an understatement. Not the greatest of pubs, but for years you got to know most of the people who frequented the place. Now the community has been split between two small bars and only one other pub in the NW11 area. As I said, not the greatest of pubs, but do I miss it. Friends who have moved away from the area, now have nowhere to see their remaining friends. The good thing about the pub was its two bars. If you want quiet, you had the front bar, if you wanted noise, there was the back bar. This was like having two different pubs next to each other. Things started to go down hill when the brewery made the pub into one bar, the clientele changed and the food was pretty awful then. I am sure if it wasn't for this change, the Royal Oak might still be there. But then again greed, can make people ( the brewery ) do a lot of awful things. A very sad day was had when this part of Temple Fortune closed. RIP.

Message:	5/13
Date and time:	05/10/2007 at 11:36:24
Sender:	Paul

This was my water hole with many other friends in the 1970's, in fact I met my wife there! and yes we are still married after almost 30 years. The Oak had a checkered history and in the 70's some very poor managers although food part was usually generally good and the live entertainment was always fun. However, having moved way from Temple Fortune in the late 70's I never went there again but I am sorry to see its demise.

Message:	4/13
Date and time:	29/04/2007 at 20:53:50
Sender:	HAZEL

I'm Spider's sister, now living in California. My Dad who lives in sheltered housing in the suburb sent me the article about the Oak. That pub is part of my family history. We spent years living in a flat just next door to the pub. We could look into the gents toliet from our kitchen window! On the weekends the noise was deafening from the back bar. Spider and I scored hash in the back bar - I even had a job cleaning the pub - this in the early 80's. My father, now almost 90 , could stop there on his way back from shopping at Waitrose to rest his old legs and drink half a pint and see someone to talk to. It's a terrible thing to rip the heart out a community that has nothing else.