Comments on: Farewell Walthamstow Dogs

By: Cocktails

Cocktails — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:25:52 +0000

ISBW - I hate to think what a nightclub near the dogs would be like. Clearly a classier venue though than I would have thought! Have you been to the Dogs in Hove? That is definitely not a place I would have picked as a greyhound racing ‘destination’.

By: ishouldbeworking

ishouldbeworking — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:13:37 +0000

Ah, what a crying (but predictable) shame. I grew up not too far from there and it was a legendary place. We’ve still got a stadium down here at Hove, which is good but not a patch on the ‘Stow.

And there used to be a nightclub adjacent to the Dog Stadium called Charlie Chan’s, where i once saw Glen Hoddle. Beat that for glamour!

By: ill man

ill man — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:35:04 +0000

Google maps are handy things. Don’t bother with the speedway unless yr mad keen on it. An 80 minute round trip by train on a saturday night sounds horrible.

I’ll maybe do the dogs this week, if I can rope in a willing accomplice………..

By: Cocktails

Cocktails — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:07:00 +0000

4pm, Sunday is even worse for me - I’ll be on the train home by then. I’m impressed by your knowledge of Essex speedway locations and train stations though. Racing there is on a Sat. night it looks, so a bit of a trek home.

Stil, I look forward to your report on the dogs. Remember to choose the dog with the best name.

By: ill man

ill man — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:55:20 +0000

Glasgow speedway is Sunday afternoon at 4pm. I think the nearest railway halt for Lakeside speedway is Chafford Hundred (what a brilliant name!!) It would seem it’s quite close by. It is a pig to get to though, I agree.

It’s ok, I’ll be off to the dog racing anyway, and I’ll report back on it with my usual colourful language and glorious technocolour photography. ;)

By: Cocktails

Cocktails — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:53:46 +0000

Thurrock, eh? Well, thats certainly an option. The only problem is getting there, or more to the point getting back. Life tends to be difficult without a car. It would probably be easier to go to Possil. Actually, I thought we could go when we’re up in Glasgow in a few weeks time but I’ve just been informed that we’re spending all Saturday in Milngavnie visiting relatives. Sigh.

By: ill man

ill man — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:29:07 +0000

You should Cocktails. How about a wee pact? I’ll do the dogs at Shawfield and you do the speedway. Lakeside Hammers in Thurrock being your closest bet I’d imagine. (http://www.lakesidehammers.com/), though there is a team in Reading and one in Sittingbourne.

Stephen Pastel did indeed go to the speedway, though I think he’s long since stopped going. I remember the Tigers speedway sticker at the counter when he worked in the record shop above the John Smiths in Byres Road. Alas, at that stage the Tigers were riding at Shawfield. He’d probably moved on by the time the racing moved across the city.

By: Cocktails

Cocktails — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:21:47 +0000

Ill Man, you should get yourself to the Dogs for a real treat. And if we’re talking about doing something different then I should probably try Speedway. I believe the Pastels are into it…. although I can’t quite imagine Stephen Pastel in Possil…

Dave, Yes, I’ve lived in Walthamstow for quite a while now and I’ve noticed the diminishing number of record shops over the past few years. I should make another trip over that way myself - yes, to show my support (unlike my lack of support for the Standard, which I am 5 minutes walk from!). Oh, I don’t mind the Nags Head and its jazz. I have more of an issue with the people who on insist on taking their badly behaved children there.

Ms Empress, You must have been in luck that night - the dog with the best name method didn’t cut it for us on Saturday. You really should go if you’ve got time before it shuts.

By: Roman Empress

Roman Empress — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:27:48 +0000

Bugger, I’ve got a whole bunch of free tickets that I never got ’round to using. I had a great night there once, my sister and I bet on all the dogs with the daftest names, we won quite a lot of money using that method.

By: 23Daves

23Daves — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:03:13 +0000

Yes, I do frequent the Wood Street record arcade, a gem I would encourage everyone to visit - although some of the units have already closed, and the last time I was in there some of the traders were complaining about the lack of revenue in recent months, which makes me a bit fearful. Although I could always help to put that right by paying them more regular visits, I suppose.

I don’t know how long you’ve been living in the area for, but Wood Street generally used to be a second hand record shop mecca, with an additional outlet across the street from the (then entirely full) arcade a few years ago - but it’s changed a lot. I used to live in a street quite near the station and could happily while away an entire Saturday shopping there, but now it just takes me a couple of hours to browse at most.

As for pubs, the Village has a few OK ones, but the clientele in some can be rather too needlessly snooty for their own good. And I really don’t want (or need) to hear jazz bands playing cover versions of “Walking on the Moon” whilst I drink a pint, either (I’m looking at you, The Nag’s Head).