Wendy Howard

I was thirteen when I first sat on the floor outside the Tavern drinking a pint of cider. It was a Saturday afternoon, and it was probably a few months later when I managed to enter the dark, smoke-swirling, sticky-carpeted, patchouli and weed-smelling pub. Purple Haze was playing on the jukebox, a song that always takes me back to those days.

At thirteen, I absolutely loved the pub. I loved getting ready on a Friday night. I wore jeans that were that tight I could hardly bend, buckled boots, and a real leather jacket with a fringe.

In the summer I would put my denim jacket on, which was covered in sewn-on patches of rock bands. You could buy the patches from a place in Broad Street. I wore cheesecloth tops and jeans.

On weekends I'd buy my incense from the Dragonfly shop that was full of beautiful, colourful clothes, jewellery. That was where I bought my patchouli oil from too, which we would cover our leathers and denim in. It's still my favourite smell today. It takes you right back to your younger years.

Being stoned with a pint of cider was just great at that age. I class those years as the best nights I've ever had. I had so much fun and really good times drinking in the Tavern and Giffard. Eventually, The Fox became the pub where a lot from the Tavern would go. That was also a great pub. I think everyone loved it coz Bill (the landlord) had no sense of smell.

The songs of the Tavern for me were:

Purple Haze – Jimi Hendrix. 

The Joker – Steve Miller Band

Silver Machine - Hawkwind

We Belong - Pat Benatar 

White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane 

and tracks by Led Zeppelin