marion taylor

I went in once or twice, purely in the evening, and it was so dark and dim. I can remember the bar, and I remember sitting on the right hand side. I cannot even remember who I was with. But we got a drink and we sat on the right hand side.

Why is it so iconic? I remember going to the college in Newhampton, and we always used to pile into The Mill coffee shop at the end of the night, and we always used to go downstairs. It was dark, and it was warm, and it was cosy. And I think, in a way, the Tavern had the same feel. Because it was dim, it was dark, it was cosy. From outside, the door was the only thing you could see of the pub.

Everybody melted into the background. It was a hub of noises. Everybody got on with everybody, and everybody left everybody else alone. I’d always had this Oh, you don’t want to get going in the Tavern, it’s full of Hells Angels and druggies! So there was an attraction about the place, to want to go in… But you couldn’t see into the pub. And this one night – who the hell was I with? – I can’t remember. But this person said Let’s go and have a drink in the Tavern. And I thought Oooh! And we did. We went in. And I like that dark, cosy atmosphere, I do. It reminded me of the Mill, but with alcohol.

I was one of four daughters, and I remember thinking if my dad could see me in this pub now, he’d whip the life out of me. He really would. Seriously. Being one of four daughters… he was very protective.