That
slow Dog is here again
12 Dec 1999
Three months after it closed for 'refurbishment' - and three years after it hosted a decisive moment in British pop history, when Stu asked Chopper to join The Regulars - the band's favourite public house, the Dog, has reopened, to the incalculable relief of all Bearwood.
With Bearwood offering little else in the way of tasteful drinking establishments, discerning drinkers in the area are sleeping soundly in their beds once more.
Late in 1997 the pub's owners - Birmingham's brewing giants Bass Taverns - proposed to convert the popular hostelry into a restaurant, but were forced to back down by an almighty campaign of protest from the Dog's tenacious clientele, which saw petitions, letters, local press features and even posters in the streets.
But as the Dog - which is also where we thought of the name The Regulars - shut its doors in autumn 1999 to facilitate a major refit and build an extra bit, regulars and Regulars alike feared the worst. Extensive firkinisation over recent years has seen some of the West Midlands' finest drinking parlours laid waste by developers with an eye for profit rather than interior design.
After coping with their initial disorientation, though, anxious drinkers greeting the pub's re-opening on 6 December, were pleasantly surprised. No four-foot-wide TV screens or blaring 'dance' music had been introduced to spoil the Dog's unique atmosphere. Instead, subtle uplighting effects and painted wooden surfaces, together with pot plants, great big comfy settees and a real wood fire, have enhanced the overall vibe of relaxation.
And a decent beer has even been stocked, in the form of Fullers' superb London Pride.
Landlord Jim commented on the refit: "It's kept what was best and built on it."
Stu's initial response was: "Mmmmm. Sofas."
He continued: "It's like going round to see Uncle Jim in his big country house. But there's not enough chairs and too much space.
"The burgers are good though."
Guess where The Regulars will be spending Christmas.
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