I've not seen anything official to confirm this, but it
looks as though the Albert on London
Street is the latest pub to join the list of pub
closures in Southport . The last couple of
times I've walked past it, it has been closed, and other people have said the
same to me. There is, however, no notice in the window, and I've seen nothing
in the local papers or on local news websites.
The Albert was a real ale pub
and also sometimes hosted live music; a jazz club was there a few years ago.
It's advertised to let, and I'd have thought its location just across the road
from the railway station would be a prime position, so let's hope the closure
is temporary.
I remember when pubs didn't close down between licensees,
and keeping the pub open during the changeover was a priority. Pub owners used
to understand that if you let your regulars drift elsewhere, they may not come
back when you reopen again. But modern pub companies don't seem to understand
that. In my opinion, it's because to them, pubs are no more than retail outlets
(or worse, just pieces of valuable land); the concept of the community pub is
not one that matches their corporate thinking.
It IS closed. Had hoped to had a swift one on Sat.evening (surely prime pub trading time) prior to getting train but shuttered and not a light a light to be seen.
ReplyDeleteA fine pub in its day and home to the "Heritage" Folk Club in mid-sixties. Have had many a happy time there, despite the erm, 'cosmopolitan' and often boisterous clientele of recent years. It needs some TLC.
I hadn't heard of the Heritage Folk Club.
ReplyDeleteThe Albert is one of the few pubs which still has a function room, which is easily accessible being on the ground floor. I have to say that the once I went to the jazz club there, it had the atmosphere of a dentist's waiting room - not the fault of the band, which was good.