cheeky boy Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Many of our older readers may remember the Dogs Home pub in Drumgold St (now M&S lingerie dept) In it's truly great days it was run by a Mr Peter McAleer and was the coolest pub in town , a sort of Busheys in the 1960s /70s but had gone off a bit by the 80s and was demolished to make way for our treasured department store The real name of the pub was the "The Victoria Tavern" but nobody ever called it that, it was always "The Dogs" Today in Victoria St the former "Cork & Bottle" bar, closed after the sad and untimely demise of Declan, unveiled it's new name: "The Victoria Tavern" and it is to be run by Robert McAleer son of the legendary "Dogs" landlord. Refurbishment appears to be underway but I have no idea of the opening date Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hboy Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Hopefully Robert will add some gravitas to what was the shittiest pub in the whole of Douglas (possibly excluding the Bowler). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcCann Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 I saw last week that the workmen had actually scrawled The Dog's Home on the window there. Also re The Bowler I hear it is to be refurbished and turned into a sports bar. I feel sorry for whichever poor people get to refurbish the gents. I don't think it has been cleaned since 1986 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackajah Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 I remember the Dogs Home with great affection. Had some brilliant times there in the 70s and early 80s, so that's great news and will definitely check it out when it opens. Happy days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldmanxfella Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 I feel sorry for whichever poor people get to refurbish the gents. I don't think it has been cleaned since 1986 I feel sorry for whoever has to refurb the Cork and Bottle. Last time I was in there it stank of toilet piss-blocks, sick and disinfectant and that was the bar area. What an utter f**king craphole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
%age Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Isn't there still 'legally' a public right of way goes through Marks & Spencer? There was a public road. Then buildings got demolished. Then the area got used as a car park, Then the car park (or 'waste ground') got sold. Bit of a bastard really because there is, I am lead to believe, still a public road / right of way, runs through it. But aye, the dogs was good and any reincarnation will be a bonus to the bland pub life in Douglas just noo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Declan Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 A bloke in the pub told me that M&S are supposed to let you through at any time. I suppose a night watchman could let you through, but since it's quicker to go past Havana I doubt antone has tried it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyboarder Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 I have a rather nice painting of this pub by John Halsall. I never went there myself though, wasn't it full of druggies? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
%age Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Yes, druggies and girls that spit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheeky boy Posted February 15, 2008 Author Share Posted February 15, 2008 I have a rather nice painting of this pub by John Halsall. I never went there myself though, wasn't it full of druggies? As I said, it was a fantastic pub in the days of Mr McAleer and for several years afterwards was still easily the coolest pub in town. Unfortunatley the Dogs became managed rather than tenanted and was then "done up" with acres of dark stained wood & burgundy carpet. The original clientelle departed for the Grosvenor on Athol St, Razzles in Walpole Ave. (now Guys & Dolls) and Zhivagos the former Yates Wine Lodge which became Busheys To say that the Dogs was full of druggies is inaccurate by todays standards, even in it's latter years it was only a few dope smokers and the autumn mushroom trippers Not a "Druggie Pub" as we would understand it today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gladys Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 Fond memories of the Dogs, particularly saturday afternoon shopping trips which were really forays between drinks! I can't imagine it can be 'recreated' because the original evolved. Good to see a McAleer will run it, I hope he manages to retrieve the Victoria Tavern sign from the Creek. Does anyone know how the nick name arose? It was called the Dog's Home when my paternal grandfather used to visit the island, I guess in the late 40's early 50's; it was one of his favourite haunts apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twitch Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 This is great news..Robert ran a great pub when he was tenant at the Creek and I too remember the Dogs Home fondly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 Fond memories of the Dogs, particularly saturday afternoon shopping trips which were really forays between drinks! Used to go there on a saturday and play pool after popping to town. I must have been there a hundred times, and never realiesed it wasn't actually called the dogs home until I read this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
%age Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 I have a rather nice painting of this pub by John Halsall. I never went there myself though, wasn't it full of druggies? To say that the Dogs was full of druggies is inaccurate by todays standards, even in it's latter years it was only a few dope smokers and the autumn mushroom trippers Not a "Druggie Pub" as we would understand it today Yes, yes, I understand the druggies thing, but did the girls spit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twitch Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 I think you'd have had to go to the 'Legs of Man' in Strand St for spitting girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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