These are worrying times, apparently. I understand some of you are being denied your human right to sit in a pub and stare at strangers over a pint of foaming Doom Bar.
What you need is some pictures from Harlow New Town, I think.
Look how happy Harlow’s most famous son was to escape to Droitwich Spa (marginally better pubs) at the age of 3.
That painting of Ken Dodd Rik is a highlight of my self-guided tour around Harlow before my next pub opened. There IS a helpful map but it only tells me where I can buy lipstick and cycle repair kits.
Where does the new town rank alongside the other post-war creations of Stevenage, Basildon, and Hemel ?
Well, there’s potential for some future blogging during Lockdown 2, I guess.
Nice brutalist church though.
I used to come here on occasional hospital business, and with Covid cases surging in the area the Princess Alex seems busier than ever with the wail of sirens omnipresent. In the indoor shopping centre, half the customers aren’t wearing masks, though I’m sure that’s coincidence.
The Harvey Centre has nothing I need, though what appears to be a storehouse for a social history exhibition next to BB Muffins has promise.
But it’s the dreich streets that contain Harlow’s treasures.
The Spoons was in the Beer Guide for a while, with a young manager supporting local breweries (Ugh !) and providing quality beer to a discerning if boisterous clientele.
But it lost its place a while back, and you’ll have to travel out to the Old Town for your GBG fun and buildings older than 1947.
Knowing my luck the Stonegate Clock (Doom Bar, accepts your CAMRA voiuchers) will get in the GBG22 while we’re in Tier 6 Lockdown.
“2 for 1” desserts in the Clock House, essential in building up resilience to the Covid sweeping West Essex.
Actually, I would have recommended the King Du noodle bar opposite the Spoons, but with that not opening till 3pm (why ?) you’re left with a proper old greasy spoon;
Nice outdoor seating option at Cafe Elite.
There you go, New Harlow. The Southworths are already changing their travel plans.
retiredmartin 
Is that our Prime Minister staring wistfully out of the Panic Room?
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Nah, he’d be in the Spoons looking for a blonde to be the mother of his next forgotten offspring.
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We no longer have travel plans. 2022:) That is one grim looking Weatherspoons.
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You’d love it. Honest.
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I once had a job interview in Harlow…. shudder…..
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Love the Ken Dodd ref – agree completely.
This is the only pic of Rik which vaguely resembles Harlow’s
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I too thought Ken Dodd, before scrolling down further, but who or what is the strange individual represented by that peculiar “sculpture?”
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Meat porters, carrying an animal carcass, apparently, Paul.
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It’s “Essex wrestling”.
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“…helpful map but it only tells me where I can but lipstick…”
Sometimes the typos are pure gold 😄
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oh, haven’t you heard…
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I always thought Rik was a bona fide Brummie/ Droitwich lad! Mind you, the drawing of Rik in Knotty Ash is far more lifelike 😉
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No, his “Bang On” adverts for Bombardier prove he was from Bedford.
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“HARLOW NEW TOWN SCULTURE SPECIAL”
That one above is the latest Dr. Who Dalek rendition, innit?
(either that, or it’s the one ‘sculpture’ that can’t ‘P’) 🙂
“I understand some of you are being denied your human right to sit in a pub and stare at strangers over a pint of foaming Doom Bar.”
I’m still good staring at the monitor in my underpants.
(note: not to imply I put my underpants on the monitor)
“is a highlight of my self-guided tour around Harlow before my next pub opened”
Wait; you’re opening your own pub? 😉
“There IS a helpful map but it only tells me where I can buy lipstick and cycle repair kits.”
And their streets names seem almost as pedestrian.
“Where does the new town rank alongside the other post-war creations of Stevenage, Basildon, and Hemel ?”
Far more superior due to its being named after a famous American actress?
“Nice brutalist church though.”
Blimey! I’d be afraid to step inside!
“In the indoor shopping centre, half the customers aren’t wearing masks, though I’m sure that’s coincidence.”
Definitely coincidence. I doubt they have a secret meeting place to decide which of them wear masks whilst shopping. 😉
“But it’s the dreich streets that contain Harlow’s treasures.”
Does someone on the town council own a quarry?
“(Doom Bar, accepts your CAMRA voiuchers)”
Crickey. They even take obvious fake ‘vouchers’?
“you’re left with a proper old greasy spoon;”
But that one doesn’t open till 3pm either.
(oh wait, that’s 3… pounds) 🙂
“Nice outdoor seating option at Cafe Elite.”
With social distancing built right in!
“Bye”
Toodles!
Cheers
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