Barley Mow - Basford, Nottingham
I actually quite like dodgy pubs as long as the beer is good.

At Uni I used to frequent the above establishment for several very good reasons: Meters away from halls of residence. Very good Guinness. 10p pool table. No other students would go there.

Once we were in there playing pool and a cheer goes up with lot's of "Hello Mike" - "Welcome Back Mike", as a scruffy tattooed chap walks in. The barman hands him a pint of Cider, says "You seen Jonny yet? - he's next door - he heard you were out and wanted to see you".

"Did he now?", Says Mike, walking over to us. "Pause the game lads."

He then sits on the pool table, removes a shoe and a sock. Replaces the shoe and relocates two pool balls from the table into the sock, marking their location on the table with pennies.

After wrapping the sock around his fist he wanders into side bar. Nobody follows him.

Bit of shouting, the sound of a struggle and some other rather ugly sounds.

5 minutes later he returns with his arm around a bloke, who's face looks mashed and is covered covered in blood, big grins on both their faces. The Barman had already poured a drink for Johnny.

Mike replaces the pool balls after wiping them on his shirt, "Cheers lads", and gives his sock to the barman to bin.
( zacherynuk @echo off, Fri 7 Feb 2014, 19:04, 8 replies)

Yay! Is it 'things that never happened' o'clock already?

( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Fri 7 Feb 2014, 19:16, closed)

You're right of course.
He may not have wiped the balls before replacing them...
( zacherynuk @echo off, Fri 7 Feb 2014, 19:27, closed)

Out of interest, do you remember at what point this anecdote went from being a story you once heard
to a thing you actually witnessed?
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Fri 7 Feb 2014, 19:32, closed)

So mean to me
This did actually happen. The Barley Mo DID exist (Even if I can't find it on streetmap) and I really did go to university.
( zacherynuk @echo off, Fri 7 Feb 2014, 19:35, closed)

A weekend pottery class doesn't count as uni.

( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Fri 7 Feb 2014, 19:43, closed)

I can believe it to be honest.
The Barley Mow was shut down after a regular decided to break into the offices out of hours and take some cash. Unfortunately he realised that his whole effort was futile, due to the cash being locked in a inch-thick steel safe that was bolted to the floor. Also having realised that the entire heist was recorded on CCTV he decided to torch the place.

The brewery took the decision to close the place and sell the site. They couldn't clear any stock for over a week because the police became involved after a handgun was found hidden in the padding on a seat. eight more concealed weapons were found as they pulled the place apart, mainly knives and brass knuckles.
( Muns, Mon 10 Feb 2014, 10:02, closed)

Hasn't Legless already told this story?

( Amorous Badger NAKED BEA ARTHUR PHOTOS 4U, Fri 7 Feb 2014, 19:39, closed)

The Barley Mow in Stoke was pretty unpleasant too and a place I didn't need to go in more than once.
This specific incident stands out in my mind.
( Pig Bodine., Mon 10 Feb 2014, 13:52, closed)