The first lock-in
Back in the day, before the laws changed, there was the "lock-in". Sure, some pubs had strange licensing laws due to proximity to hospitals, markets and so on but they didn't count (neither did Scotland or the House of Commons bar). For the rest of us, 11 pm was last orders; unless you found a "lock in" which would have you.

Most "lock ins" only worked for the regulars in there. You might notice that none of the regulars are looking worried at 23:15 because they would be sitting comfortable whilst you were being chased out by bar staff.

So, the first "lock-in" was a rite of passage.

Mine happened in a pub in Northfield, Birmingham. God knows how I'd ended up in there, with some friends - the place was underneath a multi-storey car park, below ground level. Hence the lack of windows - never a pleasant sight, especially in a city where the worst IRA pub bombing took place in just such a venue.

Anyway, I didn't know it was a lock-in, and was already hammered by the witching hour of 11pm. Gradually though my internal clock started telling my brain that something did not compute. Checking my watch - yes, it's 11:30 pm and goodness me, they're still serving.

Of course, that was a red rag to a bull. The only way I could repay the debt I felt to the management for such munificence was to drink long and hard. I remember by about 01:00 the drinks were being served by a 12-year old boy, showing that they could break even more laws, the feckless owners.

I had lock-ins afterwards, in many ways they were much better, but nothing ever matched the first flush of realising that for once I had fought the law, and the law lost...
( I_Was_Mordred, Sun 8 Feb 2009, 14:40, 2 replies)

12?
I'd be a bit pissed off if the little git didn't pour it right!
(Dangerous Disco Trev Isn't my real name, Sun 8 Feb 2009, 14:59, closed)

you have to be completely retarded not to be able to pour a decent pint
!

these days we have lock-ins so people can smoke inside :-)
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 9 Feb 2009, 10:10, closed)