The Oakdale Arms, Harringay

Its with Great Satisfaction that I can now update my past thoughts to the site & on a more positive & proud scale to be sure...Yes its True...both Nell & myself have been back to work this past couple of months & are back full time under Steve's Expert Supervision, which just goes to show the advantages of having a Boss Actually Trust their staff to maintain an expected level of ethics within the work place & how to Always do the job Correctly to which it had sadly fallen in our abscence over previous recent times.But no longer now...we managed to sort our staffing issue out now & Im sure we are a Strong team once more that will always be able to offer all an attentive service that they're used too or should expect from us. Also (hopefully) still becoming a more usual sight to the team shall be *Antonye* ( Ant ) who looks set to join us by the end of July'07, after his presence was widely recieved by customers thru-out beerfest week when he aided us by running the festival bar in the back room more than the front bar ( Done a remarkable job too, he did).
A few Updates for the attention of those of you who do not know;

a) July 1st saw The National No-Smoking Law throughout Bars & Pub Venues come into effect, So yes its been a hard transition for some customers to handle (aswell as myself being a smoker too) but it has inspired us now as we cater for a larger area & are faced with making life more comfortable for the smoker who is made to step outside...So, personally I erected adequate garden shelter in our beer garden for customers to make full use of ( in all that heavy rain & strong winds too)& I've relocated a couple of tables to the outside front area of the pub entrance,(& colourfull umberella' too!) which offer shelter from rain or sun. (Offering a warm & welcoming colour to the pub's view).

b)The jukebox that Everyone comments on loving so much is being updated at present & will be back to full working order ( Not skipping or jumping ) within 24 hours...I Promise ( working on it right now actually, eta=saturday eve, fingers crossed).

c)The recent beerfest was a greater success than our previous attempt (which seemed to lack certain level's of effort that was always present in the past years), but thankfully now & in the future we should offer every effort to make the you more comfortable & your visit a more memorable experience.So thank you to all the characters I managed myself to meet through-out the event & all the laughs that you guys gave me, aswell as of course Enjoying my 35th birthday on the 22nd June & to express also Ants thanks as he also enjoyed his birthday on the 20th June with so many laughs. ( " Thank~You All " ).

d)The future of the pub is still un-determined as far as I'm led to believe so can offer no explanation sorry,as so many have asked of me & Im unable to offer any official comment in return to which I apologise.
*Polotics & Me* = "huh!" .
Those wishing to know full details are respectfully requested to consult Steve for further info through the pub website emails or face to face here or at the pembury, thanks.
I believe Steve will offer update us if any reason should be given for concern but until then, as the saying goes "No News...Is Good News!". Im there to work & keep the drinks flowing & customers smiling as best I can of course, the same goes for all the staff.

Some people think because the venues uncertain plans in the future...this is a basis of a negative outlook to judge of us which does concern me.
Just because the future is uncertain does NOT mean we should give-up already on the place.
Its still my home aswell, aswell as so many others too, & for everyones benefit be shown to offer everybodies visit more of a memorable experience than the last.

Theres No Reason To Give Up,
But Every Reason To Inspire Happier Memories Until Its End.

e)Unfortunatly our kitchen is Not serving food or hot drinks at this time but hopefully will resume in the coming future so in the meantime we will Not have a problem if customers order takeaways to be consumed on the premises,(which can be located next door too)& if your needs wish we can still offer plates/cuttlery for customer useage.
We still of course though offer bar snacks of : Crisps, Pepperami's, Scratchings, Nuts & Twiglets should you prefer to eat lighter.

Those whom asked me for copies of the Gallery slideshow I presented on the Big Screen through-out Beefest week?...
Plz remind me when you see me as I did not note who had asked, & so couldnt recall everyone who enjoyed it at the end of my birthday celebrations so apologise if your still waiting, but I will sort it out for a.s.a.p. when I note who you are, thanks.
(Glad it worked the way it was intended to intrigue & Inspire & of course make you Smile!)

Further:
All pictures in the past that Nell took (for her *Uni Project* which may have subjected some of you to model for) or Any pictures that I myself may have taken in the bar since my first day as a barman (up until right now) will be added to the pub website any~time now.. (well as soon as I get my finger out & give the disk infront of me to Steve to update its present site that is...so anytime now I hope) .* fingers crossed *

Dont forget to keep checking back to the pub site as Im sure we have at very least got 98% of usual suspects & or beerfest visitors.

( If you have Any advice or just fancy a chat...dont be put off by my 7ft stature as you will find Im very easy going & approachable I assure you ).

"Hopefully Each moment is always Better than the Last".

Thanks.

14 Jul 2007 04:37

The Oakdale Arms, Harringay

Well, hello one & all, I finally thought it to be a fitting time to post a comment on the site now after a chat with ' Ladnewton' & Thankyou kindly for your words ' Ladnewton' ( " Sadly, Rob has now seen fit to leave the Oakdale. The man deserves a round of applause for his efforts to return the pub to its original standard " ).
Yes it sadly is true that I & Nell resigned from the bar positions at the Oakdale Arms ( & had good reason to but wont go into that) but its NOT a decision that We were happy about nor that we still are happy about because we Love this pub, & I still live above it as I did before working here, so it hurts me now to be away from the bar,
..This Pub is Home & I Miss it Still Constantly as does Nell.
Every~One of the Customers made it so welcoming a feeling to come to work that they All have been so close to me during my stay they were more like my real family than my own & I respected all of them ( even with the initail shaky start to the job I did transferring from doorman to barman...but it was so comfortable & easy because of you all ) I thank everyone for the ongoing support & ' Tom ' of course for his tutoring me ( thanks bruv ) but I've now sat my Licencse exam & hope to get a place myself for the future dont worry , just be nice to be back to serving you all again, ( Im so very bored at the moment aswell )... Cant wait to get back working & make my dream a reality by means of giving all a pub to be proud of again.
I'll Miss the Oakdale tho & All the customers, but Im confident the future will offer another position soon, then Everyones welcome to join me for a jar!
I always am intrested to hear feedback, so am thankfull for the pleasant reviews I have read thus far & am glad to have been of service to you all...I wish we didnt leave now as the support has been over-whelming from everyone, so Im sorry we did as it was not a choice we really wanted nor came to lightly & would gladly change if we could, Sorry.
Thanks ' Ladnewton ' & Everyone for your support.
~ Rob ( ex - Assistant Manager @ The Oakdale Arms )

28 Mar 2007 22:53