Bush Hill Park Hotel, Enfield

I lived in 108 St Marks Rd from 1944 to 1970.I have fond memories of the Lounge and the sing along's,the local singing talent accompanied by the piano and drums.It was a wonderful friendly atmosphere,everyone was a local .Before I was legally of age to drink alcohol I would go with my parents when they went for a few hours to drink in the public bar on the odd day during the week and wait outside with one or two of my young sisters in the pram.My parents would bring out some lemonade or Tizer for me and I would push the pram up and down the hill that went over the railway pretending it was a car,(I was quite young).When I got to drinking age I would go with my parents on Saturday or Sunday evenings to the lounge.There were some residents in St Marks Rd who did not approve of the sometimes tiddly men & women singing on their way home.There were never fights,there were xmas clubs,people would put money away for xmas & it was all above board,it was a way of saving.Then every year there would be a charabanc trip to Southend,I went on a couple of these and they were hilarious,peoples characters really came out during these,there were stops at various pubs on the way there and back. I did visit the B.H.P. Hotel a few years back & wish I had not,all the furnishings were gone and the lovely Victorian décor,"Modernised"....... but......I have the memories of how it was.

17 Aug 2013 08:18