Chris Maclean: Derby is a winner
If you want to see the licensed trade at its glorious best you could do little better than visit the great Epsom Derby. From early on the first Saturday of June hundreds upon hundreds of buses slowly pour onto the Hill and other areas to see this annual spectacular. In a seemingly random array the buses park up and the passengers unload. The sides of the coaches are thrown open and out comes the seating, bar counters, marquees, umbrellas, barrels, coolers, generators and discos. Most of these buses originate from some pub in the Home Counties although I guess there are others who come from further afield. It seems like a thousand pubs have individually organised a picnic in the same field.
This year I had a seat on a coach from another pub. Our own coach was fully booked for the trip. There were at least three similar coaches going from our town and all were booked well in advance.
Our preparation was modest. A supply of beer, wine, cider and soft drinks plus plenty of ice. We had disposable barbecues and simple fare. We bought chairs at the market.
Next to us I watched in fascination as a pub coach from Leicestershire unloaded their mobile bar. Shabby and chaotic their team had it set up in moments and immediately poured a steady stream of beers. Opposite another team constructed a flimsy barbecue from B&Q and proceeded to produce endless supplies of chicken drumsticks and sausages. It stayed alight all afternoon with the wonderful smell of al fresco cooking. Behind that bus was another full of friends from Brixton who had set up an awesome disco and played some fine tunes. Respect. By half past four there were dozens of people dancing.
It was a cocktail of great organisation, collective carnival spirit, huge consumption of alcohol and a tremendous venue blessed with glorious sunshine. Everyone had a great time. Yes, there were fights, people lost money and phones, bags and jewellery. Couples argued. Friendships made. It felt like a fun-fair for adults.
There are plenty out there bemoaning the lot of the licensed trade. For some the grim reality is that it is very tough. So almost any opportunity to shrug it off and have a party is to be welcomed. There are few other events like the Epsom Derby (if there are, let me know) which are a joyful celebration for ordinary people and which pubs can get access to. And, yes, there is even some horse racing ~ although in twenty years of going to the races I've never got to the rails!
Each year I say it is going to be the last. The queues to the lavatories were ridiculous (thank heaven for large coach wheel arches) and it takes for ever to get out of the course. We talk of putting a telly into a pub garden and never leaving the comfort of home. But I know next May I'll be helping to put the finishing touches to the preparations for next year's trip. And hopefully by then I'll have found a better tipster.
