Last Orders

"You're barred. You're too boring to be in my pub."

Another London legend heads off into the sunset. I noticed as I walked past the Coach and Horses, Soho at lunchtime that the appointed day has finally come: it's closed this lunchtime, re-opening at 5.30 this evening under new management after 60 years.

The Telegraph has an account of the last night under the old management and some of the printable collected sayings of Norman Balon. Though not "fuck off and stop winding me up" to Princess Margaret on the telephone, or "what would you like, sir" to Peter Cook 30 seconds after throwing him out for being too drunk: Cook walked round the corner and in through the other door. Or whatever it was he said to Margaret Thatcher when Paul Foot took her there for a drink (remarkable, but true).