Two Glaswegians and a Geordie walked into this bar... Well it starts like a joke but I think it's a very bad joke actually.
Well I was one of those 3 drunkards on a night out recently we thought we'd try out the Bull and Bear in Houston. Now when I say that one of the Glaswegians supports Glasgow Celtic and the other supports Glasgow Rangers, this has got to grab your attention.
Well no, we are all mates really, so decided to head off to this pub to try it out, have some beers and a meal. It claims to be a British pub, erm... well seems a bit confused with it's own identity because when we got inside we discovered probably the biggest example of Sectarian Bigotry I have seen this side of the Atlantic. The pub is contrary to how it promotes itself and is actually very anti-Brit and pro-Irish, and otherwise a little menacing about it. This is quite unnacceptable.
This pub is in no way British, even the menu has the Glasgow Celtic/Irish font.
One of the walls is covered in Celtic blazers, umpteen Celtic items fair enough, some other things which are unofficial and outside the club itself and verging on nothing less than bigotry.
Well says the Celtic supporter, "I am truly sorry for dragging you guys in here I didn't know it was like this". He went on and told the barman that he'd come 5,000 miles to get away from this kind of Sectarian Bigotry and that it was very disturbing to see some bigot had brought it over with him. The barman was actually quite delighted with this response! o
All three of us were a little annoyed by the place, one drink and we left.
First of all the Bull and Bear is off the beaten track, and then it actively alienates more than half it's potential custom by doing this.
I couldn't care less if it was Celtic or Rangers on the wall like that, I'd still consider it the worst kind of bigotry and refuse to go back in the place.
Very nasty place altogether. Bad taste in the mouth for sure.
So where in Houston is this pub. I've never come across it and we've been here a long time..?
disregarding the actual things on the walls / menu whathaveyou.
What was the atmosphere like?
I've been in pubs all over the UK following County, going into away territory is always a surprise, however I do have to say most of the times the places have been great and the crack was good with the home supporters.
A couple of occasions I have had to make a swift exit. But most of the time, it's how you conduct yourself in their place.
It's very much a sports bar. Large TV's everywhere, so quite loud sports. Was hockey or something that was on while we were there. Seems to be trying to be too many things at once and not quite getting there. More like a US bar than a pub. The restuarant gives the impression of being a roadside cafe and is not separated from the bar area, so no intimacy or privacy. There is also a large TV showing sports in the restuarant area which is kept quite loud. Let's just say it's not quite the atmosphere for a quiet meal with the missus, bird or whatever your preference. Overall it's quite empty and I think the soccer thing won't help fill the place. Houston has more than enough Sports Bars already for me. Mind you (and to be balanced) I don't go in the Fox and Hounds with the missus either, that is a place to go with other guys, know what I mean? So generally it's a guys place. In comparison Fox and Hounds was jumping last night as was the vastly superior Sherlocks Pub. (After Sherlock's my memory is a little hazy but somehow I got back home.) That's the level of established competition this new place has taken on! D
http//ftworthmusic.com/livereview-yeolde1.html
How drunk were you - that was an Irish pub - Guiness mirrors/arran sweaters/songs dead sailors! Look at the photos. Though there is a Union Jack there too - was it defaced in soem way?
However, I went to an old firm at Ibrox (celtic end) with a mixture of Scot/Irish/English mates a few years ago. I take your point. To me it seems perfectly healthy to be able to have a bit of banter with mates about differences without anyone being hospitalized.
Both Rangers and Celtic are more proactive in discouraging this type of attitude - but it has very little to do with football. Maybe this guy hasn't heard of the peace process yet..
http://ftworthmusic.com/livereview-yeolde1.html
How drunk were you - that was an Irish pub - Guiness mirrors/arran sweaters/songs dead sailors! Look at the photos. Though there is a Union Jack there too - was it defaced in soem way?
What British pub doesn't serve Guiness?????
The Union Jack looks to be balancing the Stars & Stripes opposite, doesn't look defaced and I'm sure the Stars & Stripes are not defaced either.
Anyway, I see an advertisement for John Bull on the wall - now if he doesn't personify Britain, who does????
Ah, just got an email from the bloke wot dragged us out there.
This is the site he found the Bull and Bear on
http//www.houstonrestaurants.com/content/category/11/104/89/
It is clearly listed there as a British Pub! Something wrong somewhere!
Intrigued by the link you put up, was worth seeing if only for the photo top right on that page.
[This band must have been great judging from the guy holding his head (no doubt praying for the music to end) and the girl on the end looking incredibly bored. Folk music tends to do that to me too! lol]
The pub is contrary to how it promotes itself and is actually very anti-Brit and pro-Irish, and otherwise a little menacing about it. This is quite unnacceptable.
Welcome to the Land Of The First Amendment.
/wait until you find the Klan-friendly bars. Now those are really scary.
It is clearly listed there as a British Pub! Something wrong somewhere!
Isn't Britain and Ireland the same thing? They're that blob off Europe. Seems to be some kind of political unrest there, some sort of civil war between the Irish and the English. Not heard too much of it though as our news programmes are dedicated to the wars we keep starting.
[/remove US cap]
Royston, can you shrink that piccie please?
/does not like sideways scrolling goodness.
Sorry.... I am not getting the sectarian bigotry part of this. Is this about Glasgow football teams? -?
There are many Irish pubs around here and the one or two I have been in are fine.
Look, anything "British" style over here is going to be some stereotypical notion of a Victorian Dickensian ale house.
This is what they think represents the UK in Disney World
“The Rose & Crown Pub in the United Kingdom World for example sells a range of typical British Beers (Bass, Guinness, Harp) in a traditional British Pub environment ("Innit Guvnor, Cor Blimey Mate!").”
Ah, just got an email from the bloke wot dragged us out there.
This is the site he found the Bull and Bear on:
http://www.houstonrestaurants.com/conten...11/104/89/
It is clearly listed there as a British Pub! Something wrong somewhere!
Intrigued by the link you put up, was worth seeing if only for the photo top right on that page.
[This band must have been great judging from the guy holding his head (no doubt praying for the music to end) and the girl on the end looking incredibly bored. Folk music tends to do that to me too! :lol:]
The audience was obviously 'up' for Sessuin - how many gigs have you been to that could you tapping your toes and mad for a game of darts ('A lot of people played darts' - Why?) Perhaps the women of the right was waiting for her doubles partner to turn up - thats why she looks so unhappy.
Royston Veasey - this is a local pub for local people . Theres nothing for you there! 'Open mic' (sic) night on Weds mean is some kind of 'irish only' musical event.. :lol: .
Are you local? 8) Hmm I need a local, see that's the problem with Houston or at least this part of town anyway, ever since they built new road.
HAHA missed that got it on 2nd reading Open Mick Night! wink