The Marquis of Lorne - Lowestoft
In Victorian times the “Marquis of Lorne” was Lowestofts’ Premier Hotel. However when we took over the “Adnams” tenancy it was a little tired. In fact it was bordering on derelict, but with the generous help we received from Adnams Brewery we were able to revitalise into a popular thriving business. The introduction of food at lunchtime (an unknown service in Lowestoft at that time) guaranteed us packed bars. With customers looking for a snack and a pint, in those days it was acceptable to partake of a pint or two in your lunch hour. In the evenings the majority of the clientele were locals, and treated the pub as a local, and with that in mind we formed a social club which enjoyed many functions and charity events assisting the RNLI, The Hospital (through NSHEBA) and giving many pensioners a brighter Christmas. That should explain a lot of the pictures you can see in the gallery.
With a lot of additions from David Leuty and Clark Westoby and Adrian Bond added in October 2019.
I hope you like the new site! Hackers buggered up the forum on the old site long ago and the old gallery was very dated so I have updated it, hopefully for the better.
Unfortunately most of the photos I have found are from just 2 or 3 of the many fancy dress parties we held at the “Marquis” but I hope that they will jog a few memories.
Can I remind you that if you click on any of the pictures they can be viewed at full size, which you may want to do with some of the group pictures. If you have any please let’s have some of yours. Pictures, and any of your memories will be posted if you send them to me. I will post them on this page So lets get it revitalised.
YOU CAN CONTACT US BY USING THIS CONTACT FORM – PLEASE SHARE WITH US YOUR MEMORIES they will be posted below – AND IF POSSIBLE ANY PHOTO’S THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE
The comments below were posted on the now defunct forum and salvaged before its deletion
Your memories here:
Of course I remember loads about the “Marquis” JD!
The 100 Club – Inspired marketing ploy.
Bip bop didddle diddle – remember the first video games in the corner of the bar ?
Duck-shoot – the first remote control game.
Cardinal Puff – on quiet Saturdays – They did not stay quiet too long. JD Going for Pope and succeeding.
Silly Sessions – most Bank Holidays. Hangovers on Tuesdays.
Big Time Crib for Pilsor – The Book of Reckoning – always interesting for Matt & Phil B.
The healthy PLJ Diet.
Using lemonade to ‘settle’ the Adnams.
Bernie’s Burgers – French Stick – 2 Quarter Pounders & a wedge of toasted Cheese.
THE FLORAL DANCE!!!!!
Gin & Merrydown on the Southend Beano trip-out. Cutting my nose on the ‘waste bin’ when passed out on the way back.
Camra’ Entry – a corner pub with an ‘enterprising landlord’.
If only we could all go back 30Years!
Dave Leuty
What a start to my drinking career when John & Bernie became landlord & Landlady of “The Marquis”. Both were to become `friends` let alone just being the man behind the bar.
Needless to say I have very fond memories of JD who inspired both me & my twin into the long road with alcohol. Many good times were had at the Marquis and many photographs and memories are still in my old albums.
The times that I remember are:
Spoof on a Saturday afternoon
The German Wine Festival
The Southend Beer Trips
The 100 Club Tie
The Three Legged Race
Clark Westoby
Ah, but what JD wasn’t good at was …………………. BACKGAMMON!!!
Try as he might to end my tally of 64+ beers from that double up dice was just a joy to behold. I think I began to lose because I felt sorry for him. Ah, those were the days. And, before I forget, I’ll never see a 180 scored the way he did it one night. After a night out with Danny & Vera away from The Marquis, in walks a well oiled & bow-tied JD and picks up three completely different darts. Three darts later and 180 scored was just incredible. I’ll never forget it. Well done JD!
Clive Westoby
Sadly Clive passed away following a heart attack on 31st January 2011. Our sincere regrets and deepest sympathy to Sue and the boys, and also to Clark.
I have been contacted off site by Andy Coleman (Marquis of Lorne) and this is a copy of my email to him and Karon.
We have been living in Spain since 2002, but we were over in Oulton Broad for daughter Lauras wedding in the summer of 2007 when we got together with an amazing number of the old customers for a drink and a chat after a quick chase around by Clive Westoby and Matt Reynolds. Considering that we left in 1981, it was nice to know that so many remembered us well enough to want to come and see us so many years on.
One of the things that came up was the fact that there seemed to be so many memories and a lot of photographs around from those days, and as I am not a great fan of Face Book I decided to set up this site and give the old customers a chance to share their memories and upload any photographs to the Gallery. When we moved to Spain we threw out so many (regret that now), so if you have any please join the gallery and share them.
(thanks to Bondy).
We are settled here in Arroyo de la Miel (Benalmadena) and ageing disgracefully and if you are ever on holiday on the Costa del Sol and fancy meeting for a drink let us know. Also let us know what you are up to in your old age 😉
John
Sadly Mat passed away suddenly on 10th July 2021. Our sincere regrets and deepest sympathy to his son Joe and the family.
Greetings fellow time travellers. Hell, thirty odd years on! where has it all gone? There are those who were at the Marquis just before the legends that are John and Bernie, arrived. We thought we were ‘a valuable commodity’, a pool team, nay a first year of the pool league in lowestoft, winning pool team! How important were we? consigned to the hall the next year, the pool table took up far more valuable ‘customer space’. Hey ho I still have my trophy somewhere and can still play a bit, much to the chagrin of some others. The cry of the team – ‘we were there’.
But alcoholic enlightenment and enterprising entertainment arrived with a bang.
Spoof nights, loved them, did well – or so I thought!
Adnams darts league, a bit like a southend beano only quicker. Did we win any games? Who knows, moreover who cares.
Jacks, a drinking game with cards, a good drink to suggest is Baileys and tomato juice, instant savoury yoghurt! Billy liked that – both ways!
Johns dad, Jim, getting a slap from JD for encouraging the regulars to get the piano from the hall into the bar for him to play. Dragging knackered castors over a newly laid dance floor, Ouch!! went down well.
Eating competitions, onions (won a gallon of the little darlings), lemons (revisited), jumbo hotdogs (for a bet). Kit kat, or was it a Mars toastie with some paper left in, whatever.
A swimming contest, the twins, myself and JD on a sunday afternoon, up to lowestoft pool after a bragging session at dinner time. JD won, he represented his school or area at butterfly (kept that quiet), the only truly athletic thing i remember him taking part in. That cost me, Clark an Clive £5 each I think, but JD lost a contact lens in the pool for his troubles.
Petanque, a piece of cake!
Backgammon, now theres a game for a monday night when no-one’s about, you can lose loads. If the Diary still exists it should still be worth a fortune, something to pass on to Trevor and Laura to retire on when the old boy goes.
Enough for now, must seek out photos, after this drink that is calling me, old habits etc..
Cheers,
Mat
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