Pure DFC Archive

I see that 'The Woodman' at the top of East Hill is to close next month. Happy memories of a sometimes, but not entirely, misspent youth. The lady who runs it seems to have given it a good go, but it must have been very difficult after her husband passed away very shortly after they took over. There was a sign put up looking for offers, but obviously no takers, not really a surprise seeing the problems in the pub trade these days.

was a regular years ago, so sad to see it close, should imagine it will eventually become another pizza joint or bloody express store , like we haven't got enough of them in Dartford? still they call that progress!!!

My dad's old favourite pub back in the day, he used to make the short walk from our house in York Road. If i remember correctly, this was run by Harry Fry back in the day.

Builder has paid 600k for it. Strange decision as the only access at the rear is simply a track for nothing bigger than a car. So anyone wanting to build/develop that huge back garden would have to demolish the building. Then of course if anyone actually did go to that length roads would have to be built to connect to the main road. Both a huge cost and surely the council wouldn't even contemplate it

I'm not a Dartford boy but is this the pub the locals called 'The Villa Bar'??
My mate use to own that.....................cor had some late late nights in there!!

No Villa Bar is further down the hill, that use to be my second home.
Had some great times in there.

What, The Victory? (was it?) Knew a nice girl lived behind it. Or was I just passing. Age a?

Parky. The villa bar used to be well lively if you know what I mean. Thought you as a very placid young man

M1 The villa bar or the 11 cricketers is still there. It's the derelict building as you turn left onto east hill. As parky said many old dartfordians guzzled down there

Saturday night pictures at the Granada.
Afterwards a bag of chips from Peacocks to eat walking up East Hill.
A bottle of light ale at the Woodman on the way home (no-one ever checked your age).
With my final 6d caught the last 423 bus at Park Road which passed DFC Watling Street.
Got off the bus at Lanes End and walked lovely Janet to her front door. Pocket money all spent for another week.

The Granada, Peacocks, The Woodman, Dartford Football Ground - all gone now, just memories. Happy days though.