Chapter Seven: Two New 'Food' Bars Are Set Up. 'Slippery Jake Productions' To Be Formed
Beryl and Sid had two daughters. They were both very proud of Sarah and Jane. They were married in turn to Carlos and Matteo, respectively from Colombia and Italy. The four of them were running a very successful restaurant further into London. They had been in discussion for a while with Beryl and Sid about expanding the range of food at the Bull.
There were problems with space. The Lounge Bar was where food was being served. The Entertainment Bar at the corner of the pub was proving very popular with the range of music that was offered during the weekend, plus it was hired out from time to time. The Public Bar was in the middle of the heavier drinking, binge crowd. Fights and arguments often resulted in 'throwing up' outside the pub. Although this 'mob' did bring in a lot of money, this was not the direction that Beryl and Sid wanted to move the pub. The number of 'bingers' seemed to be declining, thank god. During most of the week, the Public Bar was hardly used.
Sid and Beryl had plans to extend the Lounge Bar into the Public Bar. They also both thought the cellar underneath could be cleared out and renovated. The Entertainment Bar at the end would be kept, as this did prove useful.
Beryl and Sid knew I had contacts in the building trade. I brought people in to thoroughly inspect and survey all of the Bull. They thought a Lounge Bar extension plus a conversion of the cellar was also a good idea, as an additional restaurant space. I duly brought in a range of builders, electricians, carpenters, painters, and decorators. The conversions were undertaken with a minimum of disruption. There were no problems with regulations. Especial attention was paid to 'Slippery's Chest' in the cellar. He was hovering a lot down there whilst the conversion took place. There was no damp in the cellar. The workmen soon got used to him. Sid warned them not to get too familiar with him and start taking the mickey. News had got around. They knew this ghost had a sensitive ego, and the extreme consequences of upsetting him could be fatal for those concerned. Slippery meanwhile was fascinated by the combination of traditional tools he remembered and all the new electrical equipment that was being used. The ghost was a very fast learner. He could see that a traditional panel saw and a hammer still had their uses. A ventilation system was set up. All of this was expensive. This included new furniture, paneling restoration, and decoration. A fire exit had to be installed plus a new cooking area. The costs would be recovered soon enough with increased profits. The notoriety of the pub caused an ever-increasing footfall. Marigold and Percival, the two pub cats, soon made excellent use of the newly installed radiators downstairs.
The Cellar Bar Restaurant was a 'godsend'. Another antique Regency Chair had been discovered down there. This soon provided Old Slippery with a new 'throne'.
Whilst the conversion was taking place, food continued to be served in the Lounge Bar, where tables were set aside.
Both the downstairs Cellar Bar Restaurant and the upstairs Lounge Bar Restaurant were soon very successful. The bar staff doubled up as waiters and waitresses. This was proving popular. Beryl and Sid were able to serve a very good range of quality food thanks to the help of their daughters and sons-in-law. The kitchen area had been enlarged and an experienced overall chef was added. Specific dishes could be sent down from their restaurant in emergencies or if specific cuisine was requested. Better quality wines were introduced along with liquors. This was also the case with spirits.
The Lounge Bar Restaurant and Cellar Bar Restaurant started to fill up during the day. Word got around that good food was available. Office meetings were set up in the Bars. A more discerning clientele meant more profits. Yes, that Public Bar had gone along with the associated 'plebs'. They soon found another nearby pub which they happily went to and wrecked every weekend.
The regulars were not forgotten. The sofas and associated tables and chairs were kept in place around the periphery in the Lounge Bar along with the grandfather clock. The Bull wanted to retain the status of an excellent 'Real Ale' pub serving draught beers and continue to get good CAMERA (Campaign For Real Ale) ratings. Regulars like the Old Majors were valued. Neither Sid nor Beryl wanted to go all the way and set up a 'Bistro Pub'. They wanted to keep the atmosphere and the continuity of the old pub.
So it was Friday afternoon again with three weeks to go before Christmas. I was stuck in school for another two weeks. Luckily for Professor James Hudson and Dr. Amelia Smith, their terms had finished at Oxford. Mine just kept grinding on. Talent shows and musical events were all planned for the end of the term. You were supposed to summon enough energy to enthusiastically take part in all of these. I just about managed. Getting to the Bull on a Friday afternoon was not a problem though.
Detective Chief Inspector Higgins seemed to have set up an alternative office at the Bull.
His inter con and three cell/mobiles were laid out in front of him. These devices frequently went off. If anything serious came through, he had to move quickly. He had a pretty smart BMW saloon in the car park. If the 'proverbial hit the fan', he would speed away with all sirens blazing. Luckily for him, this was not very often. He also did a weekend shift, so being at the Bull on a Friday afternoon was some respite. He had his laptop too. Case notes were typed up from the files he brought along.
He could not reproach his two 'trainee Inspectors' either. He used these pub sessions to review their work. All in all, it seemed to be working out very nicely for everyone. Lina and Magda seemed happy with this arrangement as well. Both couples were living together, but they all wanted to be together as much as possible. Very sweet, young love.
This time the pictures from last Friday's manifestations were out there. They were nothing like the same quality as Sandra's and Kevin's, but there was enough there to get a good idea of what the ghost looked like.
Luckily Pamela Parsons had also arrived. She had helped Sandra and Kevin. They had both managed to get a visit to the technical department. The technical staff at the BBC were very impressed with their equipment. They authenticated their recordings and asked them to keep in close contact. The technical staff would also help both these young people on 'ownership' of what they had produced. Once the recordings were out there on the web etc, there was little that could be done. They did get good legal advice on how all this could be managed.
With all this in mind, Pamela Parsons suggested that a company should be set up 'Slippery Jake Productions' to manage all these ramifications. She had prepared papers which were given to all those present. I kept one back for Isabella as I thought she too was part of the group. Pamela agreed to this.
This was not before time. The press had 'got wind' of what had happened in the Bull. Tentative articles had been already been written in the press, both broadsheet and 'red tops'. That is the 'serious' press and the 'popular press', the tabloids. Reporters were starting to flood in along with the cameramen. Beryl's patience was starting to wear thin. She has very little time for their 'blather'. She treated them like dunderheads and idiots. Yes, trade was up. Both Sid and Beryl wanted to expand the restaurant. Hoards of press leaning over the bar asking the same question over and over again was a lot to put up with. Beer glasses were flying across the bar. They both knew this would not last.
There was also the influx of the 'ghost nerds'. Young men mostly, who had given up on 'having a life.' Personal hygiene was an issue with some. They drank and eat as little as possible, just waiting for the ghost to appear. This was not the clientele that Sid and Beryl wanted.
Pamela Parsons suggested we should all read through the papers she had supplied to everyone and get them signed and back to her by next Friday, back here at the Bull. The influx of the press and the media, in general, was getting too much for the bar staff, as well as Beryl and Sid.