Norman's Coach & Horses in Soho Presents JEFFREY BERNARD IS UNWELL

The infamous Jeffrey Bernard will be returning to where his legacy began as Norman's Coach and Horses Soho stages Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell from May 7th - June 1st, 2019. The play comes at a crucial time for the pub and alongside a theatrical evening, gives people a chance to make a stand for an independent landlord under threat from pub giant, Fuller's, despite 76 years of continued independent service as a thriving community pub and London's first vegan and vegetarian pub.

The play tells the tale of Jeffrey who wrote the "Low Life" column in The Spectator in the 1970s where he chronicled his drunken debaucheries in Soho, especially at Norman's Coach and Horses. It was inspired by the apology, "Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell" which was frequently written when he was unable to complete the column and follows the story of Jeffrey being locked in the pub overnight, sharing comically tragic anecdotes from his life.

Alastair Choat, independent Landlord at of Norman's Coach and Horses says: 'By staging Jeffery Bernard is Unwell in this way, we are celebrating the life and living history of one of London's great public houses. I want to create a unique moment, that like Norman's Coach and Horses itself, will become part of Soho legend'.

James Hillier the Director of Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell staged at Norman's Coach & Horses says: 'I'm excited to be directing this production, that will give audiences the opportunity to have a pint in Norman's Coach and Horses whilst in the company of the infamous raconteur and Soho legend, Jeffrey Bernard. Written by Keith Waterhouse in 1989, the play was well ahead of its time in looking at the shifting demographics and erosion of the creative and social fabric of Soho. Staging the play at this moment, in its original setting, when the area and Norman's Coach and Horses itself is under threat of becoming just another homogenised urban block, is a stand for independent London businesses and pub-landlords.'

Choat continues, 'Fullers are muscling in to change it to a chain pub that will offer zero support for the locals of Soho with zero ambience. Indeed, their statement about 'expertise' in 'preserving' pubs is shocking! Here is a fantastic local community pub that is living and thriving now and is not a jam that you preserve. Jonathan Swaine (MD) and Peter Turner (Pubco family) have admitted in my meeting with them that they have no idea what they are going to do with it, but he has bought the book 'Soho in the 80's' so his team can learn about Soho. In fact, their approach of preservation is incongruous with Westminster Council's policy of conservation which demonstrates even more that Fullers have no interest in local communities they bully in order to squeeze the pips. They are exactly the kind of company Soho Society, Westminster Councilors and Soho residents and workers don't want in their community. Local London communities are suffering all over because of Pubcos like Fullers.'

To purchase tickets to Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell and support The Coach & Horses Soho legacy, visit www.CoachSoho.co.uk.

To post a comment, you must register and login.