Jumping Ship

It’s probably fair to say that the issue which has been most exercising the minds and conversations of the Taps regulars for the last few weeks has been the question of what to do when the Kings Head reopens. Individually or collectively it’s a question which everyone has, at some point in the last few weeks, asked themselves.

Souls are being searched and loyalties and allegiances questioned - and in many cases found wanting.

Although to be fair, the question of allegiances and loyalties isn’t an entirely straightforward binary loyal/disloyal equation, in that there are undoubtedly many Taps regulars who only started drinking in the Taps because the Kings Head closed. Which is to say that their first, and some might say only, loyalty, understandably, still lies with the Kings Head (KH).

I get that. I really do. I mean I only started drinking in the Taps because of the tragedy which was the demolition of the Enfield Arms; and should the Arms have reopened within only a couple of years of its closing I would undoubtedly still be there now.

It will be interesting to see what those people do. Although I think that for the most part the call of the KH will prove too strong and they’ll relocate back to their first love.

Which, perhaps, is as it should be.

Which leaves another group of regulars who are faced with a more difficult question. Those regulars who are only in the Taps because, as they see it at least, it’s the least bad of all the other possible options. People who, while enjoying the Taps, are fed up with the hideously crowded Friday and Saturday nights. Fed up with the same faces evening after evening. The same beer. The same conversations. The same routine.

I wonder what they’ll do?

Will they jump ship? Will their heads be turned by a passing set of pretty ankles and a whiff of perfume?

Me? Well I’m Taps faithful. Upright and loyal, but, hell, even I’ve thought about it….