The launch of Chris Robinson’s latest book marked a double milestone for the popular Plymouth author and historian.
His latest volume ‘Plymouth Pubs: Past and Present The Two Trees and 100 Others’ was his 30th book about one aspect or another of the city and also coincided with the 40th anniversary of the opening of his Barbican shop in New Street.
full-time freelance, professional archivist, historian, chronicler – call him what you will
Little did the fresh-faced, long-haired, newly married 24-year-old ever imagine back in December 1978 that, 40 years on, he would still be producing Plymouth-based products in New Street, and that his wife, Clare would be publishing and promoting those products.
It’s a remarkable achievement and almost certainly affirms Chris’s position as Plymouth’s only ever full-time freelance, professional archivist, historian, chronicler – call him what you will.
Chris’s first two books on the Pubs of Plymouth – Past and Present – appeared 20 years ago, since when half of the hundred pubs that he wrote about in the present tense, that is as pubs that were open for business and seemingly trading healthily, have now closed. Many of them have been demolished.
Of that number some 20% were post-war constructions. In addition of several housing estate pubs have closed (like the Mayflower, Ernesettle; the Tiger, Whitleigh; the Lion and Column, Ham and the Royal Marine, Efford) and there have already been a few city centre pubs which have gone – like the Breton Arms, the Barley Sheaf (aka Trader Jack’s or the Corner House), the Good Companions and now the Two Trees.
Over the same period at least 50 new cafe/bars have opened in the city but around 20% of them have closed already. The culture is undoubtedly changing and evolving – the pub is no longer primarily the preserve of male smokers, as food, specialist craft ales, and gin tastings are increasingly becoming part of the night time social experience, especially in the city centre, away from estates and residential neighbourhoods.
The new book is the first of the four pub books to be printed in full colour throughout and contains the names of around 1000 local licensees.
Appropriately enough the launch party was held in The Pub on the Hoe, where the landlord is the amiable Irishman Frank Kelly, who was the last licensee of the Two Trees.
Others in attendance included representatives from the Plymouth Barbican Trust, which owns the 400-year-old property in which the Robinson’s shop is located, several licensees from premises featured in the book and also representatives from Plymouth-based Latimer Trend, who have printed over 30 books for Chris and Clare.
