Fat Barry At The Father Red Cap (Camberwell SE5)
It wasn't easy growing up Gay in a very Homophobic backwards town.
I wrote letters from Jobclub to bars in London listed in Gay Times asking if they had any jobs.
In the end I got 3 replies:
First one was from a bar in the West End saying they had no jobs but wished me well.
Second pub had a Job as long as I could start before the beginning of August but had no accomodation.
Third letter was from Mr Barry Bainbridge at the Father RedCap 319 Camberwell Road SE5 saying they had accomodation.
So I took the room at the Father Redcap and the Job at the other pub in North London
I moved into a room on the top floor (The top window on the corner) and paid £25 p/w for a box room with no lockable door.
The Father Redcap was a rather lively Gay pub. With regular cabaret acts and a late night licence.
That's If you can call Sheba The Northern Tart twisting the lyrics to
"My Favourite Things" entertainment
My second day in London was a REAL eye opener, Barry got tanked up on Brandy on the Sunday lunchtime.
Barry threw Ice at disabled customers next thing we knew Barry's partner Bill was ordering people to leave.
I could hear Bill and Barry arguing from my room at the top of the Pub.
Barry had a Black eye the following day, Little wonder after his antics that Sunday lunchtime.
A few weeks later I lost the job I'd gone to London to take on, difference of opinion between myself and the Landlady.
Barry offered me a few P/T shifts just so I could cover my costs for the room and food.
This picture below was taken on my first shift at the Father Redcap:
I'm at the front holding onto the Coke pump and Barry is the guy with the pen in his mouth.
The 2 people to the right were the resident Drag Queens Blackarella and Sheba The Northern Tart, The other guy was called Paul.
Barry sacked me after about 4 weeks when he realised there was ZERO chance of me sleeping with him.
I lost the room at the same time I got sacked & I got offered a place in someones spare room.
I was glad actually because I really wasn't keen on sticking around.
I found out that Barry was a bit of a Paedophile He liked his young RENT boys!
I got back to the pub after being at work one night to find a Kid possibly about 14 years old coming out of Barry's roomWho would want to sleep with Barry he was like a sweaty HIPPO!
(Apologies to any sensitive Hippos reading)
There isn't enough money in the world for me to want to sleep with THAT!
IT was common knowledge among the staff, residents and the regulars.
Barry & Bill lost the lease on the Redcap (SHAME) in 1998 when Barter Inns took over and they moved new in new managers.
After the Red Cap Barry took on another pub called Whelans where they did Sunday dinners with entertainment.
Not 100% sure what happened to Barry after his stint at Whelans.
I hope that Barry is dead by now... Nobody drinks that much Brandy & survives. They usually Pickle their Livers in the end.
I wish I could find something nice to say about the man but I'm struggling he was UNPLEASANT
The Father Redcap got sold to a company in 1999 who turned the place into a student bar (Red Star)
Someone told me on social media that the Father Red Cap is now a Sports Bar