Saturday 1st August

It's 5:00pm and I'm at my local pub - the Bridge Inn. It's one of the last traditional pubs in Altrincham. The rest have been turned into flats, or changed into fancy pub restaurants.

We're having a great time. The pool table is the centre of attention with some exciting competitions going on.

Pubs didn't decline just because of the smoking ban. They declined because, before the smoking ban, most of them were taking out their pool tables and dartboards.

In this traditional pub you can become known by visiting for a few weeks. By then it's nice when people you've got to know greet you and say bye when you leave.

I found this pub by chance when it was a hot day and I decided to stop off for a drink on the way home.

The guys who go to these pubs are so tough guys that they don't have to prove anything. Everyone is polite and there's a lot of respect.

It's a lot of fun and it's a healthy environment when decent guys of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy playing pool or darts. England doesn't need those government integration programmes and equality stuff. It needs more pubs for people to get together and have a good time.



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