Trolley 379

Trolley 379 was visible from the capture point of trolley 378 just posted, but in the private part of the car park across the fence. Reached via the second passage, the one that runs down the western side of 'Plaice to Eat'.

Oddly, given the Sainsbury's was quite a long way away (having left this part of Epsom town centre maybe twenty five years ago). Who on earth would have bothered to walk it this far? Notwithstanding, I was content to take it back. Despite the vibrato of the wheel lock, probably defunct, as the number of Sainsbury's trolleys with them seems to be declining.

Checking on the Thames Water waste water tanker at the bottom of East Street on the way, last noticed at reference 1. All present and correct today, still no sign of any action to repair the broken sewer.

And then, happening to pass TB on the way back from Kiln Lane, I had the opportunity to find that the rule about no bar stools at the bar was for real, despite it being late afternoon, the bar being more or less empty and not very inviting. The new young manager was not to be moved by my observation that I had been sitting at the bar at TB since before he was born. I did no more than observe that the rule was rather silly, down my drink and leave. Probably not to return.

I wondered whether this bit of nonsense was a wheeze by Greene King to make sure the refurbishment failed and that the council would then allow the site to be put to better use, that is to say affordable flats. The cost of refurbishment - perhaps £250,000 and more - could be offset against the profits to be made from such a development. See reference 2.

Against that, there is the consideration that the 'Station' at Stoneleigh, an even bigger pile of a pub from the same fleet, right next to Stoneleigh Station, does rather well - although it would be interesting to see the books as it is another big site and would be worth a lot as flats. But whatever the case, perhaps Greene King think that they can pull the same trick off again at the back of Epsom, in another residential area, but one without the pull of a successful parade of shops and without a busy railway station.

Reference 1: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2020/01/waterworks.html.

Reference 2: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2020/01/herald-copse.html.