Open To Anyone

[alleyalligator]

Everyone who was anyone knew that on a Thursday night The Surgeon on Tottenham Court Road was the place to be.  As the day’s work finished up for the night, the pub would slowly fill so that by the time 8pm hit, it was standing room only and secretaries would be shoulder to shoulder with builders, traders, lecturers, accountants, all waiting for

Comments

[i_17bingo]

I'll be honest, I was wondering where the zombies were coming in. But I was relieved to find out they weren't. I really love slice-of-life stories, and this one was fabulous. I kind of love Jerome too.

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[alleyalligator]

I did debate making Jerome or the karaoke machine magical so that they spread a feel good vibe, but in the end, this is what came out and I liked it, so I stuck with it. I'll have the vampire eating zombies next time ;)

[alleyalligator]

Jerome was really cool. He couldn't sing for toffee but he was the sweetest guy ever and everyone loved him when he sang.

[beldarzfixon]

This was a wonderful story! I'm glad it didn't take too dark a turn, but it is sad when a really cool place to go loses its mojo and becomes little more than a "remember when" story for the old regulars who wish they could find a place with that kind of magic again.

[alleyalligator]

We knew the writing was on the wall when it was bought out and the karaoke DJ told us the new manager didn't like karaoke. It seemed so short sighted to get rid of the karaoke which packed the place out when you could watch sport on a big TV in a whole heap of other pubs within walking distance. Last time I went back there on a Thursday it was deserted.

[pixiebelle]

Like the others, I was expecting creepy... and this is a unique departure from that. I could relate though, as I think most people can, about how something changes and how you always think back on how it used to be.

Nicely done.

[alleyalligator]

I did debate throwing in a magical element, so there was some kind of fairy glamour going on that made Jerome special or that was how he spread happiness, but as I wrote, this is what came out and I decided I liked it just how it was. I have a lot of happy memories associated with Thursday nights at the Surgeon.

[myrna_bird]

This was nostalgic and a bit sad since they decided to do away with the obviously happy singing place it was known for. Enjoyed reading about it though!

[alleyalligator]

It was really sad when they stopped karaoke at the Surgeon. I've never found anywhere else quite like it since.

[myrna_bird]

It does sound like such a fun place. Since the new sports place is so dead, maybe they will considering bringing it back some day.

[alleyalligator]

This was some fifteen years ago :) Even if they wanted to bring it back now, it wouldn't be the same - the heyday of karaoke is long since past, the regulars have scattered to the four winds and who knows what the DJ is doing now.

The manager hated karaoke. He was never going to bring it back, even if it meant more business. It's a stupid attitude, but what can you do?