Last night, we had the honour of celebrating Christmas with the Old General!
For those unfamiliar, the Old General honours Benjamin Mayo, a cherished Nottingham local known for selling ballads, broadsheets, and chapbooks. Although he never served in the military, Mayo earned his affectionate nickname by leading children around the old marketplace as though they were soldiers, barking playful “commands” that brought joy to all who witnessed his antics.
Recently, the statue was rescued from a local charity shop and brought to his new home in the Vat and Fiddle beer garden. To honour tradition, we dressed the Old General in a Santa outfit for the festive period – a nod to the days when he stood proudly above the Old General Pub in Hyson Green. But this time, his Santa suit was swapped for a festive cape! Let us tell you, dressing a statue as Santa is no small feat, but the result was worth every effort!
Before the festivities got underway, Nottingham CAMRA and ourselves took a moment to remember Nick Molyneux, a member of CAMRA who took a lead role in saving the Old General and sadly passed away before he could see him properly restored. A plaque has been fixed to the Old General in his memory.
Read more about the Old General here.
The night was, of course, spent getting jolly! St. Mary’s Choir filled the air with beautiful Christmas carols, setting the perfect festive mood. Although it was chilly, making our noses go bright red like Rudolph’s, spirits were high. Warm mince pies and mulled wine were served to warm up our bellies and a variety of festive small plates were also available.
A huge thank you to everyone who came down to celebrate with us. It was an amazing night and the perfect way to begin the Christmas celebrations!
If you didn’t get chance to come, don’t worry! The Old General will be in his Santa suit throughout the festive season, so feel free to stop by for a pint and make some merry memories!
In terms of the future, we are still working on getting the Old General restored back to his former glory! We will keep you all updated as things develop.
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