Wednesday 19th - Scotland Yard

 Anyone who knows The Beeb will know of his passion for music, especially when it is home grown from his native Glasgow. One particular favourite from the 60's is The Marmalade who hail from The Beeb's home town of Coatbridge. Think "Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Do", "Reflections Of My Life" and "Baby Make It Soon" and you have this marvellous Scottish band.  Band members Dean Ford and Pat Fairley have both settled in L.A. for a good many years and the latter runs a bar out in the Topanga Canyon area.
Although we knew that Pat had retired and handed the running of the bar to his son, we still took a drive out to see the Pub and maybe even get the chance to meet Pat.

The pub is called Scotland Yard, just off Topanga Canyon Road.

Once we were inside, it was not long before we found out that Pat's son no longers runs the pub and there is a new owner, an Irish guy, since March.


The Marmalade memorabilia and gold records that had adorned the pub's walls were long gone, but for posterity, the tin bath that Pat had been bathed in as a child in Glasgow, and which had found its way across the pond with Pat, was stuck to the ceiling of the pub.


There are still Celtic matches being shown on the TV screens (replays).


The barman has been working there for about 20 years, so he spoke to us about Pat and the pub. He also came from Scotland, packing up and coming to America after the depressing 80's when times in Glasgow were at their worst.

The Beeb also got talking to the new owner and a group of locals who offered to give Pat a call and get him down to the pub. Knowing Pat is now getting on a bit (and the barman told us is also deaf as a post!), we did not encourage them to drag him away from home.

What it says on the Tin!!!!

The Beeb and the new owner

The Beeb and The Barman

Dinner that evening was in a pizza joint next door. Basic food but actually very tasty and hot. After eating we popped back to the pub and said goodbye before heading back on the freeway to DTLA.