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'GRAVEROBBERS & VAMPIRES: LONDON BY NIGHT' by Adrian Fox (article/review)
In London there are many places to go, but the first choice on my personal list just has to be The Ben Crouches Tavern, situated on Wells Street, just between Oxford Street and Goodge Street, in London's West End. Incidentally, this highly-evocative and atmospheric pub also hosts monthly meetings of The London Vampyre Group. More of them, later…
THE BEN CROUCHES TAVERN:
Run by the ‘Eerie Pub Co.’, The Ben Crouches Tavern is fairly brimming with creepy charm, specializing in excellent drink, food and music, the overall character of this venue such that the visitor is immediately ‘at ease’, the prices more than reasonable. Both casual and regular patrons are a mixture of tourists, city workers, Goths and interested parties (Hey: They even serve Gothic Scooterists!), everyone rubbing along together in an agreeable fashion, the service and manner of the bar staff and management the finest I have encountered, anywhere. The present manager, Kev, is a dark-haired and capable Irishman of jovial sort, always there with a ready smile and a friendly word, the general feel of this exceedingly comfortable place due in large part, to his able and amiable captain-ship.
As you look around in wonder, you are met with so much to see, of Gothic kind, that you may indeed consider whether your birthdays have come all at once: Stone gargoyles, medical apparatus, severed heads and black crows perched behind the bar, imposing arched mirrors, comfortably-private ‘nooks’, and heavy oak fittings, prints on the walls of early autopsies and grave-robbers, you have it all, here, excellent music, too (especially on Saturday and Sunday nights). The Ben Crouches Tavern is named after an infamous London grave-robber of the early 1800’s. Oh yes, the toilets are housed in a crypt-like setting downstairs, and colorful ‘shots’ can be bought in test-tubes to take away, to aid you in your post-visit fix…
Being the kind of place where one can feel immediately familiar and relaxed, bar prices more than agreeable and the overall ambience perfect for the Gothic Soul, it is greatly recommended by this reviewer that you visit, whether as a tourist or prior to going onto somewhere else in the Capital, a pub tailor-made to give you your ‘dark jollies’, without a doubt!
THE LONDON VAMPYRE GROUP:
Formed 12 years ago as a splinter group from its parent organization, The Dracula Society, ‘The London Vampyre Group (LVG)’ have been using The Ben Crouches Tavern as the site for their once-monthly meetings, for 3 years or so, gathering at this wonderful place on the second Thursday of every month from 7.30pm onwards, entirely at home amongst the test-tubes, apocathary and specimen bottles. There is really no need to protect your neck, when encountering the LVG, as they are after the pleasure of your company, not the metallic taste of your blood!
There is nothing ‘hokey’ or otherwise ‘doubtful’ about this collection of intelligent, interesting and inclusive people, as the welcome extended is friendly and unforced, their members drawn from most walks of life, including students, the unemployed, IT workers, company directors, all meeting together to discuss their overall love of vampires in fiction, film, art and History, and much more besides.
I, pulling up with fierce engine-snarl on my Gothic Lambretta scooter, on the night of Thursday, November 10th 2005, entered The Ben Crouches Tavern with my Brown Bag Of Doom (the brown leather Gladstone doctor’s bag, I carry everywhere), eager to meet the LVG and open a window for them, by way of writing this article/review. I was not disappointed by what and who I was met with, the members I spoke to being open and chatty, their individual and group persona both invigorating and refreshing.
Mick Smith, a likeable, strikingly ordinary looking grey-haired man somewhere in his late forties, is responsible for the LVG website (www.revamped.co.uk), explained that the LVG is principally a group wishing to encompass like-minded souls, with a view to sharing and celebrating the whole vampire genre, exchanging information and learning from one another. Mick introduced me to Malcolm, this man bearded and slim, wearing a grey pinstripe suit and black sweater, calm and collected, the group’s ‘link man’.
Malcolm explained with quiet mirth that new, nervous visitors were referred to by the LVG as ‘lurkers’, hanging about nearby uncomfortably, ‘out on a limb’, so to speak, Malcolm’s self-chosen function being to introduce the LVG to these interested strangers, drawing them in and making them feel welcome. Malcolm informed me also that the LVG were at times called upon to work as film-extras, directors and producers visiting with this aim in view; the most recent project is a film called ‘VAMPIRES OF BLOODY ISLAND’ (a dvd-only release), which is due to appear in the shops for Christmas (sample clips can be viewed at: www.darkagesmovie.co.uk).
As is the way with this engaging group, Malcolm handed me over to Tara, the personable LVG group membership secretary, an extremely forthcoming and friendly young lady with stylish black hair and subtle, yet Gothic appearance, herself joining the LVG 3 years ago upon moving to London, from her home town of Manchester.
Tara told me that the LVG often organize two-week trips to Romania (Vlad The Impaler’s birthplace!), held ‘themed’ functions (a notable one being entitled ‘Doctors and Patients’, revelers dressing either as doctors or the lunatics in their charge!), and have weekend ‘away’ trips to meet with other vampire groups and societies. I was told that membership of the LVG stood at 120, a third of this number being ‘active’ for functions, trips and LVG meetings…
Tara introduced me to Klif, a thoroughly welcoming man with capped ‘vampire’ teeth and wearing a smart black shirt which had small silver skulls for buttons, matching his one earring (dangling from his left lobe).
Klif explained that vampire or gothic dress was not a pre-requisite or necessity, as a more flamboyant or individualistic appearance was purely down to personal choice. Klif’s role is as ‘friendly face’ to representatives of the media, point of contact for those wishing to interview or produce items, features and programmes on the LVG, Klif explaining that such a role was shared variously within the group.
There is nothing trivial or ‘hammy’ about this lively, intelligent and forward-looking collection of people, I for one finding theirs the best initial welcome extended, anywhere (great to speak to you also, Dino!), so if you intend to visit The London Vampyre Group yourself, at some stage, then in the best possible way you can duly Kiss Your Nerves Goodbye!
Contact:
THE LONDON VAMPYRE GROUP:
Email: lvg@vein-europe.demon.co.uk
Post: LONDON VAMPYRE GROUP, P.O. BOX 487, LONDON WC2H 9WA
Website: www.revamped.co.uk
THE BEN CROUCHES TAVERN:
Email: ben.crouches.tavern@eeriepubco.com
Location: 77a WELLS STREET, LONDON W1P 3RE
‘Phone: 020 7636 0717 (if calling from abroad, ask for code)
Website for EeriePubCo: www.eeriepubco.com
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