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Picture source: Stacey Harris

The Crayfish was situated on Silverdale Road. This pub was demolished by 2012.

This was my Grandfather - Tom Gorman’s - pub approx’ 1964-1977. He had it from new & ran it firstly with my Grandmother, Nancy, and then after she died in 1966 with Gwen Hanson. They retired to Hastings. My mum Pat worked behind the bar, day shifts mainly I think, until 1969. My Irish Godfather Mel also worked there for a while, mid 1970s. I seem to remember the much-loved cleaner was called Mary (?) and I remember someone called Michael (possibly Dennison?) also doing a lot for my Grandfather. He used to let me light his cigarettes with a lighter, but had a limit of only 10 a day, haha. I remember playing on the pinball machine aged about 4 & of being “served” sweets from the customer side of the off-licence section which was between the two bars. I also remember the lino-type floor of the Public Bar, compared to the carpeted Saloon Bar. I also have lots of memories of the rooms upstairs. And, of course, of Toby their Alsatian dog, after which came Shayne. I remember it being a very happy, friendly pub and only have happy memories of it.

Pauline Higgins (February 2019)

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Name	Dates	Comments
Mark Gaffney	1972 onwards	I used to fill the beer shelves up in 72 when i was 12 with a boy called eddie jones and then another called alan . then i was a customer ,one of the founder members of the crayfish f.c 80s ,played darts for the pub in the 80s helped out behind bar for a while but always drunk in there ,great pub ,great people ,miss it bigtime

Other Photos
Site of The Crayfish, 2021	Picture source: Chris Crowther