Today, myself and a friend went on a small journey, a pilgrimage (if you like), to view various locations from my favourite sitcom (Spaced) and one of my favourite movies (Shaun Of The Dead). The day went great to start off with. We went to visit 23 Meteor Street, as it is known in Spaced, which we got some great snaps of. This one's of me.




Then, while making our way forth, we spot no other than Vince from The Mighty Boosh (Noel Fielding), standing on the platform at Camden Town Station. We track him down and ask him for a picture. He agrees, and my mate jumps into the frame with him.




The day, so far, couldn't be going better. Finally, we decide that our last stop will be New Cross, to check out the pub, The Duke Of Albany, which was used as the exterior shots of The Winchester in Shaun Of The Dead. Our day was almost entirely ruined, when we saw the state in which the pub was in.













It was in such a bad state, the red phonebox just outside (where you see a zombie girl chowing down on her partner), smelt like piss on the inside.
As we were taking pictures, this gentleman (who lived round the corner) walked up to us and began talking about when the crew were filming Shaun Of The Dead. After hearing his cool anecdotes, he told us the future of The Duke Of Albany. That's right! You guessed it! FLATS!!! The place where Shaun and Co fought off a devastating army of the undead in their last stand, is being knocked down for a block of bloody flats. I mean, it's not like we're short of tower blocks in London, IS IT???!!! Lately, this has really gotten on my nerves, the fact that traditional British pubs, are being torn down and made way for housing, or being converted into a youth bar. These landmarks of British culture, should be preserved and enjoyed for many more years to come. I just hope it is not too late to say something about it.


So, if anyone has any plans of wanting to visit The Winchester, go now, before all you see is numbers, buzzers and another horrible addition to the London skyline.

Oh man, I wanted to have a drink in there some day! I think I may have to push my friend and I's pilgrimage forward a bit too if they're due to tear it down.

Nice photos though, LoPan01. And welcome to the board!

That did look like a grand day out, but shame about the pub. Still, I guess if you ended up living in one of the flats soon to replace it, you would technically be living in the Winchester...

Well it was attacked by zombies! It is a shame though.

I think the fact that we were having such a cool day was sort of like a warning to quit while we were ahead. That was such a shame the Duke was in ruins. Plus I thought it was going to be on the corner of a main road, rather at the edge of a counsil estate in new cross. But other than that it was a brilliant day. I seriously thought that the owner of 23 'meteor' street was calling the police when we were taking the pictures. Oh well. But a word to everyone out there planning to visit 'the Winchester': Do it sooner rather than later if your going to. Also, New Cross is a very dodgy area, be careful out there!

A scandalous accusation - I spent many a teenage year in New Cross and it's nothing but a lovely town....full of....um....

OK I can't defend New Cross. It is quite dodgy.

That's been exactly my thoughts! That and "Hey, they barricaded the windows, so the zombies wouldn't even get in, when they pile themselves up like the Bugs did in Starship Troopers."

It's a shame nontheless.

You guys had a really cool day appearently. But is Noel growing some gay patch of beard under his lower lip or is just a patch, where is beard just grows stronger?

Well, London is incredibly short of housing, flats or otherwise, but it ain't short of pubs.

Let it go, I say.

Oh, man, that's SO sad!

We haven't been back there since those changeable days back in July 2003 - it came as a hell of a shock to see the pics. We knew that it was earmarked for demolition, but to see it all boarded up and in such a state is genuinely heartbreaking for us.

We have fond memories of sheltering from the sun during a break and chatting to Alan Jones about our favourite European movies.

A sad end to a place that has a lot of memories for us...

KEVIN & NICK

I agree, it's sad. London may have lots of pubs, but only one that's been
immortalised in the best zombie movie ever! It's a crying shame.

Feel the love.
dolfyn.

well on the bright side, when i do move to london i can get a flat where the winchester used to be. also maybe simon pegg might fancy a looksee at the good old winchester and find nothing but my flat.......well i can dream cant i?

Yes. Yes you can.

what a great day you guys had shame to hear about the pub though.
maybe us lot should move in there when the flats get built! (joke)
Oh nice pic of noel how lucky were you guys?

that really sucks about the pub...

Aw, that does indeed suck ass.

It's a bit of a shame, but it will open as a coffee bar or a posh clothes shop real soon, so even if we brought Ed with us we'd be cool (fewer noise making things)

-m0r

my friend on another blog board showed this to me, and at first i thought it was the same picture that you guys showed me, but then i realised that this is from when it was open and it really dosent look that different.

duke of albany

I can't believe it, I'm gonna chain myself to it, lol, jp

Are you going to chain yourself to the building, or the wire fence around it?!

Feel the love.
dolfyn.

God. Yeah, I live near the pub and was gutted (maybe not the most appropriate expression here) about that place. Maybe Edgar and Simon should have bought it up or something. The greatest Brit film of the decade and soon it's key location will be gone. All fans better get down there sharpish and snap what's left of it.

Very sad

Meals

I don't suppose anyone knows exactly when it's due to be demolished? I still want to go and visit it and would like to know how long I've got.

Did we ever find out when it's getting knocked down? Or has it already gone? I managed to go there a while back, but never got any photos of myself with my arms outstretched and moaning.

Sorry, for the double post.

If anyone is in any doubt as to the lugubrious nature of the Winchester's surroundings, I draw your attention to this delightful vehicle which was parked outside when I visited. both front windows and windscreen smashed, grafitti on the side, flat tyre. Lovely!

Update on the poor old Winchester.

Don't be sad:

I like the story of Sarah Winchester- tangental I know. But interesting as I would love to visit her spooky house.

^Wowsers, that does sound cool. And fairly mad.

I like the idea of a house that never stops being built and doesn't have a plan. It'd be like a giant lego building.

I would love to do that. And have a higgledy-piggledly old house full of secrets and corridors like a Cluedo house.

I will be one fine mad old lady one day.

The house that Jack Jimmay built?

You read my mind sir.