File:The Punchbowl, Crookes - geograph.org.uk - 1232455.jpg

English: The Punchbowl, Crookes The pub stands at the corner of Crookes and Springvale Road. In the years that I remember it, there was a snooker room to the right of the building. A doorway facing Springvale Road led to an off-sales where customers would go and buy cigarettes, bottled drinks or even take a jug and get it filled with beer.

A toothless old grandma would walk down Toftwood Road, come Sunday, resplendent in beret, with strands of wispy grey hair splaying out. She always had on a long oversized coat, with one arm tucked away inside. The returning walk would be painfully slow to avoid spilling the beer and exposing the disguise. Very occasionally her daughter would take her place and mimic the ritual. She never wore a beret, but a scarf over hair curlers and always had a cigarette drooping out of the corner of her mouth. The publican's name was Lawrence 'Lol' Wright. He was a big chap, some say ex-boxer and he was always very pleasant. There was hardly ever trouble in the pub, but one day a guy did start throwing snooker balls about. I see some of the windows are boarded up and that's what reminded me of the incident.

The small building to the right is a bookies and is built on land that was vacant for years. It may have been a bombsite, but I've never heard anything to confirm that.