Public House Then & Now

Over the past few years we have seen the closure of many local public houses. The Flamingo on Oak Tree Lane closed around the time this photo was taken in December 2010. No doubt some people will possibly recall the Flamingo being built and opened, and have also enjoyed ‘refreshment’ there.  While the new establishment ‘Farmfoods’ still offers refreshment, it is mostly the kind to take home and put in the freezer or oven!

The Flamingo, Oak Tree Lane, December 2010
E. Thomas
Farmfoods May 2012
P Mapes

Comments about this page

  • Good times enjoyed there. From 1980 until 92, 93 ish. Did the door with Prosser, Dave, Eric, Andy Lawley, Waggy.
    Happy memories.

    By Paul Miller AK Max! (09/01/2024)
  • I used to work on the disco side bar, Saturday and Sunday nights were always full. Paul was the DJ and a lady called Debbie was the landlady. I worked there about 1985 for a year or so. I loved it.
    I now live in Perth, Australia

    By Symon Orton (06/11/2023)
  • Absolutely loved this place went every Saturday night 1982-1984 when I moved to Nottingham best of my mid teens spent in the disco 🙂

    By Tanya Turner (03/03/2022)
  • Paul Roxy passed away in Australia. I worked at Flamingo from around 87, then on and off till 91 ( I think). I loved the place, Dave and Tony were running it when I first started. Many a memory and happy times from there.

    By Maria Douglass (11/09/2020)
  • I was the DJ there from 1989 to 1992 when I moved away. Tony and Dave were the landlords then. I had some excellent nights in there, the crowds always commented how good it was, I still have photos of it when it was packed solid.
    If anybody can remember KEV FLETCHER then leave a post on this page. It would be nice to hear from some of the old regulars that used to go in, such a shame it closed down.

    By kev fletcher (01/09/2020)
  • Hi Phil, Paul Roxy moved to Australia .
    Had a word with a bouncer who worked on the doors back then, last year it was, he told me he’d passed away .
    Flamingo was always busy on Friday and Saturday nights, cars everywhere, lol

    By MARK (24/02/2020)
  • Please, if anyone knows the disc jockey Paul Roxy who used to do the disco there, please contact me.

    By phil swan (03/08/2019)
  • I remember the Flamingo well, my parents live on Gorse Ave and were there from 1962, and still do.
    I didn’t drink much in this pub as my local was the Cuckoo Birch…but it does have good memories, on New Years Eve 1985 I met my future wife just outside this pub, she lived on the Oak Tree Lane Estate.. 33 years later on we are still together living now in Norfolk. I also remember the Heathland and watched them building the houses in 1976, sorry, my wife lived there and I for one don’t have a problem with the Estate.

    By Mark Hays (16/05/2019)
  • 600K! I think you mean £60k Parsonage? It opened 27th May 1966. There was no grand celebrity opening on the night, just the chairman of Holes Brewery, Sir Oliver & Lady Welby. If Frankie did turn up he wasn’t advertised. As you say, it was indeed a fine building with much potential at the time, licensed capacity when it opened was 220 persons and I think on many a night through the 60’s & 70’s that was exceeded. There was no ‘food’ provided to attract custom in those early days, it wasn’t needed, people ate at home and went to the pub for a drink. No, the only additional draw were the ‘turns’ together with the innovative ‘waterfall’ in the Flamingo Lounge. Oh, and Richard Race from Rainworth playing the organ nightly!

    By Berisford Jones (05/07/2013)
  • 600k to build one of Holes show pubs, Frankie Vaughan opened it.  Remember when the bottom park was full of visitors buses. Also remember having to clean the copper tables in the spanish bar with half a lemon, I worked behind the bar having just moved in up the road in 1964. I watched it built, with the main road and huge car park it had much potential Sad its gone.

    By PARSONAGE (04/07/2013)
  • The Flamingo was an established pub with a good reputation as having a good steakhouse and in later years a small dance area. For many years the surrounding area was heathland, it is unfortunate that over the passage of time the reputation of the pub and the facilities declined, in part due to the increase in social housing in close proximity. I have fond memories of my evenings there in the 80’s .

    By Julia Wright (26/03/2013)
  • There was only one problem with the Flamingo, the customers at closing time. On the Opposite side of the road on Kelstedge Drive, which was primarily flats in blocks of four with doors from the main road and on to the drive. At closing time many who lived on the estate used this as a shortcut always a little worse for drink and very noisy. Eventually the council put yale locks on the doors as it really upset the older residents.

    By M G R (18/05/2012)
  • Many a good night spent in the Flamingo and afterwards into the steak bar next door [Flamingo Steak House ?] for a good steak, also it had a late licence so a few late drinks as well.

    By jim cains (16/05/2012)

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