Philomena's Irish Sports Bar & Kitchen, 40 Great Queen St, London & Rugby World Cup fans.

Philomena's Irish Sports Bar & Kitchen, 40 Great Queen St, London.

These two decided to grunt and sneer at a stranger along the street.

On Sunday evening, 20 Sept, I was walking on a street a short distance from Philomenas’ Irish Sports Bar & Kitchen when two people, a male and female (pictured right), started to ridicule and sneer at me. The diminutive and somewhat obese female began the harassment by staring directly at me and grunting. It was the kind of sound a pig rooting in muck would make and no doubt whatsoever she was using this guttural expression as a sign of contempt towards me (she stared right at me and there was only the three of us in the area).

They didn’t like their picture being taken.

Her male partner then played his part by pulling on a huge sneer and also staring aggressively at me. It was as if they had an innate need to sneer at and ridicule someone and felt that it could be whomever they pleased.

I was gobsmacked to say the least but yet I knew from the Irish rugby shirts both were wearing that this type of behaviour was to be expected. Subsequently I approached both and informed them that insulting and harassing strangers in dark and deserted streets was the pursuit of fools. The female’s response was to stare with a mixture of blankness and surprise while the male, in his best authoritative tone, began to incessantly repeat “walk away”.

I really can’t figure out if he was telling me, his partner or himself to “walk away” but he repeated it ad nauseum. I suspect he meant it more for himself than for me or his girlfriend; perhaps in the recesses of his dim mind was remembrance of advice from a parent or guardian to walk away from trouble.

I quickly took a couple of photographs, and to this he objected loudly and aggressively. He ordered the female to turn away while hurling insults at me. Of course, when thugs are after acting like complete fools it’s not nice to have the recipient of their abuse suddenly turn round and take their pictures.

It’s not far from the dumbest thing possible to needlessly insult and abuse a complete stranger on a darkened and deserted street. While my taking their pictures caused them annoyance perhaps they’ll learn something from the experience, maybe my actions might save them from a worst fate in the future. It’s possible they just might learn to mind their own business and keep their mouths shut when out and about in a city of 8.3 million people.

This young Irish couple seemed the worst for alcohol and had probably been drinking heavily with cronies in nearby Philomena’s Irish Sports Bar. I passed this pub soon after my encounter with the young thugs and the pavement outside was packed with loud mouthed and extremely noisy patrons.

The following video clip gives some indication of the extreme noise levels and amount of alcohol consumed. There’s a number of other pubs and restaurants on this end of Queen St and the noise from Philomena’s customers polluted right up to the front of a few of them.

While the fans loudly caroused the Prince of Wales’
exterior was without customers.

Across the street from Philomena’s it wasn’t surprising to see all the seats and tables in front of the Prince of Wales vacant. Even right in front of this neighbouring premises the noise from Philomena’s clientele was irritatingly annoying. If, on this abnormally warm Autumn evening, you wanted a quiet drink with your partner a table outside the Prince of Wales probably wouldn’t suffice.

And this second clip shows a group of people who might well have frequented Philomena’s bar at some time or other. They are obviously rugby fans and were celebrating Ireland’s win over Romania; albeit I hope no licenced premises kept serving them alcohol until they reached this state of inebriation. The obviously find it funny to act like jack asses and make nuisances of themselves, although, I doubt the busker enjoyed his encounter with them.

 

It’s quite disgusting the way they harass and bully this musician who is plying his trade in Piccadilly Square; he was quite annoyed when this gang of drunken Irish louts drove away those who might enjoy his music or make his night worthwhile with a payment of money.

What’s rather unsettling about this drunken harassment is the way the Irish female seemingly encourages her compatriot’s abusive conduct. She very delightedly records them on her phone while grinning like a Cheshire cat; there’s nothing a group of drunken oafs would relish more than to have an obsequitous female egging them on.

I’ll be hoping Ireland very soon crashes out of the world cup because the disgusting antics and abusive drunken conduct of the fans and louts will be probably too much to endure if they continue in it.