As part of the Nation Publishing Company’s 50th anniversary of Independence celebrations, the WEEKEND NATION is dedicating the Street Beat column to a staple of Barbadian life – the rum shop – as we Fire A Shot For 50.
OVER THE YEARS the traditional rum shop of yesteryear has been evolving into today’s bar and grill.
One such establishment is Renee’s Bar & Grill in The Pine, St Michael. Yes, there is alcohol; and yes, people meet there to have a drink but the loyal clientele does not hesitate to say that the shop is more like a bar or even a convenience store.
One patron said he had been going to Renee’s for the past five years and had made a number of friends. He said he liked the bar because it was convenient and had a television where he and his friends could watch the Olympics.
Rodney Armstrong said it was the food more than anything that kept him coming.
“I love the food. The last time I came here I had spinach rice and turkey stew and I almost bite off my fingers. The only thing is you got to wait a little while but at least you know it fresh – hot, fresh and sweet,” he said.
The proprietor, who did not wish to be identified, said she opened in 2006 with a tent and outdoor grill. Since those days, business had taken a turn for the worse, she said.
“Since the downturn, people do not buy lunch every day like they used to. Now [they buy] mostly Fridays and Saturdays when we offer homemade pizza, although since we introduced the television, some come to watch sports,” she said.
The owner said she was fortunate that it was family property and she did not have to pay rent because she was not sure if she would be able to remain open if she had to.
The famous Old City Bar in The City has been around since the late 1800s and is going through a rough patch as well. It was almost empty when the team visited, despite the Budget presentation going on in nearby Parliament.
“Normally, at this sort of time, near a Budget, you would find a lot of people here, but not now,” said owner Ken Cummins.
He took a brief stroll down memory lane, talking about what the area was like when he was young.
“It was completely different then. We had a larger pool of people to draw from as people used to come in from the schooners. There was also the Trafalgar Hotel where the market is now and the cinema was next door,” he said.
While The Old City Bar is not what it once was, stalwarts such as Kenrick Adams are doing their best to keep it afloat.
“I got a group of friends who lime here. We come on Monday and Thursday evenings and unless there’s an emergency, we would all be here. There are many places I don’t go but you can find me here,” he said.
Cummins said many of his old customers had lost their jobs while others had passed away but he said he was not fearful of the future.
“I’m not afraid, the future holds what it holds but I will keep this bar open as long as I can,” he said.
There is no question Sellie’s Bar is a rum shop. There is no restaurant-like setting, just a few chairs, a bar and alcohol. Located in Haggatt Hall, St Michael, it is a place of peace that offers good drinks.
“The service is good and the drinks are cold and nice and you don’t have to sit down and wait. People choose where they want to go and I choose here. I come to enjoy the company and to listen to the old people’s stories,” said patron Andrew Brathwaite.
Corey Eastmond is another young man who likes to hang out at Sellie’s Bar. He said he liked to relax during his lunch break as he too enjoyed the company of the older folk.
Another patron kept it to the point.
“We come here to drink a drink. We don’t got no problems here – we relax, chill out and when we reach our quota, we head home and sleep,” he said.