When l say the sign along Paddington St, l thought to myself is this the return of “curry and a pint” culture at a local Indian offering a pint for £3 pounds ( Cobra or Kingfisher on draft) ? In the eighties this could have been be read as having as many pints that you can have after 10pm with a quick curry! Have we returned to those times again l wondered to myself. Surely not in posh Marylebone as well. 

Well if you heard Ruhul the owner of the Ruhul Marylebone establishment talk in the local press both in a food review and column piece, you would be forgiven for thinking he’s setting a new trend here altogether where he urges locals drinkers not to be mugged by the price of beer today! Clearly an opening gambit to get the customers into his establishment, as he suggest the price of drinks keeps customers away from eating out more often. He also suggests Marylebone needs something like this but l’m not sure Portman Estate will be keen on this at all, after all the years they have spent promoting this part of Marylebone as a posh village!  For myself its a straight return of the culture of curry and pint, which l thought the majority of the curry industry had moved on and away from some years ago as the focus now is the food that is offered. That is certainly the impression one gets when you attend many of the Curry Awards, where the Indian restaurants very proudly show off their dishes and all round offer. Against a lot more competition as well particularly in Central London with many other cuisines on offer, this is a keenly fought battle with atalian, Chinese, Thai, Vietemese establishments. 

I also understand from local publicans in Marylebone he will still be making money on the beers at about £1-1.50 a pint even before the food arrives on the table.  I makes me wonder if this is at all happening in other parts of the country and London as well. furthermore, beers at these prices, will it encourage heavy drinking like the old days? Or has this sub-culture been dropped altogether for a much better appreciation of the food now on offer. I certainly hope so for the sake of the staff serving them at least. 

So the British culture of a curry and pint, does not seen to be dying in this rather posh part of Marylebone. Will this herald its return in this financially restrained times? Only time will tell whether this entrepreuer, Ruhul’s marketing ploy can pull it off.  In the meantime, best of luck with those bringing back the “curry & pint” culture to Marylebone.