Ask any of the oldest regulars of the Haunch of Venison for their memories of the old pub, and a misty look comes over their eyes as they talk about “the Halcyon Days”, when Bill and Kate Jakeman ran the pub and the restaurant, and the place was heaving, shoulder to shoulder, with interesting and eccentric characters.

Forty years after the Jakemans left for pastures new, Bill recently decided to make a nostalgic return, along with his family, at the invitation of Ruby Vitorino who is writing a book on the historic pub.

My thanks go to Ruby for allowing me to use extracts from her interview with Bill.

Bill was a chef by profession, and ran the kitchen, and Kate, his wife (who has sadly passed away) was ‘Front of House’. She was, by all accounts, a formidable lady, “you wouldn’t mess with her”, said Bill!

Bill remembered how you had to be married to get a pub license back in the early 1970s: “You had to go to Court and we had to have three interviews to get the Haunch.

“We had to go to Reading – to the Brewery (Courage). They were very particular as to who took it on.”

The regulars at the pub included pilots from the nearby airfields, and scientists from Porton Down. There were also actors who were appearing at the nearby Salisbury Play House, and performers from Studio Theatre, which at that time was still in Milford Street.

Then of course, there were the Haunchonians (led by Ken Lailey), and the Dining Club (led by Roy Spring).

The place had a high reputation under Bill and Kate Jakeman, and tourists would come to see Stonehenge, The Cathedral, and to dine at the Haunch of Venison.

It had a reputation as being the No1 Restaurant outside London.

If you have any information on the Haunch of Venison, please contact rubyvitorino@gmail.com

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