Pubs

The Jolly Roger is a famous pub on 4th Street in Parkhurst, Johannesburg. I’m sure many readers have enjoyed its beer and pizza but very few people know the origin story of this local institution.

The Jolly Roger was co-founded by Roger Cohen, a larger-than-life rugby player turned entrepreneur. In 1994, shortly after the transition to democracy (and perhaps with an eye on the 1995 Rugby World Cup), Cohen established the Jolly Roger alongside partner Piet van Bliek. Two years later, he sold the pub to LeBrun Rossouw who, according to a chat with a local staff member, still owns it today.

Jolly Roger from above (Google Maps)

The pub's name was a witty play on both Cohen's name and his deep connection to Pirates Rugby Club in nearby Greenside. Established in 1888, Pirates is one of Johannesburg's oldest clubs and known for its skull and crossbones emblem - the same design found on the classic Jolly Roger pirate flag. While Pirates has several pubs of its own, many members pop down the road to enjoy a drink or two at the Jolly.

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There is a pub/hostelry in Benoni on the site where the original gold rush started in this region, now 6 km east of the Benoni City Centre. The Chimes Tavern was obviously built as a watering hole for the many expat miners that came to seek their fortunes. It was built in 1889 which makes it 127 years old (as of August 2016) and is thus one of the oldest pubs in South Africa, north of the Cape Province.

I had heard and read that its days might be numbered so I went there last weekend to get some photos which are a keep sake for always. These are included after the brief history of the place hereunder, taken from the Benoni 100 years centenary brochure:

The Chimes Tavern got its name from the “Bell Syndicate” who started prospecting for gold on the Reef in 1885 which they eventually found near where the Chimes Tavern is situated today. They called their mine “The Chimes Gold Mine” which was situated West of the New Modderfontein and below the Kleinfontein Mine. In 1888, the site occupied by the town was first proclaimed as a gold-bearing reef on the farm Benoni when 24 claims were pegged. The stand on which the Chimes Tavern was built, was originally a prospector’s claim No. 335 held by the first owner George William (Bill) Eaton. As the law at that time prohibited the holding of a liquor license in respect to ground forming a prospector’s claim, Bill Eaton got round this by converting claim No. 335 to...