The Nags Head Pub and it’s most memorable moments - article by Only Fools and Horses fan Ryan Howes
The Nags Head pub, which Del Boy, Rodney, Uncle Albert, Raquel, Cassandra and all the others used to drink in on a regular basis, is such an important location during all the series of Only Fools and Horses… We see scenes filmed in pub in almost every episode, but what were the most memorable moments?
From Raquel the stripper to Rodney’s stag night, the pub provided some memorable moments which will live with us for ever and it’s these moments which really helped the series of Only Fools and Horses become such a wonderful piece of comedy. There were some painful, emotional, hilarious and simply classic moments based in the Nags Head pub in Peckham and it’s those moments which I intend on re-living throughout this article.
One of the all-time greatest moments based in the Nags Head Pub, has to be Rodney and Cassandra’s wedding reception held in the hall above the bar, this was arguably the greatest pub moment of all time, but what made it so special?
For me and I’m sure many others, it’s got to be towards the end of that certain scene where Rodney and Cassandra are about to leave to go on their honeymoon after just getting married. You can see Del and Rodders both pause for a few seconds and are looking directly at one another from opposite ends of the room, as this is the start of Rodney’s new life. After a short pause we see Rodney turns his back and leaves the room, you have Del, standing in the centre of the hall with a beautiful song being played in background. Throughout this wonderful scene the audience (although silent) played a huge role in making this moment so memorable.
Why? Because normally Only Fools’ doesn’t contain scenes which are classed as emotional because it’s just so funny, however this scene was the complete opposite, not funny, just so perfectly emotional.
Did you know; at the time of filming, the audience weren’t laughing and Tony Dow (the director at the time) said to John Sullivan; “the audience aren’t laughing?” the response from John was spot on; “Tony, they aren’t laughing, because their crying”… and out came the tissues.
Lovely Jubbly in’it!
At first, this was schedule to be the last episode of Only Fools and Horses, with Rodney about to leave Del and move on in his new life, living with Cassandra, and a new job with Cassandra’s dad’s printing firm. However, because John Sullivan knew he couldn’t leave it at that, he decided to bring them back for another series to show Rodney and how he is getting on in his new life, and as we all know, things weren’t as Cushty as poor old Rodney would have liked.
There are just so many unforgettable moments which are based at the Nags Head Pub, I don’t know where to start, but I feel it’s a must, that I embarrass poor old Del for this funny moment which occurred during Uncle Albert’s birthday party at the pub, unfortunately for Del things didn’t go as Cushty as he would have hoped; the moment he finds out Raquel (who he’s only just met) is a stripper… For Del it’s almost a heart breaker but for everyone else it’s another superb moment to add to the memory bank!
After seeing Raquel beginning the strip on Uncle Albert as the surprise birthday present for him, Del feels let down, embarrassed, angry and upset and yet again it looked to be Bonjour to yet another of his birds. However, it wasn’t to be Bonjour to Raquel, as later that episode we found out that Del actually was still interested in her, and as ever with Derek Trotter around, things weren’t that easy, as he was later arrested… Let’s leave it at that shall we!
Cos’bloody’mic! – What a Plonker you really are Del!
The pub played a huge role for all the characters during the making of Only Fools and Horses, and there are still so many top moments… From Rodney winning a date with nervous Nerys to the Trotter family walking into the pub as millionaires for the first time!
Although the greatest Fools and Horses moment of all time didn’t occur in the Nags Head, there are many moments which were filmed in the Nags Head Pub that are deservedly placed high on people’s Only Fools and Horses top moments list. This just shows what a key role the pub played in making OFAH such a brilliant piece of comedy and is still watched by millions across the globe today.
People may ask what made the Nags Head Pub so great, I believe it’s mainly down to Mike Fisher the pubs friendly landlord, although the pub had many bar workers before Mike arrived on the scene, I still believe it was his character which made the pub such a popular location to film Only Fools And Horses and this is why I say Mike Fisher made the pub so great with some luvvly jubbly moments!
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