This door is just across the way from The Majestical Roof:
Old Towne Pub
It takes you to the Old Towne Pub, which is also hidden away and accessible only through tunnels or alleys.
No persons under 211 allowed
Old Towne Pub
66 N Fair Oaks Ave
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 577-6583
http://lochnesspub.com/
This used to be the Loch Ness Monster Pub — or at least share a parking lot with it. Back when I first lived in Pasadena, Old Town was a derelict bunch of old buildings cheap enough for painters to rent. Said artists would, at the right late hour, stumble to this pub to drink and smoke and play darts. Old Towne Pub retains the same grotty atmosphere, and quite possibly some of the original stains.
this is funny!
ooooh… I didn’t know about this place! I’ll have to search it out next time I’m in the neighborhood!
That’s totally my kinda place…
Looks cool – though I hope I’d still get carded; I may not pass for under 21 anymore, but I hope I don’t pass for 211
This was called the Loch Ness Monster from about ’72 till who cares. After Ralph Parsons Co. destroyed the heart of Old Town, these remaining bldgs were pressed into service as hot bars for the afterwork yuppies of those days. 10 years after they were well grounded established cash cows, the Gay-Architects and their Boyfriends bought the whole place out and Voila! New Old Town. This exact location withstood the overt gentrification, and alternative lifestyle persuasion of the rest of the ‘storyville’ lots. Primarily due to the crowd and thereby $$ drawing efforts of a now relatively obscure band called “Snotty Scottie, and The Hankies”. I myself helped pay many a months rent on that brick pile, one or two beers at a time. That was the Bar at which I first became aware that I might be an alcoholic. For the longest time it had a huge Scots clientele with flags, bloody heads, and bagpipes. Then the true Old Town denizens discovered that they weren’t being thrown out, so they took over, and it became a “trendy” dive to slum in at and catch a novel Rock band, namely SS&TH. They were the first, and still only rock band to feature solos by their electric fiddler Max Buda, on his wood face, plexiglas backed elctrified violin. He was and remains the worlds hottest rock fiddler. But sadly no longer plays with that band. But that band does still perform around pasadena area. I tell you without the music, the place now is slightly depressing because it has been completely isolated from view by surrounding Tony/Phoney stores and bagelries. For a while the management stiffed some of the local bands, so it was under boycott from surviving locals. But I heard that it is changing mgmt and may be restored to acceptable by same soon. Funny that what was the back door, right by tiny toilet rooms, is now presented as best entry. many a processed beer was deposited immediately to the right of it. How have the Mighty Fallen, and stumbled, and spewed.
My wife and I met at Loch Ness, 32 years ago. A hot August Saturday afternoon, I stopped in for a cold beer. It was the first time I’d ever gone there in the daytime. I didn’t/don’t drink in the afternoon, not even a beer. I don’t know why I went in, other than thirst.
I was the only one in there, nursing a frosty mug, when she walked in, quietly up to the bar. Long red hair, dark green striped jacket and the bluest eyes you ever saw. A stunner. She took her beer outside and sat down.
Usually unwilling to bother anybody, even modestly cute girls, I knew it like a bolt, I had to meet her. Without hesitation I got up and walked out on the patio, she was sitting in the corner looking down at an album she had just bought from Canterbury Records, Steeleye Span I remember.
I walked over to her table in the shade and stood there a moment until she looked up at me, perplexed. I said, “would you mind if I sit down?”
I saw in her face what anyone would expect to see in the face of a pretty girl approached by a strange man, “oh god not again”, “why can’t they leave me alone” “just a little privacy that’s all I ask” in the pause while she considered I understood that and felt a little sorry for her, but only just a little. She looked down, sort of sighed and then looked up at me and said “ok”
She told me it was the first time she had ever gone to Loch Ness in the daytime, didn’t know what made her stop in, never drank in the afternoon.
We’ve been happily married for 30 years.
The Loch Ness was a GREAT bar!
Back in 1997, my girlfriend and I visited the pub. We were only 19 at the time! We acted more “mature” I guess than the others who were of legal age and was carded! We just held our breath and kept on enjoying the ale, talking to the bar keep and being entertained by the drunk off to one side. Very fond memories. If I were out there again, I would definitely visit this old place again. Of course, I’m over 21 now!
to those of you who remember/think snotty scotty and the hankies as some old obscure local band well they aren’t that obscure or hard to find these days, maybe you just gave up on your coolness. the hankies still play and still have pretty much the same line up they always had. i know this and i wasn’t even around in the beginning. but i have inside info because im related to snotty, billy booger, pork boots, rag head, drake and hot coffee bruen. stop being an old loser and get out more and you will find that the hankies you remember are still going and still kicking ass and still rocking the pasadena area.
I knew Billy Booger when he worked at Fluor as a piping designer. Fluor, of course, was a main rival to Parsons in the 70′s, He was a pretty funny guy, for sure. It was fun to work with him. Interesting how someone would bring up Parsons ruining old town Pasadena while Mr. Booger was working at a rival company. I liked The Fabulous Satellites, Pecos, and The Sneeze. I remember having a blast at a Fabulous Sattlelites Fan Appreciacion Night party in San Gabriel about ’75 probably.
I used to visit the LochNess Monster in the 80s and had some great times. The Hankies ruled then and they probably still rule.And the tunes they played were kick ass. Snotty, Billy Booger, The Judge, Raghead, Max Buddah, AkA (CHET) man this guy could play violin and keys what a hero.I know the Hankies changed line ups often , this group was fantastic. Drink some ales throw some darts double in double out, I dont know how those guys could keep score? Those were the days. Met some good people there, hey Monty you out there?