Naked chests, drunken photographs or a relaxing drink may be some of your memories of the Old Goal Pub/Backpackers, but for Brian Peltason there are so many more. He says it’s the people he will remember most.
Naked chests, drunken photographs or a relaxing drink may be some of your memories of the Old Goal Pub/Backpackers, but for Brian Peltason there are so many more. He says it’s the people he will remember most.
The Old Gaol’s target market has always been everybody, Peltason said.
In its 13 years as a popular stay-over and hangout spot, so much has happened, but now the Old Gaol has been forced to close down by the South African Heritage Resources Agency. Peltason says bands have been formed there, people got married in one of the cells and it is where Peltason met his wife (and co-owner) Elvira van Noort.
This weekend’s closing party is a chance for gaol-birds to bid farewell to the Grahamstown establishment. “We’re saying goodbye to the jail, come and play, come and do what you want to,” said Peltason. Despite their good memories, previous reports in Grocott’s Mail revealed some neighbours as being considerably less fond of the Gaol and its patrons. However the neighbours declined to comment this time around.
The closing party begins today at 3pm and the festivities will continue until Sunday. There will be live music, with The Vibrafarians, who played at the opening, again forming part of the local line up. Peltason has left the planning to his employees but says it should be a laid-back affair, he wants people to come and “do some poetry or whatever it might be.”
Peltason is happy to party but is concerned about graffiti artists vandalising the historic building. He has warned people that he won’t welcome such activities. “I’m trying to leave with dignity… the building is still important to me,” he said.
