The Only Fools and Horses pub name is The Nags Head.
Is it a coincidence it’s called Nags Head to relate to the reference Horses in the sitcom title (which originally had a working title “Readies”)?
3 real Nags Head pubs to have a pint in
If you want to have a pint in a real location of the nags head then head over to this article for an original (used in It Never Rains episode) Nags Head Location
Fancy a drink in the Nags Head for “Miami Twice Part 1, The American Dream” episode? Head over to The Middlesex Arms
Or how about a drink at the White Horse Pub? This Pub was used as the Nags Head in episode “Dates”. see Dates Nags Head
The Nags Head Pub and it’s most memorable moments is the subject we consider in today’s article by Only Fools and Horses fan Ryan Howes
Not Many episodes without the Hags Head pub
The Nags Head pub, which Del Boy, Rodney, Uncle Albert, Raquel, Cassandra and all the others used to drink in on a regular basis. It is such an important location during all the series of Only Fools and Horses. We see scenes filmed in a 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. These Nags Head scenes will live with us forever 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.
Did You Know That Rodney and Cassandra’s Wedding Reception was Held At The Nags Head?
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. They have just got 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.
From this point on they know, it will be different 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. The amazing Holding Back the Years by Simply Red is grabbing our heartstrings. With such a beautiful song being played in the background you feel the emotions. 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 wasn’t laughing and Tony Dow (the director at the time) said to John Sullivan; “the audience isn’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 scheduled 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. With Rodney having a new life 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. This was only right. The reality of married life as we all know is not so easy. Clearly, 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!
Nags Head surprise For Uncle Albert
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!
The Peckham pub played a key role
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 pub’s 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!
As far as I know the Jolly boys football team did exist. My grandfather saif he played for them through his pub in Peckham. My father confirmed this and said there were outings to Margate. Does anyone have any named members from that team? My grandfather was s six footer centre forward😊
Why can’t whoever wrote the whole details of only fools, as above bits, get things right as ur supposed to tell us facts, Rodney was chased by a American car, not a cortina!!!!, I’m into my old cars big time, also fools and horses lover, correct details must be said, especially by the article writer, sorry to be a bit politically correct people
Is a reall pub, but has now closed. Was not featured in only fools and horses as used to be called the morning star
is nag head in only fools a real pub
Hi all,
has anyone got the address to this nags head pub,
thanks
Nags Head is the Pelham Arms in Greenwich. Nags Head on one side, Pelmam arms on the other (street corner pub)
Sorry ‘Pelton Arms’ not Pelham Arms
By the time Rodney got married, OFAH was running on the fumes of nostalgia. The show had long since stopped being funny.
Reading through this article indeed does make the memories come flooding back! Memories like:
The Dockside Secondary Modern scene – Triggers classic Mind your head moment.
The Elsie Partridge and her trial Medium session – Baycie’s “I am here” brilliant.
The Trotters return to the Pub in all their finery, having spent some of the money – “On the slate Mike?” “No. On the house Del!” Unforgettable.
This is a very good article, I found this very interesting to read. And I hope you write more article for this website!!!!
Nice Article :)
Thanks, means a lot :)
Great article about the most memorable moments of Nags Head pub. You should definatelty write more articles about Only Fools and Horses as i thoroughly enjoyed reading this article
Nice little article.
Regarding:
“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?”
I believe it was the other way round. John was pacing up and down behind the scenes wondering where the laughs were, and it was Tony Dow who advised that the audience were in tears. This was shown on the Story of Only Fools.
Thanks for your feedback; easy mistake to make, you are correct I got it the wrong way round. Apologises.
You saucy old git, no need to apologise.