Doesn’t time fly by? Another week nearer to Christmas where friends and family spend time together but I wonder what impact the usual seasonal colds and flu on top of now living with Covid will have?

I know a number of venues are witnessing ongoing caution from customers.

I was away for a few days last week and attended a couple of events. In one, which was a sell out show in a theatre, the management had a policy of ensuring everyone who was able to wear a mask did so.

In the streets outside though it felt about only 20% if that of the population were wearing masks.

Indeed on island the Chief Minister in one of his briefings spoke of mask wearing and its impact in crowded places or those with inadequate ventilation.

Time will tell but let’s remain positive.

My recent piece about pubs now gone in our island attracted a great response from far and wide and I think it’s fair to say that memories of the Victoria Tavern (Dogs Home) came out on top.

Thanks to former island resident John, who now lives in Wales, for his memories from the south of our island.

Another of those who contacted me was Cath whose late uncle had a large album of photos from pubs in days gone by.

I thought it might be fun to do a little photo quiz from the album this week. So here we go:

l Photo one: ’Buggane’ where was that and what was it about?

l Photo two: ’Buzz Factory’ what pub was it before and after this short renaming?

l Photo three: ’Yates Wine Lodge’ which popular pub occupied this site after Yates closed?

Answers to by email to [email protected], text: 333974 or letter: 12 Manor Drive, Farmhill IM2 2PA.

This week I thought we could look at some of those I didn’t mention in the last piece. Any I miss, of which there will be plenty, feel free to get in touch and tell me.

In Laxey I remember both the New Inn and the Coach and Horses both of which had live entertainment and in the case of the latter my cousin John Cretney who had the first mobile disco on the island. ’Sloopys’ often played there as well as the Porthole Bar in the Fort Anne which had seats that were like little boats that you climbed into.

In the west the Glen Helen had a public bar and function rooms where lots of weddings were accommodated with lovely Glen views behind for the photos.

The site has recently seen much redevelopment to meet the leisure needs of the new generation including glamping pods where people can enjoy nature in comfortable surroundings.

It’s great to see these being located at a number of beauty spots around our island.

Venturing to Peel one of the very popular pubs which again hosted a disco was the Peel Castle which is now residential accommodation.

Recently in the news once again was the site of the former Waterfall Hotel in Dalby.

It was also a very popular eating place when operated by the Breadner family amongst others.

Heading towards Niarbyl the recently demolished Ballacallin Hotel offered accommodation, food and drink and has been unoccupied for some time before suffering the fire which saw its complete demise.

Up northâ?¦ now that will get me into trouble but look at a compass.

The Ravensdale Castle in Ballaugh was another venue that hosted weddings as well as having a licensed bar, the Jurby Hotel on the site of the former RAF base in one of the ex-service type buildings and was the last one standing when the base closed.

Down south I don’t remember the Victoria Hotel in Castletown but have seen a photograph, the Abbey at Ballasalla was another popular venue, which has had a new lease of life as a lovely restaurant and again a popular wedding venue.

I can confirm that as our younger daughter Julie and husband Tom had their reception there.

Those now gone that I do remember clearly include some that have enjoyed several different names or been ’reinvented.

The Globe, Legs of Mann,Strand 58, The Old Curiosity Shop now O’Donnell’s and others.

The same applies to some of today’s licensed premises.

Forward thinking has been introduced to meet the needs of present and future customers.

There also remain a number of traditional pubs and long may that be the case. Variety is the spice of life.

One topic currently being discussed in Ramsey is that when the brewery closes a premise they generally impose a legal restriction on any sale that would prevent the establishment of a new pub on the same site.

When the Forresters Arms was closed in Douglas a number of regular customers wanted to join together to purchase the premise but met that same issue so it will be interesting to see how that develops in the time ahead.

Clearly the Brewery are acting legally but it does feel like a restriction on free trade.

In Douglas lots of the hotels also had public bars that locals could frequent.

I mentioned a few last time which included the Villiers which had several rooms including the clock bar and a large concert room which together with many others provided live entertainment and discos.

The Falcon Hotel, as well as having guests, also provided entertainment in the concert room. We enjoyed Leroy and Linda - I wonder where they are now?

We were also friends with the girls who worked in the hotel who came over from Northern Ireland for the summer.

I remember also the Central Hotel which had a concert room, the Metropole, the Rutland and Imperial all of which had a busy programme of entertainment, of course the Grasmere where I was the resident DJ during the very busy summer of 1979 when we welcomed more than 600,000 visitors to our island during the Millennium of Tynwald.

The Athol opposite the Regent which hosted lots of events, the Castle Mona, which has had a number of different offerings over the years, including the first casino, 10-pin bowling, night clubs, function rooms and is now hopefully, at long last, receiving the attention it deserves.

Who remembers the Ridgeway, Wheatsheaf, Raglan, New Strand, Shakespeare, Salisbury, Star, Granville, Tramshunters and others?

I’m obviously not old enough to remember but have been told on the site of the former air terminal and bus station on Lord Street (when is the site going to be developed?) there were many more pubs in times long ago.

Latterly only the Old Market and the Albert remain but previously in the close vicinity were the Douglas and the Clarendon.

The Isle of Man has the benefit of pure beer laws just as we have for some other specialities like pure ice cream.

This must present opportunities to encourage visitors to experience our differences.

The Campaign for Real Ale both on island and its national organisation have identified a number of really good individual pubs and latterly a number of artisan brewers have set up to produce special brews.

This is welcome news because competition is always good in providing choice for customers.

David's next column is in Tuesday's Isle of Man Examiner.