Danny Dorito

I've worked in 'hospitality' all my life but this also means a lot of pubs and bars. And for a while I was security. I was forever on the door at a place I used to be part of called 'Fungus Mungus' in Battersea. Over the years you sort of discover some rules. Mostly unwritten. I rarely had any incidents at Fungus, it was pure proto-hipster, acid jazz and techno crusties. London's only entirely vegan joint at the time. Never any bother. It was more about managing the demand, it was mega busy on a weekend at its peak. In fact there were only every 3 fights in total and two of them were over before I got there. But the one that wasn't was when I punched a nazi. Cos there were hippies involved there was a little consternation about 'bad vibes' from me but one of the barmen who unlike the rest was working class and also Scottish put it very well indeed when he spoke up. It's pub rules to punch nazis. Because if they find a place that doesn't punch them they come back in numbers and one day you are serving drinks in a nazi pub. That is what they do. They scope it, they assess it and if there is any weakness they exploit it. This goes for countries too by the way. A country is just a big pub. Know your enemy, give no quarter. While you are bickering about someone getting a free suit, there are actual nazis waiting to take over our big pub.

Anyone who has met Ash is always a little richer for it. One of the original good eggs in our biz, and tragically it always seems to be the good ones who labour while the bad sorts prosper. He's had a rough time of it for a good while now and never asked for anything. Please bung a little to help him get by. I know first hand the vast costs involved in being rendered incapable and how little support is in the UK. gofundme.com/f/ashley-beedle…