Karl Marx pub crawl explained

Karl Marx pub crawl
Venue:Various pubs around Soho
Location:London
Type:Pub crawl
Theme:Karl Marx

The Karl Marx pub crawl is the name for various organised pub crawls based around a series of public houses the communist philosopher Karl Marx was known to have frequented or, more speculatively, may have visited in London.

Background

In his lifetime Marx is known to have enjoyed bouts of heavy drinking with friends.[1] A particularly notable pub crawl took place in the 1850s involving Marx, Edgar Bauer and Wilhelm Liebknecht. The trio intended to imbibe at least one beer in every one of the 18 pubs on Tottenham Court Road between Oxford Street and Hampstead Road. According to an account later written by Liebknecht the group got into a mild altercation with a group of Odd Fellows, and committed acts of vandalism, before being chased by four policemen.[2] In his memoir of Marx, Liebknecht explained the challenge of the pub crawl;

History

The first regular Marx themed pub crawl was organised by the historian Al Richardson from the late 1960s. Named the Karl Marx Memorial Pub Crawl, it was started as a fundraiser for the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign. Taking in pubs along a route from Marx's former residence in Soho to Hampstead Heath, where he regularly frequented for picnics, the participant who finished a drink in every pub along the way was awarded the door knocker of Vladimir Lenin's former residence in Clerkenwell.[3] [4]

Organised crawls

A route for the Karl Marx pub crawl based on Liebknecht's account has been published in the book Londonist Drinks. The suggested route visits 6 pubs on Tottenham Court Road, and includes other Marx related sites nearby.[5]

Various organised Karl Marx pub crawls take place in London, being particularly popular with students. The London branch of Socialist Students organises an annual Marx themed pub crawl which follows a route past his former residence, the site where he was commissioned to write The Communist Manifesto, and the Coach and Horses.[6] Student groups from King's College London Students' Union have an organised Karl Marx pub crawl which visits pubs Marx was known to have drunk at such as the Museum Tavern, The Flask, the Red Lion, and the Crown Tavern, where Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin first met.[7] Students from Goldsmiths University participate in Karl Marx pub crawls beginning at the former Jack Straw's Castle pub, taking in the Red Lion, the Lord Southampton, and the Rising Sun, among others.[8]

Other sites

Marx is reputed to have been a regular visitor to the Black Horse and Harrow pub in Catford, south-east London.[9] Outside of London, the Red Dragon pub in Salford is believed to have been visited by Marx and Friedrich Engels.[10] On the bicentenary of Marx's birth a pub crawl of establishments he was known to drink at was organised in Manchester.[11]

Interpretation

The popularity of Karl Marx pub crawls has been interpreted both as a psychogeographic exercise aimed at reconnecting to urban space, and as a social activity in reaction to the digital age.[12]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. News: MacIntyre . Ben . Ben Macintyre . Forget revolution, Marx loved a pub crawl . 25 April 2024 . The Times . 22 April 2017.
  2. Book: Wheen . Francis . Francis Wheen . Karl Marx . 2000 . Fourth Estate . St. Ives . 1-84115-114-9 . 256-257.
  3. Web site: Robinson . Bruce . Al Richardson: An "unorthodox orthodox" Trotskyist . workersliberty.org . 25 April 2024 . 8 December 2003.
  4. News: McIlroy . John . Al Richardson: Teacher on a quest for the history of British Trotskyism . The Guardian. 25 April 2024 . 24 January 2004.
  5. Web site: Brown . Matt . Do The Karl Marx Pub Crawl . londonist.com . 25 April 2024 . 25 October 2019.
  6. Web site: Pattison . Helen . Boozers of the world unite! London Marx pub crawl . socialistparty.org.uk . 25 April 2024 . 14 October 2015.
  7. Web site: Harry . Wise . Communist Pub Crawl Through London . soasspirit.co.uk . 25 April 2024 . 27 February 2016.
  8. Web site: Hutnyk . John . Marx Trot on again in 2019? . 12 May 2024 . 1 February 2019.
  9. News: Mark . Chandler . Catford Goose on the Green pub faces licence review over 'armed group' . 25 April 2024 . News Shopper . 28 June 2013.
  10. News: Keeling . Neal . Historic Salford pub where Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels drank set to reopen . 25 April 2024 . Manchester Evening News . 24 March 2023.
  11. News: Quinn . Ben . Marx bicentenary to be marked by exhibitions, books – and pub crawls . 25 April 2024 . The Guardian . 3 February 2018.
  12. Web site: Mould . Oli . In Praise of the Pub Crawl . tacity.co.uk . 25 April 2024 . 31 July 2023.