Was that a pint of beer or blood, sir?

From an Echo article dated 1989

When regulars pop into the King Canute for a quick pint they may mean blood rather than beer. The pub in Canvey Road became the unusual venue for a blood donor session yesterday. And a few cus­tomers who went in expecting to down a few jars got the needle, literally.

Manageress Eunice Robinson said: “We just let them use the saloon bar for two sessions, one between 9.30am and noon and the other between 2pm and 4.15pm. A total of 110 donors came in to give blood, including about 26 of my regulars. The public bar remained open and a few of them went in there for a drink afterwards rather than the usual cup of tea.

Two doctors and 10 nurses from the Brentwood Blood Transfusion Centre set up the makeshift 12-bed surgery.

Mr Chris West, deputy donor services manager, said: “The pub was most helpful and we are very grateful because there was nowhere else in the area we could go. We used to use the Belling Lee sports centre nearby but when that closed we were without a home.

“Originally we had asked to use their snooker hall and we were told we could use the whole saloon bar, which was ideal. This is certainly the first time we have used a pub for sessions. But I would not advise people to drink a lot after giving blood.”