The Prince of Wales has long been known as “the” pub in Moseley to discuss child protection issues but recently they began a radical overhaul in order to attract the younger clientele. Little did they know what dark secrets they were about to uncover.
As decorators began to remove the decades of paint that had built up around the Prince they uncovered a startling image. As a local painter told us yesterday “It was last Friday and we were just removing the last coat of paint, I remember it well because we were listening to that Steve Wright on Radio 2. He’s a very funny man, have you heard him? Anyway I was scraping away and then bugger me if we didn’t find an enormous picture of local hero and Liberal Party candidate Martin Mullaney. As large as life and twice as big. I remember it well, I turned to John and said “Bugger me isn’t that an enormous picture of local hero and Liberal Party candidate Martin Mullaney?” and John said “Yeah it does look a bit like him”. Well I tell you, we needed a cup of tea after that.
In itself large pictures of local celebrities are not that surprising but the truth of this case is infinitely more shocking. Through a process of carbon dating it has now been conclusively proven that the original painting was completed in 1920. Some years before the real Martin was either conceived or born.
The landlord of the Prince of Wales told us “At first it scared me to my very marrow but given a little thought we’ve decided to keep it. After all if we want to get a new breed of young drinkers in here what’s going to attract them, an enormous picture of Martin Mullaney or cheap Bacardi Breezers and large screen football? Indeed it’ll be the picture every time.”
Mr Moneywise is said to be willing to fight this decision in the courts. He told us “It gives me the willies. I’m standing there behind me counter and he just stares at you. I swear he winked the other day.”