Hi Phil where do I start.
I mention The Chestnut Tree so often because as I have said I was Head Barman there in the 70s. It has also been my local since around 1967. The Nuts as we know it locally is now owned by an Indian Guy, who keeps a very good house. Unfortunately, the name has ben changed to KERI GOLD (yes I know that is an Irish butter). The large back room is now a sports bar (very bright, with large TVs) The rest of the pub is a very good Indian restaurant. Originally it was a prefab up to 1964 and it was called The Chestnuts. (after an old farmhouse that used to be nearby).
The Cabin Sheldon Heath Road was always a good drinking house, not a place that you would want to take your wife (or anyone elses). It has also been Known as the Mazeppa and until it recently closed for good (to be demolished to make way for a four story hotel I am led to believe) it was known as the Radleys Arms.
As The Cabin in the 70s it was run by a big Irish Guy, Pat Laird and his wife Margaret. In the 60s/70s in the "concert room" (and I use the term loosely) on Friday and Saturday evenings there was a Free and Easy. All the local characters used to get up and sing, well before we had heard the word Kareoke. (and before you ask no I didn't).
The cabin /Mazeppa/Radleys Arms was always a tough pub, I was sent down there to relieve it one day, I was bloody teriffied I don't mind admitting espescially as half the customers had been batted for our pub over the years. Funilly enough I had a few drinks bought for me and everyone wanted to shake my hand. But I was glad, to get out. That was I think the last time I went into the place. It has from time to time been a bikers pub, in the 50s/60s it was a Teds pub. But it was always a good Beer drinking house. The customers were also very good at charity nights, raisng good money for people in trouble. The closest you would have got to a cocktail in the Cabin was a Shandy..........Happy Days... Sheldonboy