Lovely Jubbly!

How can this really be 30 years ago , the classic Only Fools and Horses JBO to Margate. As it happened I was staying for the weekend in Whitstable - well actually just outside in a cracking pub called the Sportsman who very sensibly added some overnight accommodation to avoid the elephant in the room discussions about who was driving home.

A short but slightly packed train ride for just over 20 mins and I was transported from the sedate gentile Whitstable to the Bank Holiday atmosphere of Margit (As it's pronounced in London!). I am never a great believer in first impressions when visiting places but the tower block that greets you as you de-sardine from a four coach train with 12 coach loads of people on it is not good.

So on-wards and whilst most were heading for the beach and some of Margate's finest hostelries - yes they do exist off the main drag and some even cheaper than ' Spoons' I was dreamland bound - home of the Looping Star and that pocket emptying favourite the Mary Rose. This was so popular an acrid pink cocktail sauce was named after it I was told many a time by one of the locals.

But times changed and these rides were long since gone but thankfully the Phoenix has risen from the flames - literally with several fires over recent years threatening whether it would never re-open again, but it has and there is a huge effort to restore some traditional entertainment back to this sleeping giant of the UK Seaside's premier league resorts. This though would have to wait as hosted just before reception was a tribute to one of the best bit's of national media attention as you could get.

So The Jolly Boys Outing - just known really especially after a couple as a JBO, I'm not sure when this originated but can recall a youth football team end of season coach trip down to the Kent Coast being referred to as the annual Beano in which you meet in your local pub, bought loads of booze from the Landlord who always came with you, then after less than 30 mins you would stop at another pub , drink more beer before finally getting to the coast. So the actual format being the same as the TV replica and a far more lively event which would never make a pre-watershed TV slot.

So for the un-Del Boy like-price of £7.50 you had the chance to wander around a cracking selection of props and costume which gave us all so much entertainment for so long. Most didn't even need any commentary and the only one I could recall missing was the infamous chandelier but of course that smashed to the ground didn't it!

Trigger's Dolphin send local prices soaring after this episode and it was must have accessory when strolling around town. A lot of the on-screen locations have long since gone, the half-way house pub like many on the old A roads is now longer, I can recall the old A20 with signs outside saying coach welcomed or in some cases a firm no-coach policy, these Pubs were massive and some ways provided the template for Wetherspoons with cheap food and drink , large bar although the sticky carpet the has now been replaced by a sticky wooden floor. The Villa Bella has been demolished but there are a few places not just here which has made more than a passing resemblance.

The exhibition next year in which Sir David Jason amongst others will be there sold out in minutes. At Margate there was a different cast member each day including Boycie, Marlene and the Great Raymondo.

I buy a souvenir booklet for £3.50 or I can have two for as Tenner

You know it makes sense.