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The Jolly Roger is a famous pub on 4th Street in Parkhurst, Johannesburg. I’m sure many readers have enjoyed its beer and pizza but very few people know the origin story of this local institution.
The Jolly Roger was co-founded by Roger Cohen, a larger-than-life rugby player turned entrepreneur. In 1994, shortly after the transition to democracy (and perhaps with an eye on the 1995 Rugby World Cup), Cohen established the Jolly Roger alongside partner Piet van Bliek. Two years later, he sold the pub to LeBrun Rossouw who, according to a chat with a local staff member, still owns it today.
Jolly Roger from above (Google Maps)
The pub's name was a witty play on both Cohen's name and his deep connection to Pirates Rugby Club in nearby Greenside. Established in 1888, Pirates is one of Johannesburg's oldest clubs and known for its skull and crossbones emblem - the same design found on the classic Jolly Roger pirate flag. While Pirates has several pubs of its own, many members pop down the road to enjoy a drink or two at the Jolly.
The famous skull and crossbones
Cohen played prop for Pirates in the late 1970s and was well known for his antics on and off the field. According to numerous sources, the Pirates rugby tours at the time were pretty wild and Roger, no doubt, contributed to the festivities. On hanging up his rugby boots he joined the Pirates bowling club. Whether attracted by the sport or the cheaper beer on offer (compared to the main club house bar) remains a playful debate among his contemporaries.
Beyond rugby and hospitality, Cohen was also involved in the jewellery business. My father, Peter Ball, who played rugby with Cohen, recalls that Roger set the diamonds in my mom’s engagement ring (so I guess I have a few things to be thankful to the Jolly Roger for). Peter remembers Roger fondly describing him as a charismatic and ‘very jolly’ personality indeed.
Peter and Sheila Ball
Though Cohen only owned the Jolly Roger for a couple of years, he created a space that has become a cornerstone of Joburg’s social scene. Not a bad legacy to leave behind.
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