Iconic pubs... [Archive] - Pubs Galore Forums

General Staal

20-07-2010, 19:57

Near me are three landmark pubs - The Beggars Bush, which is definitely a landmark of a building, very imposing and like a castle in appearance. But the beer and interior is very average. The Scott Arms, which is a 50s/60s monstrosity with again an average interior and beer. And finally, the Bartons Arms which is amazing internally, externally and beerwise.

These are pubs you would base directions around and are instantly recognisable.

What iconic landmark pubs are out there which deserve their iconic status, and which are iconic landmarks but in reality are disappointingly bland?

Oggwyn Trench

20-07-2010, 20:20

The Cock Hotel in Wellington(Telford) is a well known landmark round here on the main crossroads in town , its tatty looking on the outside but was West Mid CAMRA pub of the year last year (though locals are up in arms at the recent price increases )
The Heathgates on the main road into Shrewsbury from the north is an intresting looking pub outside but a bland barn in , Dont get me started on Shrewsburys best looking pub , The Kings Head , looks fantastic then you walk inside ...... :moremad:

For anyone who has lived/travelled in the West Midlands the biggest landmark pub has to be the now demolished Stew Pony

General Staal

20-07-2010, 21:05

For anyone who has lived/travelled in the West Midlands the biggest landmark pub has to be the now demolished Stew Pony

I don't know the Stew Pony. Where was it?

Farway

21-07-2010, 13:37

A very obvious one round here is the Coach & Horses at Hilsea in Portsmouth. First pub you see when arriving on Portsea Island via A3, London Road [not motorway], and last as you leave. Rebuilt around 1930, supposedly using apprentice brickies, the brickwork is great, with a turret. It is slap bang on junction, which is in reality a large roundabout. Now a Harvester or similar

http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/61908/

Another was the Air Balloon, Mile End, Portsmouth, now sadly closed whilst it's fate is decided [listed building], imposing black & white timbered building, very similar to White Swan in Landport, Portsmouth.

It was the first one seen when arriving via Channel ferry, now view is blocked off by M275, and pub is dwarfed by ugly office blocks & flats. Another success for the council & corporate vandals IMO

Oggwyn Trench

21-07-2010, 16:51

I don't know the Stew Pony. Where was it?

It was on the Wolverhampton , Kidderminster (A449) road at the crossroads where you turn for Bridgnorth or Stourbridge (A458) it was a huge pub , they demolished it and built an housing estate on the site

oldboots

21-07-2010, 16:58

The ultimate is probably the Elephant & Castle (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/24228/) with a whole area of London named after it, I believe it's not a very nice pub.

In Yorkshire on the A19 we have Tontine which is a junction named after the pub (The Cleveland Tontine) sat in the V of two old roads, we also have Black Swan Crossroads, although the pub shut when the crossroads was turned into GSJ (Gradient Separated Junction). half the bus stops round here are called after the nearest pub including demolished pubs. There are lots of "landmark" pubs but I'm not sure I would call them "iconic", truely iconic pubs for me would be places like the Olde Trip to Jeruslem (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/30804/), or the Philharmonic (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/26783/).

Talking about Air Balloons (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/12595/) the one at Birdlip is incredibly famous and a well known landmark.

General Staal

21-07-2010, 19:53

It was on the Wolverhampton , Kidderminster (A449) road at the crossroads where you turn for Bridgnorth or Stourbridge (A458) it was a huge pub , they demolished it and built an housing estate on the site

I would have driven past it on the way from Birmingham to Kinver via Halesowen then?

Andy Ven

21-07-2010, 20:04

I would have driven past it on the way from Birmingham to Kinver via Halesowen then?

It has been quite an accident blackspot in the past. Busy road.

rpadam

21-07-2010, 20:04

The ultimate is probably the Elephant & Castle (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/24228/) with a whole area of London named after it, I believe it's not a very nice pub.
I've never been inside, but I am always quite impressed that the Craven Arms in South Shropshire not only has its town named after it but also a railway station (as does the famous Berney Arms in Norfolk).

Andy Ven

21-07-2010, 20:26

You have mentioned big landmark pubs - Jamaica Inn in Cornwall would be another

I suppose some pubs are iconic for the wrong reasons - the Blind Beggar in Whitechapel, The Mulberry Bush and the Tavern in the Town (Yard of Ale) in Birmingham

Others because of their unique features - The Philharmonic in Liverpool (a throw back to my student days) is iconic for its ornate toilets, the Crooked House in Dudley because it's so wonky

General Staal

21-07-2010, 20:40

In Saltley in Birmingham was a pub called the Gate. The pub was 'interesting' and has been demolished. An island was built on the junction where the pub was and a mock gate set up on it in honour of the old pub. The general area has been called Saltley Gate for years. In fact, during the industrial unrest under Edward Heath in the early 70s, police and strikers clashed in the area in an incident that has gone down in history as the Battle of Saltley Gate.

Andy Ven

21-07-2010, 20:48

The Elephant and Castle in Wolverhampton used to be iconic, at the junction of Stafford Street and Cannock Road. It had a blue elephant built into its exterior. It was demolished in cloak and dagger fashion in 2001:

http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/lost/elephant/elephant.htm

Soup Dragon

21-07-2010, 22:20

and someone nicked the elephant

Rex_Rattus

21-07-2010, 22:30

The ultimate is probably the Elephant & Castle (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/24228/) with a whole area of London named after it, I believe it's not a very nice pub.

.
You're right about the area of the Elephant and Castle being named after a pub. But it wasn't the pub you provided the link to. The original Elephant and Castle was at Newington Butts, and was a classic late victorian edifice of grandeur and splendour. The only photograph that I've seen is of the interior, and doesn't (I suspect) do it justice, but I've seen the plans of all four floors, and it is clear that it must have been very impressive. It's been long demolished now, tragically.

I see that Andy has mentioned The Blind Beggar, which is perhaps more infamous than iconic (murder of George Cornell). You could certainly add The Ten Bells (Jack the Ripper) and the Magdala (Ruth Ellis) to the list.

ETA

22-07-2010, 06:55

You'r more infamous than iconic (murder of George Cornell). You could certainly add The Ten Bells (Jack the Ripper) and the Magdala (Ruth Ellis) to the list.

Sounds like a new search field alongside real ale and juke box - "Murder committed here". We could have added the Lethbridge Arms in Bishop's Lydeard (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/33166/), whose address aptly enough is Gore Street, to the list.

oldboots

22-07-2010, 07:45

You're right about the area of the Elephant and Castle being named after a pub. But it wasn't the pub you provided the link to. The original Elephant and Castle was at Newington Butts, and was a classic late victorian edifice of grandeur and splendour. The only photograph that I've seen is of the interior, and doesn't (I suspect) do it justice, but I've seen the plans of all four floors, and it is clear that it must have been very impressive. It's been long demolished now, tragically.

Mark Girouard's book "Victorian Pubs" has the floor plans, a picture of part of the bar back in the 50s or early 60s and two design drawings of the outside (I should have checked the address in there as well :o).

If its crimes in pubs you want I've got a thickish book about the crimes committed in York's pubs, mainly horse thieves, card sharps and faithless whores. I'm sure Dick Turpin was arrested in a pub near Selby, but I can't find its name. Near Thirsk is the Busby Stoop (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/29795/) with its ghost, cursed chair and associations with bloody murder, the crossroads here is also named after the pub.

Rex_Rattus

22-07-2010, 08:23

Mark Girouard's book "Victorian Pubs" has the floor plans, a picture of part of the bar back in the 50s or early 60s and two design drawings of the outside (I should have checked the address in there as well :o).

.
Yes, it was Mark Girouard's book in which I saw the photo and plans. For those who are not familiar with this book, it is a tour de force of the history and make up of the classic Victorian pub. It's centred on London though.

ROBCamra

22-07-2010, 08:59

The ultimate is probably the Elephant & Castle (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/24228/) with a whole area of London named after it, I believe it's not a very nice pub.

Also The Swiss Cottage has an area of London named after it, although on here it says it's in Hampstead, it's also a poor pub.

http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/23756/

Around Manchester the iconic pub has to be The Circus Tavern http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/25820/

Although to be honest there's quite a few around here.

Peveril of the Peak, Marble Arch, Briton's Protection, Mr Thomas' to name a few.

Grailhunter

22-07-2010, 12:22

The Bakers Arms in Leyton, East London, springs to mind.
It appears on the front of some London buses as the destination, but it too is a very poor pub.

Farway

22-07-2010, 12:48

Talking about Air Balloons (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/12595/) the one at Birdlip is incredibly famous and a well known landmark.

Ah, yes, been in there a few times over the years, not so often now since A34 improved and no need to cut across for M5 northwards. True about stopping off point for motorists, especially in my Ford Anglia, it needed a rest once it had crawled up Birdlip hill.:D

ptg

22-07-2010, 16:27

Jamacia Inn is the one that stands out for me as an iconic pub, and also the New Cross inn for some reason.

Oggwyn Trench

22-07-2010, 17:44

I've never been inside, but I am always quite impressed that the Craven Arms in South Shropshire not only has its town named after it but also a railway station (as does the famous Berney Arms in Norfolk).

As does the Queens Head (though no station ) near Oswestry in North Shropshire , The Craven Arms has been refurbed in the last few years so dont know what its like these days , it used to be a pretty characterless place , the local nickname for the town is Dodge City ..... it can get a bit rowdy at weekends

runningdog

22-07-2010, 19:29

Talking about Air Balloons (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/12595/) the one at Birdlip is incredibly famous and a well known landmark.

Fantastic location, but unhappily, not much of a pub. The one further down the road is a somewhat better, even if I can't remember it's name. :drinkup::drinkup:

Farway

23-07-2010, 06:35

Fantastic location, but unhappily, not much of a pub. The one further down the road is a somewhat better, even if I can't remember it's name. :drinkup::drinkup:

Odd, nor can I, something to do with aircraft I seem to recall, but could be very wrong as it has been a good few years since I was that way

Farway

23-07-2010, 06:40

Jamacia Inn is the one that stands out for me as an iconic pub, .

The Jaimaca Inn, there was a thread on here about famous pubs wihtout reviews, and I mentioned the JI, within a couple of months it has two reviews and 14 pictures. Agree iconic, to my mind it is a must visit if passing by, and for once in an iconic pub, the beer is OK, cask marqued

RogerB

23-07-2010, 07:32

The Castle at Edgehill is pretty iconic. It's in a folly perched on the ridge overlooking the battlefield. I note there is no photo on PG but I do have some at home somewhere that I can probably add. In the meantime... http://www.hooky-pubs.co.uk/pubs/location_maps/castle.html

arwkrite

23-07-2010, 08:11

The last time I drove past The Heathgates, Salop, it was boarded up. It was a while ago so I hope the place has re opened. Many of the famous pubs situated on A roads are now bypassed by Motorways. My early holidays to Devon were guided by such pubs.I suppose their equivalents today are Beefeaters and Travel Inn. So much for the romance of travel.
In such a vein I mention The George Borrow Hotel,Pont Erwyd on the A44 in mid Wales.For teatotallers a little further along the road is the famed Kites Nest Cafe.

Millay

24-07-2010, 04:02

General Staal

24-07-2010, 10:58

In Belfast it would have to be the wonderfully decorative Crown Liquor Saloon (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/46394/). Also Bittles Bar (http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/46377/) is quite striking being housed at the sharp end of an impressive flat iron building.

I have been in the Crown in Belfast. A wonderful pub. There are loads of amazing pubs in Belfast which all have their own character. There was one whose interior decoration was based on Soviet Russia. Can't remember its name. The beers in Ireland passed me by, unfortunately. I have been to Ireland twice - Dublin and Belfast - but only drank the Guinness. Which was very short sighted and unadventurous of me. I need to go again!

Millay

24-07-2010, 16:04

I have been in the Crown in Belfast. A wonderful pub. There are loads of amazing pubs in Belfast which all have their own character. There was one whose interior decoration was based on Soviet Russia. Can't remember its name.
That would be The Northern Whig I think. An unremarkable exterior but, as you say, the interior has a Soviet theme with a few massive statues of their glorious leaders dotted around. I remember it was a bit of a foodie place but big enough so that there was enough traditional bar space for those just wanting to drink. Seemed to be one of the up and coming places to be seen in Belfast when I visited a couple of years ago. It doesn’t seem to be on PuG but as I have a couple of photos I’ll add it.

Just added it, here's the link http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/70355/

The beers in Ireland passed me by, unfortunately. I have been to Ireland twice - Dublin and Belfast - but only drank the Guinness. Which was very short sighted and unadventurous of me. I need to go again!
To be honest the beer in Belfast wasn’t that good and there wasn’t much selection so I tended to stick with the Guinness. I remember finding real ale in The John Hewitt, The Crown and the Kitchen Bar. There is a JDW that had a few ales on but the quality wasn’t good.

I was planning a trip in October but seeing what’s happened during this marching season I’m having second thoughts. I know it should have settled down by then but I’m expecting about 6-8 mates to join me and knowing them I can foresee a Gazza-type flute playing incident occurring at some stage. I’ll probably head somewhere else this time but still want to do Belfast again soon as fellow PuG member Grailhunter is also keen.

oldboots

24-07-2010, 16:53

ROBCamra

24-07-2010, 17:38

I think the "Real Ale scene" in the north is confined to a few pubs in Belfast and the JDW in Derry, the Crown and the John Hewitt are both excellent, the other GBG pubs are a bit variable from my limited experience and there's not much else for ale. Ulster is a nice place to visit anyway, drink whatever there is and enjoy the people and the scenery. Never been south but I believe it's mainly Harp or Guinness with the odd beacon in Dublin.

There's fine brewhouse in Cork called The Franciscan Well. We spent quite a bit of time there a couple of years ago.

http://www.franciscanwellbrewery.com/

Plus there's Messrs McGuires and The Porterhouse in Dublin which brew their own stuff.

Wittenden

24-07-2010, 23:08

Landmark pubs: The Three Chimneys, Biddenden, Kent-where 3 roads met, with one of those iconic 1950's Whitbread signs standing in a field on the main road.Now a shadow of its self, though ostensibly a traditional pub with a real public bar, and beer served from the casks at the back. i don't go in there any more, for reasons that defy explanation, but mainly due to an excess of nostalgia.
The Castleton's Oak, also in Biddenden.Another cross roads pub, now long closed, but retaining its Whitbread sign of the ancient worthy sitting on his coffin, which served as his bar counter. In its day, a fine pub, where I had my first pints of Summer Lightning.
Driving into Maidstone, something I don't often do now: The Wheatsheaf, The Thomas Wyatt and the Chiltern Hundreds at Penenden Heath. My grandparents would stable theirhorse and cart at the Wheatsheaf, and proceed to the centre of town by I think, trolley bus. The Chiltern Hundreds served as a post meeting resort when I went to county meetings of the Young Farmers. I can't think why, as the beer then (in the 70's) was grotty. I suppose it was handy for the A20.
All these pubs were or are, landmarks, names of areas and links in their local life.

RogerB

25-07-2010, 08:39

I wanted to do Northern Ireland during the World Cup as I have never been there but at the time we were looking to book up, the ash cloud was scuppering everything in sight so we did Scotland instead as it didn't involve flying. A trip to N Ireland is still very much in my mind still although it doesn't sound that great beer wise.

Farway

25-07-2010, 14:23

Now, any remember the Peggy Bedford? On the Bath Road at Colnbrook, near the newly spawned Heathrow aerodrome? A landmark pub if ever there was one, stood on a Y junction, one leg off to Bath, the other was local to Colnbrook

Now sadly demolished & replaced by a burger chain in 1995 :mad:

PS, Oh Conrad, how could you? Just found out it is not on PG, do please Google it and add it as a testament of times past :)

here's a clue http://www.thisislongford.com/peggy.htm