Recording the slow, sad death of the British pub
The Waggon & Horses, Handforth, Cheshire A massive roadhouse-type pub close to the A555 just over the southern boundary of Stockport, which closed in September this year. Originally built by Greenalls in 1935, it later passed into the hands of Greene King, and in its later years traded under a family dining format. Reportedly the site is going to be redeveloped for an Aldi supermarket. (My own…
The Red Lion, Burslem, Staffordshire A modern-styled pub in the centre of one of the Potteries’ “Six Towns”, that was the childhood home of Robbie Williams, when it was run by his parents. Recent StreetView images show a commemorative panel relating to Robbie Williams to the right of the pub.
The Norton Arms, Norton-in-the-Moors, Staffordshire A white-painted pub on a crossroads on the north-eastern fringes of Stoke-on-Trent. It appears to have closed some time after 2012, and is now used as a “business centre”.
The Brickmakers Arms, Warrington, Lancashire A four-square redbrick Victorian pub in an area on the eastern side of the town centre where surrounding housing has been demolished, leaving it standed on the fringes of a retail park. It was damaged by fire in August 2025.
The Tipperary, Meer End, Warwickshire A former Davenports pub standing at an isolated rural road junction south-east of Birmingham. In the pre-motorway era the main road it is on was an important route for bypassing the conurbation. It is still open on StreetView in 2023.
The Belle Vue, Preston, Lancashire A four-square former Boddingtons pub on the main A59 road on the east side of the city. It closed in 2014 and the building now houses an ethnic delicatessen.
The Golden Lion, Caterham, Surrey A grey-painted street-corner pub in Caterham-on-the-Hill, the upper part of this prosperous Surrey commuter town. Someone has patriotically hung a coupleof Union flags outside. It closed in September 2019, and a planning application has been submitted for change of use to a retail unit with flats above.
The Ark, Southampton, Hampshire A functional modern pub in the Midanbury district on the east side of the city. It closed in 2013, and appears to have been demolished between 2016 and 2017.
The Devonshire Arms, Alfreton, Derbyshire One of many currently closed pubs in the Samuel Smith’s estate, situated just off the A61 on the western edge of the town close to Alfreton Park.
The Dog & Gun, Leeds, Yorkshire A large piub on the A64 York Road to the east of the city centre, that once had a boxing gym upstairs. In the mid-2010s it was turned into a supermarket, as shown, but this in its turn did not prove successful, and it was later demolished and redeveloped as flats.
The Theobald Arms, Nunney, Somerset A rural pub situated at Nunney Catch south of Nunney village with its well-known castle. It closed in 2002 after having been left on a dead end following the construction of a new road, and is now in a very derelict state.
The Windmill, Tabley, Cheshire A substantial white-painted pub prominently situated right next to M6 Junction 19. In the 2000s, it was expensively converted by Robinson’s Brewery to an upmarket dining format, but obviously this did not prove enough to save it. Still open on StreetView. (My own recent pictures)
The Sundowner, Hough Green, Lancashire A characteristic post-war estate pub situated on the western side of Widnes. StreetView indicates that it closed at some time between 2008 and 2012, and now appears to have been converted to residential use.
The Steamship, Poplar, London A back-street pub with a nautical name located on Naval Row in the old London docklands, but without any view of the river itself.
The Old Dog, Preston, Lancashire A traditional city-centre pub that in its latter years operated as a late-night venue, only opening at 11 pm. It closed in July 2018.
The Bald Faced Stag, Southampton, Hampshire An impressive street-corner pub in the Shirley district on the north-west side of the city, which clearly predates the surrounding housing. It closed in 2011 and has since been converted to residential use.
The Old Tavern, Bristol, Gloucestershire A once attractive free house in a leafy location in the Fishponds district on the north-east side of the city. Planning permission has been applied for to turn it into student flats .
The Phoenix, Bedford A former Charles Wells pub overlooking a busy road junction just outside the town centre on the south side of the Great Ouse.
The Bull, Blackmore End, Essex Now a smart-looking residential property deep in the Essex countryside north of Braintree, if you look back to 2009 on StreetView it becomes a pink-washed country pub with extensive car park and beer garden.
The Montague Arms, Peckham, London A street-corner pub with a characteristic London layout of projecting ground floor, still bearin Truman’s livery. It closed in October 2019 and has since become heavily graffitied. Since then it has been the subject of multiple unsuccessful planning applications for refurbishment and conversion of the upper floors to flats.
The Queen, Leeds, Yorkshire A large and ornate Victorian former Tetley pub on the Burley Road to the west of the city. It closed around 2008 and was later converted to a Tesco Express.
The Punch Bowl, Warwick An old pub in the fork of two roads at the top end of the town, which is rumoured to have secret tunnels. It never reopened after lockdown, and is now set to be converted into an eight-bedroom house .
The Red Lion, Leigh, Lancashire A small white-painted street-corner pub on the north side of the town, which was severely damaged by fire in March of this year.
The Blue Bell,Beltring, Kent An attractive tile-hung country pub located in mid-Kent close to the River Medway and Beltring Hop Farm. It closed around 2009 and has now been converted to two private residences.
The Glen, Leicester A typical post-war pub built by Everards Brewery in 1959 on the Eyres Monsell estate on the south side of the city. It closed in 2022, and recently made the national news when plans to convert it into a mosque were approved.