1. The History
Opened in 1791 as Queens Inn, it was extensively rebuilt in its current present form in1928. The pub was famously run by Veron Hookway in the 1970s who had an gammy leg. It closed as a Wards house around April 1997 ending it's life as a gay bar where apparently anything goes partying went on before the law was changed. At time of closing its trade was petering due the works in the area closing down and very few people living in the area. Boarded-up for years and for sale, it was never sold and was just left to rot.
The Queens Hotel had six guest rooms on the upper floors as well a large Function Room on the first floor. There were two ground floor bars. There was no internal access to each room so customer who wished to enter the other room had to go outside and go thought the other door.
The pub was finally demo'ed in March 2021 to make way for new developments.
2. The Explore
Photgraphed this building a number of times from the outside. The original way in was far too energetic for the likes of me, however, when a friend tipped me off that the door was wide open, at the first opportunity down I popped for a mooch. The place was stripped and going down hill but, all the same, worth a look still. As I was leaving a group of seven young lads piled in to look round. No gear or equipment between them bar their mobile phones!
Didn't post this at the time as pubs, as we all know, on the whole tend to be a bit rubbish. But given it has now gone, thought I'd post this retrospectively as a record of what once was. Plus it did have a very nice facade.
Here's what it looks like now:
3. The Photos
Externally this place was a bit of a gem;
The dated drain pipe/ Wonder where this has ended up. Hopefully salvaged:
Only one light left!
Nice mosaic door step:
Estate agent’s letter dated 1984:
Gas bill from 1992:
Downstairs bar area:
Obligatory ripping out of fireplace on 1st floor:
Large function room on first floor:
Function room bar:
Bye-bye Queen's Hotel.
Opened in 1791 as Queens Inn, it was extensively rebuilt in its current present form in1928. The pub was famously run by Veron Hookway in the 1970s who had an gammy leg. It closed as a Wards house around April 1997 ending it's life as a gay bar where apparently anything goes partying went on before the law was changed. At time of closing its trade was petering due the works in the area closing down and very few people living in the area. Boarded-up for years and for sale, it was never sold and was just left to rot.
The Queens Hotel had six guest rooms on the upper floors as well a large Function Room on the first floor. There were two ground floor bars. There was no internal access to each room so customer who wished to enter the other room had to go outside and go thought the other door.
The pub was finally demo'ed in March 2021 to make way for new developments.
2. The Explore
Photgraphed this building a number of times from the outside. The original way in was far too energetic for the likes of me, however, when a friend tipped me off that the door was wide open, at the first opportunity down I popped for a mooch. The place was stripped and going down hill but, all the same, worth a look still. As I was leaving a group of seven young lads piled in to look round. No gear or equipment between them bar their mobile phones!
Didn't post this at the time as pubs, as we all know, on the whole tend to be a bit rubbish. But given it has now gone, thought I'd post this retrospectively as a record of what once was. Plus it did have a very nice facade.
Here's what it looks like now:
3. The Photos
Externally this place was a bit of a gem;
The dated drain pipe/ Wonder where this has ended up. Hopefully salvaged:
Only one light left!
Nice mosaic door step:
Estate agent’s letter dated 1984:
Gas bill from 1992:
Downstairs bar area:
Obligatory ripping out of fireplace on 1st floor:
Large function room on first floor:
Function room bar:
Bye-bye Queen's Hotel.
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