Pubs Hub: England's Historic Pubs

• What is the Oldest Pub or Inn in England?

  Pubs are fertile ground for tall tales, but which is the oldest? We separate the facts from the fiction.

• 11 Listed Pubs with Fascinating Histories

  From the Knights Templar to John Lennon’s grandmother, here are seven fascinating histories behind some of our favourite Grade I listed taverns.

• 10 of England’s Best Post-War pubs

  More public houses were built in the years 1945-1985 than in any other period in English history, yet pubs of these years are now highly threatened.

• Ten of the Best Gin Palaces

  England's relationship with gin goes back as far as the 17th century and much as the drink itself has evolved, so have the places associated with it.

• What is the Oldest Historic Pub in London?

  Lots of pubs claim to be London’s oldest – but which really is?

• Licence to Chill: 11 of England’s Most Haunted Pubs

  From spectral soldiers to unearthly urchins, our urban and rural pubs often play host to chilling tales of ghostly happenings.

General pub history and culture

• Played at the Pub: The pub games of Britain

  Definitive examination of the games played in Britain’s pubs, both historic and contemporary, popular and obscure. Beautifully illustrated and overflowing with great stories, it also acts as a guide to finding the best pubs to play traditional pub games.

• Licensed to Sell

  The history and heritage of the public house

Area-based research about pubs

• The 19th and 20th-Century Public House in Bristol

  The report looks at architectural development, building plan forms, external and internal features of the pubs as well as social history trends

• Inns on the Edge: Historic Public Houses Along the Lincolnshire Coast; Historic England 5/2023

  This report presents the aims, principles, methods and results of a project to improve understanding of historic pubs along the Lincolnshire coast.

• Inns Sites: Shropshire’s Rural Public Houses

Pubs in the 20th Century

• State Control of Pubs

  At the height of the First World War, government nationalised public houses to reduce the impact of excessive drinking on productivity of munitions workers.

• Countering the ‘Deadliest of Foes’: Public Houses of the Central Control Board and the State Management Scheme, 1916-73

  Research report exploring the state ownership of pubs from the First World War onwards.

• The Urban and Suburban Public House in Inter-War England, 1918-1939

  A summary of the historical development of pubs in the inter-war period; notable architects, architectural styles and ideals of pub 'improvement'.

Pubs, clubs and LGBTQ+ culture

• LGBTQ+ Pubs and Clubs

  Clubs and pubs have long offered spaces where queer people can meet and socialise with relative freedom and as such become important community spaces.

• Lesbian Clubs and Pubs

  A few lesbian clubs appeared in the mid-20th century though it was less socially acceptable for women to go to pubs until after the Second World War.

The brewing industry

• Strategy for the Historic Industrial Environment - The Brewing Industry

  A report by the Brewery History Society for English Heritage.

• Built to Brew

  Illustrated history of the brewing industry, the process of beer making and the built heritage surrounding the industry.

• Gazetteer of operating pre-1940 breweries in England

  This report provides a list of breweries which have either operated on a given site before 1940 and continues to operate on that site today, or uses significant equipment manufactured before 1940.

• Birmingham’s Craven Arms Pub Listed at Grade II

  A pub in Birmingham City Centre featuring a striking two-tone tiled exterior, has been granted listed status.

• Birmingham’s Cavern Club ‘The Cradle of Heavy Metal’ Secures Grade II Listing

  Heritage music venue recognised for role played in the development of heavy metal music and the career of famous Birmingham based band, Black Sabbath.

• The Cleveland Bay, Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-tees

  Listed as part of the celebrations for Railway 200, The Cleveland Bay is the earliest identified purpose-built railway pub in the world, opened in October 1825.

• Five Quirky Post-War Pubs Listed

  Five quirky post-war pubs have been listed on the advice of Historic England.

• 11 Remarkable Historic Pubs Given Protection

  A project to save rare historic pub interiors sees 11 remarkable pubs being newly listed, having their listing upgraded or list entry updated.

• Best Inter-War Pubs Listed

  Rare, overlooked buildings are protected and celebrated through listing following extensive research