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the beehive pub soho hill

View attachment 90545 Thank you to ASTONESS for putting herself into danger to obtain and then post photos of the present sad state of the Beehive pub on Soho Hill. To see a picture of what it looked like in earlier times and as JUDY and myself would remember, go to the first thread on this subject posted by ASTONESS on 13th Aug 2008 post No 4. I am pretty sure I have seen another photo on this site, taken around the 1930`s when the whole area seemed a much better place to be but regrettably it doesn`t appear to be available now. This picture shows some of the pub regulars before a Sunday morning coach trip out into the countryside which happened often in the early 1950`s. Thanks again to ASTONESS for the pictures and bringing up memories of the pub in much happier times. Allan

hello allan no need for thanks but thank you.. i enjoy doing what i do and so long as me old legs...knees and back can take the strain then so shall i lol..i am confused though as to this photo you mentioned of some regulars outside the beehive...can anyone help us on this one...

cheers

lyn
 
hi phil now thats a great pic of the pub...there are 2 buildings to the right of it and you can see one in your pic..lovely to see how nice the front gardens looked in their heyday..although the buildings are still there they are surrounded by high boards so you cant even see the gardens..i was told by someone who works next door to them that dossers have taken over the buildings...i really get tired of saying this about our neglected old buidings but....such a shame..

lyn
 
Hello PHIL, thanks for posting the photo of the Beehive pub. This is the picture I was referring too which I new I had seen but could not find. Probably taken sometime during the 1930`s as the spectacular lantern light illuminating the Mitchells and Butlers signage would not have survived the second world war blackout period and was certainly was not there in the 1950`s. Allan
 
posting this brilliant photo for allan who is having problems with this one...some of the regulars outside the beehive before going off for a day out...not sure of the date but looks to be in the 50s..thanks allan it would be great if any of our members can put names to the faces..

lyn

 
What badge are many of them wearing, Lyn? Looks a bit like a large Scouts badge. Beautiful picture but not quite sharp enough to blow it up.

Maurice
 
beehive regulars089.jpghi maurice no idea what badges they are...dont know if this will help..im posting the pic a different way..
 
THANKS LYN, can`t help with the question about the badges but would not have thought they were anything to do with the scouts. Allan
 
Wonder if they were British Legion badges as there was a British Legion nearby on Soho Hill. Just an idea, probably wrong! Viv.
 
Hi Viv,

Unless they've changed over the years - I really haven't a clue - then no, they're the wrong shape.

Maurice
 
Yes there was viv across the main road of Soho many years ago and I mean years ago about 300 yards I would say off the top of my head
It was a big white building and in the early years my recollection is the fifties and in the mid sixties it became a night club
The name of the club at this precise time I cannot think of the name of the club may be if our resident Alf was the forum I am sure he could recall it
Whilst on that subject does anybody keep in touch with our dear old Alf he use Toto the clubs up there on Soho hii only used the
Continental basement club at weeek end along with the for starting off on our pub crawl up to west from at the star and garter and end up on Sunday morning in the conti come out at six o'clock good old days best wishes astonian
 
hi mojrs
thank you yes it was the ridgeway georgin on soho rd along from the pub on the oppersite side to the pub
thanks for jogging my memory best wishes astonian
 
View attachment 90517View attachment 90518View attachment 90519outside of pub showing board ripped off at the front..pics are of the bar..
Thanks very much for the photo's. My god that brings back memories for me. The Beehive was a heavy place in the early 70's It had quite a reputation. I did not go there often. One night when i was there i saw 3 people sitting in fear with eyes wide open. My friend spoke to them they told him they came from Solihul because they heard so much about the beehive. Tourists walking on the wild side of town.
 
hi folks only just noticed we have 2 threads for the beehive so just to confirm on this thread that the pub caught fire yesterday...pretty sure it will now finish it off...such a shame

lyn
 
hi judy no idea if the area is up for redevopement and to be honest if it was within a few years it would most likely be as bad as it is now...the boards are nothing to do with the fire i think they must have been put there to try and keep out the homeless but of course that did not work as they managed to get in through the back way and if you look you can see that part of the house roof is caving in now...i also ambled down to the old pally will post photos of that on the pally thread..so sad to have witness what i see in this area..

Thanks Lyn. I have copied your photos to send on to my sister who will be as shocked at seeing them as I was. It is probably 20 years since I was in Handsworth! As you probably know, one of the members on the forum used to live at the Beehive at the same time as I lived in the area. He too, like me, just likes to remember the best times!! I saw your photos of the Palladium another depressing sight!

Judy
 
ok judy...to be honest the 2 threads need merging but i cant seem to figure out how to do that at the min
 
Hello JUDY, were you thinking of someone called Malcolm Bennett who lived further down towards the Roebuck pub on the same side as the Beehive and just past Park Avenue. If so his Father features on post 47 "Beehive Regulars" on the other thread, second from the left. He was an optician with a shop on Icknield St towards the flat. Allan

Just found the other thread again, thanks to Lyn! Not sure if I recognise Malcolm Bennett's father but there is something familiar about the man in the photo! They all look as if they're ready for a good day out! Judy
 
posting this one in the hopes that someone may recognise the lady whos face is visible

lyn
 

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    bee hive outside.jpg
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just an aside...the beehive dates back to at least the 1850s when joseph silk was landlord on the 1851 and 61 census..

lyn
 
Fascinating stuff Lyn. I had no idea that it dated back that far. I wonder what it looked like in those days?

Judy
 
hi judy i had a feeling it dated from about the middle 1880s it has that certain look..cant be sure of course but i would imagine it has changed very little and i would love to see an older photo of it..as said many times very sad to see it as it is now

lyn
 
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hi judy there is no mention of the beehive in the 1845 po directory so its looking like it was built between 1845 and 1849 but there is no harm in double checking it..

lyn
 
Thanks for that Lyn. You are more than likely right. If I find anymore I'll let you know.

Judy
 
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