• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

The Ratpan Trinity Road Aston

Astonian said:
hi guys ;
just wondering whether anybody recalls the pub with the nick named the rat pan on the bottom of bevinton rd aston
and trinity rd just along from the villa ;
and does any body recall its proper name in years gone by and is it still there i wonder by beacon hill ;
its proper name was the LOWER UPLANDS HOTEL;
I learnt this from and old lady by the name of jean whom lived afew doors from it she lie me is a true astonian ;
we chatted for hours about aston in pre war years and right through she was thrilled to meet some one like mewhom could relate and remember
the area very well; i must admitt i was also thrilled to meet her and i told her of our wonderful sight and said we should have more people on here
her friend whom came to see got invoved her name was pearl; and peter both from old sandy lane aston ;
by the vine pub ; on lichfield rd [ incidently if anyu body knows or not the vine is up for letting ;
she also recalls dyson hall ; and it worked out we both attended the sunday school every sunday afternoon ;
and she also recalls miss rice whom was the class instrustione and my choir mistress ;
well i was thrilled i mixed bussiness with pleasure yesterday ;and i shall be meeting up again with them soon ;
incidently i met another friend of theres his name was geoffrey he told mehe was part of a reunion for upper thomas street and used to meet at the barton arm; but he said eventualy the members whom attend the barton arms dropped off veryfew started to go as they slowly dropped off ;
still thats another story ; ;
so does any body recall the rat pan;she saidit got its nick name beause all the rat catchers used to meet up there and have a drink at the end of there day ; best wishes astonian;;
Click to expand...
The name of that pub that was nicknamed The rattan.. was The Upper Grounds Hotel..
 
When I used the Shareholders / Barton Arms / Paddock , I often heard the name The Ratpan off the locals in these pubs . Never got to go there, knew approximately where it was ,bdid I miss out on a great pub or not ?
 
You're right there, Sugar. I was at grammar school with the son of a former licensee of The Guild, and he told me one or two stories. It was also the lair of one Father Crean, a notorious priest at the Sacred Heart nearby.
I think a few tales about this particular cleric are told elsewhere on these boards.

The Ratpan probably wasn't as bad as rumour made it. My dad (we lived in The Broadway) kept his car in a garage in the yard at the rear of the pub, and far as I can remember he never had a problem. It was on match days that you kept away, or so they say....

G
 
Sugar said:
I've lived on trinity rd since the 70s and the rat pan was a bit rough but not as bad as the guild arms( known as the guild) on witton rd by the sacred heart church.
Click to expand...

I lived on Witton Road early 70's being newly married as I was , I nearly took on a part time job at The Guild, it seemed pretty quiet at the time to me . The year I'm talking about was 1970 , as we only lived on Witton Rd for about six months
 
Williamstreeter said:
I lived on Witton Road early 70's being newly married as I was , I nearly took on a part time job at The Guild, it seemed pretty quiet at the time to me . The year I'm talking about was 1970 , as we only lived on Witton Rd for about six months
Click to expand...
I personally never went in the pub it was only what I had heard but it was rough around late 80s till it shut down .I think there is a mosque school in it now the building must be listed as all of it was knocked down except the front.
 
Sugar said:
I personally never went in the pub it was only what I had heard but it was rough around late 80s till it shut down .I think there is a mosque school in it now the building must be listed as all of it was knocked down except the front.
Click to expand...

The interior was a bit like the Bartons Arms with a lot of tiles etc , if there had been trouble when I was living around there the gaffer couldn't have sorted it out he was a rather placid reserved man , why would he wish to anyway ?
 
Sugar said:
I've lived on trinity rd since the 70s and the rat pan was a bit rough but not as bad as the guild arms( known as the guild) on witton rd by the sacred heart church.
Click to expand...
I knew the previous landlord of the Guild. His name was Billy Best and he had a son, Paul. I lived on Beacon Hill.
 
Big Gee said:
You're right there, Sugar. I was at grammar school with the son of a former licensee of The Guild, and he told me one or two stories. It was also the lair of one Father Crean, a notorious priest at the Sacred Heart nearby.
I think a few tales about this particular cleric are told elsewhere on these boards.

The Ratpan probably wasn't as bad as rumour made it. My dad (we lived in The Broadway) kept his car in a garage in the yard at the rear of the pub, and far as I can remember he never had a problem. It was on match days that you kept away, or so they say....

G
Click to expand...
Hi Big Gee, was the son called Paul Best?
 
Hello Silver,

Yes, that was his name. We were at George Dixon Grammar School from 1957 until about 1963.

Living as you say on Beacon Hill, maybe you knew a family called Perks?

G
 
Phil said:
I know it's quite a distance away, but could it be The White Swan Legge Street that was over Gosta Green way. In the 30's the Landlord was Frank Hendley Couzens and it looks like there is part of that sign in the photo that we can't see so it might be possible.
Click to expand...
Hi
Yes the pub proprietor was my Grandfather Frank Couzens!! I never met him.
it’s the white swan. He was ill with MS and his wife ran the pub as he was wheelchair bound.
Is it still there now?
 
M j lamming said:
Hi
Yes the pub proprietor was my Grandfather Frank Couzens!! I never met him.
it’s the white swan. He was ill with MS and his wife ran the pub as he was wheelchair bound.
Is it still there now?
Click to expand...
The White Swan, 85-86 Legge Street. Sadly gone by the early 1960s
 
I actually used to live in the rest pan my dad was the manager christopher o'connor was there new year 2000 would be interested if anyone has any pictures of the interior from back in the day as I lost my pictures
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top