Victorian Theme Pubs

[Oisin]

Anyone remember any of these:

Alhambra - somewhere around Navigation Street (I think). It was a posh Ansells' pub with all the Victorian bric-a-brac, including a couple of those old jukebox thingies that played 2' metal discs with holes punched in them. A welcome port of call when arriving at New Street Station after a long journey with your tongue on your chest.

The Back Door - I think that's what it was called; a small secluded bar at the back of the Grand Hotel. Probably part of the Grand, but entered via a separate entrance from the street. They had a lot of stuffed birds (feathered) in glass cases. I nice quiet place to impress a new girlfriend, or one you were getting serious with.

Fanny's - Up on the walkway at St Chad's Circus. An eaty place with a music hall theme where all the tables were adapted from treadle sewing machines. A good place for a whole evening's entertainment of traditional Victorian food and sing along.

 

[Oisin]

Due to the overwhelming response to this topic I wondered if any of you interested people could help pin point exactly where that Alhambra pub was for me - what street was it in?

Or didn't it ever exist and is it something I've dreamed up in one of my drunken stupors?

Thanks in anticipation,

O

 

[maryrose]

Wasnt it the pennyblack bar at the back of the Grand ?

 

[postie]

Paul, I've had a look in my 1962 Kelly's and it just aint listed, mate. :-\

 

[Di.Poppitt]

Very interested Ossie, just don't have the answer :coolsmiley:

 

[John Young]

Alhambra situated top end Navigation Street right opposite the Exit ramp from New Street Station

Aahem,, used to frequent the Establishment ( late 60,s) until got "barred",, there was a bit of a "do" and
the Window got accidently broken,  :crazy2:  ,, Wasn,t me,,honest Guvnor  :angel: John

 

[maryrose]

What was the name of the pub on the corner of Hanley st and Cecil st ?
My Great Great Grandfather Joseph Benton was the manager there in 1901.
Does anyone have any more info or links i could use please as im trying to go back further and dont know where to start.
His wife was Alice and i want to find out her maiden name.
Many thanks

 

[Dave Ed]

That was the White Swan, in the the fifties till it closed it was a Mitchells & Butlers house.After it closed it became Alf Wraggs coffe house when he moved from Summer Lane ,long since demolished like the rest of the area now.

Dave

 

[hmld]

THE INTELLIGENT THING TO DO WAS TO HAVE LEFT THOSE ALTARPIECES OF VICTORIANA INTACT AND ENHANCED THEM - STUFFED BIRDS OR WHATEVER. TO SMASH THEM TO SMITHEREENS THEN CONCOCT FAUX BRUMMAGEMESQUE VENUES IS SURELY THE ACT OF INCREDULOUS NUMBSKULLS AND VORACIOUSLY AVARICIOUS CALLOUS OPPORTUNISTS - WHO DID A FIRST CLASS JOB ON ANNIHILATING THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE TOILING MASSES WITH THEIR JUST ASPIRATIONS. WHY NOT CREATE A HOLOGRAPHIC ENVIRONMENT OF MINUTE DETAIL? LESS COST TO EVENTUATE AND MAINTAIN (DUSTING, WIPING).
IT MIGHT BE THE GENT WEARIED FROM THE CLICK CLACK CLONK OF THE STEAM LOCOMOTIVES THUNDERING INTO NEW STREET WAS A TOUCH DISORIENTED. IT DEPENDS WHICH KIND OF RAMP. APPARENTLY A PUB ANSWERING THE DESCRIPTION DID EXIST AND FOR SOME STRANGE, IF NOT WEIRD, REASON BECAME A COFFEE HOUSE.
WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH IT BEING BOTH? IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DURING THE BOGUS 1970s RECESSION WHEN IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON TO SEE MEN CRADLING A HALF PINT AT LENGTH.

 

[Rod]

I certainly did that HMLD...... O0 Cradled my pint every dinnertime in the Bartons Arms no less.

 

[Oisin]

Sorry I've been so long coming back to this, especially after all me moaning. Yup, seems like my guru and mentor, Young John, has come up trumps again. I s'pose it wouldn't show up in that Kelly's cos it opened a bit later than '62 with the redevelopment of the Bull Ring etc.

Alhambra situated top end Navigation Street right opposite the Exit ramp from New Street Station

Aahem,, used to frequent the Establishment ( late 60,s) until got "barred",, there was a bit of a "do" and
the Window got accidently broken, :crazy2: ,, Wasn,t me,,honest Guvnor :angel: John

So that was you, was it John? Did the window accidentally break from the inside or the outside? :

 

[niksagkram]

That was the White Swan, in the the fifties till it closed it was a Mitchells & Butlers house.After it closed it became Alf Wraggs coffe house when he moved from Summer Lane ,long since demolished like the rest of the area now.

Dave

It's been a long time since I heard that name. We used to live across the street from that cafe, at #55 Hanley Street, right next door to some kind of wood mill/factory I think?

 

[JohnO]

Anyone remember any of these:

Alhambra - somewhere around Navigation Street (I think). It was a posh Ansells' pub with all the Victorian bric-a-brac, including a couple of those old jukebox thingies that played 2' metal discs with holes punched in them. A welcome port of call when arriving at New Street Station after a long journey with your tongue on your chest.

The Back Door - I think that's what it was called; a small secluded bar at the back of the Grand Hotel. Probably part of the Grand, but entered via a separate entrance from the street. They had a lot of stuffed birds (feathered) in glass cases. I nice quiet place to impress a new girlfriend, or one you were getting serious with.

Fanny's - Up on the walkway at St Chad's Circus. An eaty place with a music hall theme where all the tables were adapted from treadle sewing machines. A good place for a whole evening's entertainment of traditional Victorian food and sing along.

It was the 'Backyard Bar' and yes, it was a great place to impress a new girlfriend!

Very 'cool' and very relaxed; comfortable and discreet.

 

[Wendy]

"It was a posh Ansells' pub with all the Victorian bric-a-brac, including a couple of those old jukebox thingies that played 2' metal discs with holes punched in them."

For anyone who would like to see these they have some at Dolman Street Museum Storage.