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Why do doors in pubs have numbers?

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Nick Phillips

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If you look at doors in older pubs some still have numbers on them?

I know that if you look at some seats you can see where a bell push used to be this was for table service, but why numbers on the door's.
I'm sure someone will be able to tell me.

Thanks in advance
Nick S Phillips
 
After 1830 Victorian pubs the main room was the public room with a large serving bar copied from the gin houses, the idea being to serve the maximum number of people in the shortest possible time. The other, more private, rooms had no serving bar—they had the beer brought to them from the public bar. (Wikipedia)
Could be that that therefore they would need to know which private room it was being served to, or being ordered from.
 
RobT said:
After 1830 Victorian pubs the main room was the public room with a large serving bar copied from the gin houses, the idea being to serve the maximum number of people in the shortest possible time. The other, more private, rooms had no serving bar—they had the beer brought to them from the public bar. (Wikipedia)
Could be that that therefore they would need to know which private room it was being served to, or being ordered from.
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Hi Rob, like your idea but in part that goes back to the second part of my question regarding pushing a bell to get service but I've noticed numbers of doors to the cellar, at Gunmakers Bath street the door number 3.
Astoness, said The Gun Makers at Gerrard St had letters on the doors I've never seen that.
I'm sure someone will have the answer .

Nick S Phillips
 
I have a memory that all the rooms in some pub were numbered. Even the ones not accessible to the public. I would imagine it is for reference to an asset register, so it removes any ambiguity on which room is which.
 
The suggestion concerning an asset register seems reasonable, especially considering that at one time the majority of the pubs were brewery owned, and would be subject to a check every time a new tenant moved in
 
It's to do with a now-defunct and largely forgotten requirement by H.M. Customs & Excise. Every licensee had to identify to them the rooms in their premises and numbers (or letters) were a convenient way to do this. '1' might be the public bar, '2' the saloon, '3' the cellar and so on. This legal requirement ended some time in the early 1960's
 
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izzy eckerslike said:
It's to do with a now-defunct and largely forgotten requirement by H.M. Customs & Excise. Every licensee had to identify to them the rooms in their premises and numbers (or letters) were a convenient way to do this. '1' might be the public bar, '2' the saloon, '3' the cellar and so on. This legal requirement ended some time in the early 1960's
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Vic, I thought it would be something like H.M. Customs.
When we are able to return to our pub for a pint or two I hope a few people will notice the numbers or letters on doors and if any one ask wonder what they are for you thanks to Vic we can tell tell what they were for, once more thank you.

Nick S Phillips
 
so do i nick and just a thought that when we are all able to and feel safe to go back into our fast diminishing pubs we should take a photo of any pub doors with these letters and numbers on them and post them on this thread...although i do have photos of the inside of the gunmakers i thought i had also taken a photo of the lettered doors but so far i cant find any but i will check my desk top files...bit annoyed with myself really as the gunmakers has been closed for about 3 years and i doubt very much if it will re open as a pub...

lyn
 
Astoness said:
so do i nick and just a thought that when we are all able to and feel safe to go back into our fast diminishing pubs we should take a photo of any pub doors with these letters and numbers on them and post them on this thread...although i do have photos of the inside of the gunmakers i thought i had also taken a photo of the lettered doors but so far i cant find any but i will check my desk top files...bit annoyed with myself really as the gunmakers has been closed for about 3 years and i doubt very much if it will re open as a pub...

lyn
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Lyn I've never noticed myself , too much of a hurry to get to the bar , too bladdered on the way out
 
Astoness said:
so do i nick and just a thought that when we are all able to and feel safe to go back into our fast diminishing pubs we should take a photo of any pub doors with these letters and numbers on them and post them on this thread...although i do have photos of the inside of the gunmakers i thought i had also taken a photo of the lettered doors but so far i cant find any but i will check my desk top files...bit annoyed with myself really as the gunmakers has been closed for about 3 years and i doubt very much if it will re open as a pub...

lyn
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Lyn, when I first asked the question regarding "numbers on pub doors" I never expected so much interest.
The Gunmakers you refer to is Gerrard St not sure if I ever visited the pub, my understanding is that its going to be tenant housing. A great pity to see any pub close.

The Gunmakers that I refer to is at Bath St I've not had a good look but I'm sure at least two doors with numbers on will check at my next visit.

Many thanks to all those come up with information, and when pubs open check the numbers or letters on the doors.

Thanks

Nick S Phillips
 
hi nick far as a know the guns in gerrard st is still up for sale but yes i agree it probably would be used for housing..the place is massive upstairs and goes back a fair way...i have friend whos sister ran it in the 70s..must check out the guns in bath st though

lyn
 
mikejee said:
Have just checked the photos I took at the gunmakers (bath St), but none seem to include any doors
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Mikjee, if you know Gunmakers (Bath Street) the double doors in the middle of the bar and the door to the cellar both have numbers on, the next time I'm at the pub I will look at all the doors. They both have had many coats of paint over the years.

Nick S Phillips
 
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