Grapes, Stranraer

Town centre pub little altered in 50 years and now coming up again after years of decline. Originally a coaching inn, the present building was erected in 1862 and still has the former stables at the rear. The mainly stand-up bar has a gantry at least 100 years old incorporating a brewery mirror, a 1950s bar counter front with a new top, tongue-and-groove panelled walls and old fixed seating. Opposite the bar counter is a working bell box and it is still possible to get table service in the two small rear sitting rooms at any time of the day. Each room has large plain mirrors on the walls and refurbished fixed seating, but a third small room has been converted to an office. Note the numbers on the door '1' for the bar, '3' and '7' on the sitting rooms, and '4' on the office. Upstairs the lounge with '6' on the door has a 1930s Art Deco gantry and counter that came from a hotel in Ayr in the 1950s. The fittings have some modern extensions to make them fit in this room which is said to be the first cocktail bar in Stranraer and still has its original chairs. There is a tiny room off the lounge with '5' on the door and another room numbered '8' now just forms part of the route to the ladies toilet.