Kean's Head, Nottingham: Central

Opened in 2004, the Kean's Head was Nottingham's first non-smoking pub (http://www.castlerockbrewery.co.uk). The pub reprises the name of an earlier beer house called the Kean's Head at the same address, run in 1883 by Mrs Elizh. Wooll (Wright). The current building is a Grade II listed building (No. 1255008) built in 1907 as offices and a warehouse for George Green by Evans & Son and J. Wollatt (Historic England). The local connection with the actor is that the original Old Theatre Royal was located nearby on St. Mary's Gate. Edmund Kean appeared there as "Hamlet" in Shakespeare's play in 1861, the beer house being named after him. The theatre was built in 1760 and in 1772, Handel's "Messiah" and other oratorios were performed during a music festival. The Theatre closed in 1837 and immediately re-opened as a music hall. The current Theatre Royal opened in 1865. (Holland-Walker (1928) / www.nottshistory.org.uk). Presumably, Kean performed in what was then the music hall. Kean's visit to Nottingham must have made the pub name quite popular, as in 1883 there was also another beer house called the Kean's Head at 11 Park Street, Lenton under Geo. Thorpe (Wright). The Kean's Head is in Nottingham City Council's Lace Market Conservation Area. Red brick, with brick dressings and slate roof. Plinth, lintel and sill bands, brick eaves with wooden gutter. Windows are mainly original plain sashes. Openings have brick flat arches. 4 storeys; 4 window range. Ground floor has 2 reglazed windows with stone sills, flanked by framed panelled double doors with overlights. Above, 4 windows on each floor, the third floor windows smaller (Historic England). [Nottingham City Council; Bridge Ward / Nottingham South Parliamentary Constituency]