Queen Bess, Scunthorpe

A largely intact estate pub built in 1957 retaining the vast majority of its original fittings. The plans are dated 1957 and there is a local tradition that the pub opened in 1957 but local press confirm it opened on 18th December 1959. The architects were Wilburn & Son of Doncaster for Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster) Ltd. It is in a plain, vernacular style (similar to another local pub, the Open Hearth) and of brick with a tiled roof. It incorporated certain notably technological advances such as underfloor heating and a central stereo sound system with loudspeakers in every room (for playing vinyl LP records).

The name ‘Queen Bess’ echoes the title given to one of the mighty blast furnaces at the nearby Appleby-Frodingham steelworks – it was one of 2 fired up in 1939 and expanded in the 1950s. The connection is further celebrated by a plaque in the Queens Bar, by tiled motifs in the public bar fireplace and by the picture on one side of the (recently renewed) painted sign outside - the other has a portrait of Queen Elizabeth I

On the exterior there is a small display window for the off sales and four doors – the third leads to the original off sales which remains intact with a vertical panelled counter, similar styled upper section, plain bar back shelving, and original tiled floor but cannot be viewed. The left door leads to the lounge bar; right hand one to the public bar; and the second one to the landlord’s accommodation.

On the front right is the public bar which has its own entrance but the room is little used as its public bar function has been overtaken by the left hand ‘lounge’ which functions as the pub’s main bar. A refurbishment of the public bar by Samuel Smiths in 2016 after being unused for 5 years appears to have made no difference! The small entrance lobby from the front has a carpet over a tiled floor and the room itself has a carpet added in 2016 over the lino tiled floor. The bar counter front is the original and tapered downwards of an unusual design with large studded decoration, both to the counterfront itself and to the timber part above the counter. – it was subject to a darker stain in 2016. Up to 2016 it had a red Formica top but this has been replaced by a wooden one. The bar canopy with more of the projecting timber truncated-pyramidal shapes here is also original and retains its two original loudspeakers.

The mirrored bar back fitting with glass shelves is original but up to 2016 it had a red Formica main shelf (replaced by wood). There is a cupboard in the bottom right and only one fridge has replaced lower shelves in the bottom left section. The fixed seating looks 1950s as does the wood surround fireplace with a tiled interior with a pictorial motif refrencing pig iron.

Up to 2012 there was a large part glazed screen by the inner door but this was ripped out in the 2016 changes – however, it is not shown on the original plans so appears to be a later insertion by Samuel Smiths. On the walls on the servery side there were some very 1950s ribbed hardboard panelling painted yellow and a trophy cabinet near the entrance but both were removed in 2016. Up to 2016 it looked like it still retained the original tables and chairs, now gone. The toilets off this room were also modernised in 2016 with the only original fittings being the floor tiles in the ladies.

The left hand small entrance lobby has original floor tiles but the dado tiling looks modern. This leads to the lounge bar still with its large part glazed screen by the door (which appears to be a later insertion by Samuel Smiths). On the right hand side and around the servery is a dado of varnished ply panelling. The bar counter has a lovely original quarter circle front of three horizontal strips of varnished ply panelling as on the walls. The bar canopy is also original and of a vaneer of pale wood with another loud speaker and also two ventilation grilles; the mirrored bar back with glass shelves appears intact. Also retained is the original fixed seating around the room but the wood surround and tiled fireplace is a recent replacement for a brick one (that itself was only installed in 1992).

The only change to the layout of the pub took place in 2012 when a doorway was cut in the solid wall behind the lounge bar servery so staff can now see customers waiting for service at the counter of the Queens Bar at the rear.

On the far left hand side of the pub there are double doors being the main entrance to the rear concert room in a single storey part of the building. They lead into a lobby with original tiled floor and through double inner doors is a wide passage leading to the Queens Bar at the rear, which was originally the concert room. Off the passage are gents and ladies toilets which are little changed with wall tiles painted over. There is a viewing window at the end of the passage for staff and original double doors lead into a large room. Nowadays it is home to a full-size snooker table and a pool table but originally this was a very popular venue for live music with a stage (that has now been removed).

The servery is situated in a recessed low ceilinged section with fluted timber piers of distinct 1950s panelling around the approaches and a timber beam above with the wording ‘Queens Bar’. It has a 1950s bar counter front which tapers inwards and a mirrored bar back with glass shelves which presumably lost one bay to accommodate the doorway for staff from the lounge bar; only one fridge replacing some of the lower shelving. It has a lino tiled floor and fixed seating which is probably a later addition. Original doors remain throughout.