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Heritage Pub

Turnpike, Withington

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Operator: Samuel Smith
520-522 Wilmslow Road, Withington, M20 4BT (View on Google Map)
No website available

At risk update:

Closed since 2018, supposedly whilst owners Sam Smiths find a new manager, but this is an inordinate length of time even by their standards which raises obvious concerns.

This Pub is Closed Long Term

Closed 1/9/2018 as owners are seeking a new tenant. Formerly the Wellington, this was acquired when Samuel Smith bought out Rochdale & Manor brewery. The pub was extended into the next door shop unit, then renamed in the early 1960s. At the same time the interior was thoroughly remodelled. Spartanly fitted-out vault on the left with a pebbled chimney breast, the right-hand lounge meanwhile is more comfortably furnished and has a lakeland stone faced fireplace together with wood-panelled walls. A recent conversion to cask ale and a listing in CAMRA's National Inventory of historic pub interiors has boosted this pub's profile.

Historic Interest

Originally the Wellington. It came into Samuel Smith ownership in 1948 when they bought out original owners, Rochdale & Manor Brewery.

Information for this venue is provided by the Stockport & South Manchester Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Wellington
Local Authority
Manchester District (B)
Last updated
11/02/2023
Last surveyed
11/02/2023
Pub ID
MAS/4487
Asset of Community Value

Two star - A pub interior of very special national historic interest

Listed status: Not listed

UPDATE MAY 2024  The pub has been closed since 2018, supposedly whilst owners Sam Smiths find a new manager but this is a long period even by their standards.

This is one of relatively few surviving post-war interiors built or refitted between 1945 and 1970. Work of this period became unfashionable, with the result that it was usually later altered or destroyed. Here it dates mainly from the early 1960s when the pub expanded into the shop next door and gained its part stone frontage. The left-hand bar formed the original pub and the ply-panel bar counter is likely to date from the 1930s. However, the bar-back shelves, quirky fire surround faced with cobblestones, and also the radiators with wood surrounds have a distinct 1960s flavour. The lounge has full-height, characteristically c.1960 corrugated wall panelling. Its counter, with its leatherette padded sections, is a 2002 copy of the lost Sixties original – Sam Smiths of Tadcaster, the owning brewery, has a considerable track record for reinstating features removed from their pubs in less enlightened times. The fixed seating is original as is the random-coursed green slate fireplace.

General information about historic pub interiors

The Turnpike (formerly the Wellington) was originally half its current size and consisted of two rooms and a passageway. Then in c1962 a former confectioners shop was purchased and the two roomed pub we now see was created. The frontage is of stone with brick at first floor level and is clearly from c1962 but parts of the building could be older. The bar on the left, the Vault, is in the original pub premises and has a bar counter of ply panelling that looks more 1930s than 1960s but the bar top is a modern replacement. The bar back shelves are attached to panelling that looks very 1960s and there are two large mirrors above. The unusual floor to ceiling fireplace surround is made from cobblestones, and was added in the 1960s. There are two radiators with distinctive 1960s wood surrounds.

The lounge on the right in the former confectioners shop part has all but one section of wall with 1960s full height panelling. In the corner where the panelling is missing I was told that there was a ‘hanging gardens’ feature with plastic grapes etc. hanging from the wooden trestles that are common in 1960s builds/refits i.e. part of the original interior has been lost. The bar counter whilst looking 1960s with its leatherette padded sections only dates from c2002, when they also replaced the bar top and re-upholstered the fixed bench seating. The bar back shelves are attached to panelling that looks very 1960s and there is a row of six mirrored panels above. The false ceiling over the counter with its modern lighting could be a later addition. The floor to ceiling 'random’ green slate fireplace surround also dates from the 1960s.

General information about historic pub interiors
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Opening Times Unavailable
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Current beers

This Pub serves no changing beers and 1 regular beer.

Regular and recently seen

Turnpike, Withington

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Facilities
Garden Garden
Separate Bar Separate Bar
Features
Real Ale Real Ale
Real Heritage Pub Real Heritage Pub
Transport
Close to bus routes
43, 42, 42A, 142, 171, 143, 42B
Close to metro (850m)
Burton Road
Closest station (1300m)
Mauldeth Road
Directions
near jct Marriot St
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