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Pubs & Inns of Retford

It has been claimed that there were over 50 pubs in Retford in the past and proof of this can be found in James Roffey's publication "The Book of Retford" (page 98) which lists 57 pubs and Inns in Retford, and in the publication by E L Ableson - "Retford in Times Past" (page 17) which states that in 1896 there were 56 Inn's and 3 beer houses in Retford. This seems quite excessive for a small Market Town but I shall have to find out what population Retford had in previous times to evaluate this better. Here is a list of the pubs & inns I have collated so far, some of these are still ongoing businesses in Retford today, others have been demolished or converted for other uses:-

NB: Reference's to RITP = Retford In Times Past.

* I have a series of small articles from one of the local free press showing some of the Retford Pub's previous Innkeepers/Licensees but not enough room to give all information on this page (at the moment).

~ denotes Public houses still open in Retford today

Bridgegate	~The Galway Arms	Trade Directories have in 1876 Robert Miles 1895 George Bonington
	~The Newcastle Arms	RITP Pg16 *List of Innkeepers/Licensees from local paper article in 1987. Pigots Directory states run by Rt (Robert?) Hardy, situated West Retford Trade Directory 1876 Benjamin Tallents
	~The White Hart Hotel	First License held in 1731, became more prominent when Great North Road changed and meant it ran through the town centre in 1776. Source RITP Pg15 1881 Census Hotel Keeper was Joseph Dennett Trade Directories have in 1895 Arthur Charles Dennett and 1876 Joseph Dennett
Chapelgate	Crown Hotel	RITP Pg17 Pigots 1828-9 state run by Matth. Dawber on Lincoln Street Trade Directories have in 1876 Sl. (Samuel) Richardson Smith 1895 Walter Wilson 1925 Fred Kilbourne 1936 A E Branton
	The Litten Tree	Opened 2002 in old premises of Halifax Building Society which were previously The Crown
	~Ye Olde Sun	1881 Census Henry Broadberry Innkeeper & provision dealer Pigots 1828-9 states run by Wm Eyre on Lincoln Street Trade directories 1876 John Rowson
	Sportsman
	Victoria
	Black's Head	RITP Pg17 - publican George Sugden Pigots 1828-9 states run by Ann Green on Lincoln Street Trade directories in 1876 have James Sharples in 1895 & 1900 Henry Brown
Churchgate	~The Vine	Pigots 1828-9 states run by Thos & Geo Clark on Church Street Trade Directories have in 1876 Jas Thompson in 1895 John & Tom Aldridge
	The Ram	Trade directory shows 1876 Edwin James Smeeton 1881 Census Samuel H Bennett Innkeeper (see Sherwood Rangers)
	Portland Arms	Trade directories have in 1876 Hy Stocks 1900 John Day in 1925 & 1936 Thomas Coulson
	~Sherwood Rangers	Previously known as The Ram Inn Trade directories have 1895 Samuel A Marr in 1900 Sarah Kirkby
	Ordsall Brewery Vaults
	The Comet
	White Lion	Pigots 1828-9 state run by Jno Gabbitass on Church Street
Market Square	~The Half Moon	Trade directories have in 1876 Wm & Knight Goodliffe in 1895 Herbert Grindle
Carolgate	The Marquis of Granby (Also known as The Granby or The Granby Inn.	1881 Census shows Geo Lister as publican Pigots 1828-9 shows The Granby run by Mary Barlow on Clumber Street Trade directories have in 1876 Wm Webster in 1895 Geo Milner
	Butchers Arms	Pigots 1828-9 show run by Jno Shaw on Clumber Street Trade directories 1876 Richard Littlewood 1895 Fred Bothamley
	Brewers Arms	Trade Directorues in 1876 have John Liversidge 1881 Census shows William Barthorpe Innkeeper & Joiner
	Imperial Crown	Trade directories have in 1876 Saml Lacey 1895 & 1900 Samuel McMillan 1881 Census shows Joseph Pratt Innkeeper
	Red Lion	Pigots 1828-9 state run by Christopher Nicholson on Clumber Street
	Talbot	Trade directories have 1895 James Lakeland in 1900 Lizzie Anderson
	~White Swan	Pigots 1828-9 state run by Timothy Ogle on Clumber Street Under "The Swan" trade directories list 1876 William Storr 1895 Henry Anderson 1900 William Arrand 1925 John Alvey Beecroft
	~The Anchor	1881 Census shows John T Brown as Innkeeper Pigots Directory 1828-9 shows situated on "Clumber Street" run by Rd (Richard?) Johnson Trade directories have 1876 John Thomas Brown 1895 Jn Thos Brown 1900 Joseph Crookes 1925 Sam Ashley
	Bridge Inn	Trade directories in 1876 have William Savage and in 1900 William Jacklin
	The Pheasant Hotel	Demolished to make way for supermarket. Pigots 1828-9 states run by Fras Smith on Clumber Street Trade directories have in 1876 John Wrigglesworth in 1895 James Hand
	Horse & Jockey	Pigots 1828-9 state run by John Greassey on Clumber St
Grove Street	~The Turks Head	Trade directories have in 1876 Chas Nicholson in 1900 William Henry Radcliffe Pigots 1828-9 state run by Ann Clark
	~The Packet Inn	Rebuilt in 1913, source RITP Pg18 Trade directories have in 1895 & 1900 Charley Jones 1925 John Henry Ellis
	Redford Arms
	The Royal Oak	Pigots 1828-9 states run by John Whatmore on Moorgate Trade directory shows 1876 Maria Briggs
	Cricketers	Photo in RITP pg18 Trade directory has in 1876 Wm Shaw
Union Street	The Robin Hood	Trade directories have 1876 Ann Colbeck (Turks Head Yd Grove St) 1895 Jn Breddy 1900 Jn Breddy (Union St)
St John Street	The Fox Inn	0
Spa Lane	Durham Ox	Trade directories have 1876 William Brown
New Street	Prince of Wales	1881 Census shows Thomas Littlewood as Licensed Victualler. Trade directories have 1876 Wm Milner 1895 & 1900Joseph Hurst
	The Globe	Trade directories have in 1876 William Anderson 1895 John Dawson 1900 Frank Hatton
Spital Hill	~The Mason's Arms	Trade directories have in 1895 William Burton and 1900 Maria Burton
	The Plough
	~The Sun	Pigots 1828-9 states run by Jane Walker. Trade directories have in 1895 William Aldridge in 1900 Tom & William Aldridge 1925 James Edward Bedford 1936 Ernest Bogg (Was known as The New Sun) Now known as The Revolution Mill (2001)
	Canal Tavern
Albert Road	~The Albert	Trade directories have in 1895 & 1900 George Fletcher in 1925 George Hurst
	~Clinton Arms	Trade directories have in 1876 Chas Nicholson 1895 James Hopkinson 1900 William Charles Pike 1925 Harry Callandine00
	Moulders Arms
Cobwell Road	~The Northern Inn	Trade directories show 1895 Louisa Hinitt 1900 William Aldridge 1936 Chas Wm Fox
London Road	Railway Inn	Demolished in 1968, replaced by The Joiners Arms.
	Oddfellows	Trade directories have in 1895 Charles Hibbert in 1900 George Gotts
	~Joiners Arms	*List of Innkeepers/licensees from local paper article in 1987
	Nags Head	Not mentioned by Roffey but in RITP pg19
	~Whitehouses	Not mentioned by Roffey but in RITP pg19
Moorgate	Red Lion	Trade directories have 1876 Charlotte Mottashed in 1895 Mary Credland in 1900 William Burnett & Charlotte Mottashed
	George	Trade directories have in 1895 & 1900 George Launders
	~Blackboy	Trade directories have 1895 & 1900 James Cowley 1925 Lilian Betson 1936 Frank Anderson
	~Brick & Tile	Pigots 1828-9 ahows run by Rd (Richard?) Cobb. Trade directories have 1895 James Freeman 1900 George Bonnington 1925 Hugh McNearnie
	Queens Head	Trade directories have in 1900 George Haughton in 1925 Robert Hesslewood Now changed to chinese restaurant (2001)
	Black Bull	Pigots directory 1828-9 shows run by Geo Ibbetson and situated on Moorgate. (Did this pub change its name?)
	Black's Head	Pigots 1828-9 shows run by John Shay
Wharf Road	~Ship Inn	Pigots 1828-9 states run by Thomas Foster on York Street Trade directories have in 1876 & 1895 David Worsley Frecknall in 1900 Joseph Freeman Change of name to The Rum Runner 2000/2001
	Navigation	Trade directories show in 1895 & 1900 John Crossland 1881 Census shows Robert Chadwick as Innkeeper
Hospital Road	Boat Inn	Pigots 1828-9 state run by Bilby Dixon at West Town Wharf Trade directories have ...... Thomas Woodcock
Queens Road	Queens Hotel	Trade directories have in 1900 Geo Ganer in 1925 Walter Lockwood Building now being used by a computer company (2001)
Thrumpton	~New Inn	*List of Innkeepers/Licensees from local paper article in 1987 Trade directories have 1895 John Batty and 1900 Frederick Blagg Was known as Sloanes, now a Ma Hubbards (2001)
	Rifleman's Arms	Trade directories have in 1895 & 1900 Wm Ledger
The Square	~Half Moon	Pigots 1828-9 shows run by Sl (Samuel?) Cuckson, Market Place
	The Angel	Demolished 1904 replaced by Henry Spencer's & Sons. (source: RITP Pg6.) Trade directories have in 1876 Jane Gibbison 1881 Census shows Robert Pank as Publican
West Street	~The White Lion
North Road	~The King & Miller	*List of Innkeepers/Licensees from local paper article in 1987 Not mentioned in Roffey's list.
Welham Road	~The Hop Pole	*List of Innkeepers/Licensees from local paper article in 1987. Trade directory shows 1900 Walter Carlidge Not mentioned in Roffey's list.
Ordsall	~The Market Hotel	*List of Innkeepers/Licensees from local paper article in 1987 Not mentioned in Roffey's list.
	~The Clumber Inn	*List of Innkeepers/Licensees from local paper article in 1987 Not mentioned in Roffey's list.
	White Horse	Pigots 1828-9 state run by Jno Sherratt
Hallcroft	~The Flying Scotsman
West Retford	Wagon & Horses	Pigots 1828-9 state run by Jas Rayner
	Mermaid	Pigots 1828-9 state run by Francis C Lamb
not known	The Criterion	Trade directory 1900 George Lowe 1925 Thomas Jones
not known	Railway Station?	1925 William Greathead
not known	Temperance Hotel	1925 Geo Halford
not known	Osbourne	1895 Walter Kirkby
Barnby Moor	White Horse	Pigots1828-9 state run by Ann Scott
Clarborough	Gate	Pigots 1828-9 state run by John Footitt

I have now added some details from some trade directories - mainly Kelly's and Pigots. Pigots in particular has some different street names from those we know today, some fit in with what we already know. Updated 23rd August 2002.