On the trail of pubs past and present

A group of history enthusiasts took a trip down memory lane when they were taken on a tour of Southwell’s historic pubs.

Leading the way was Mr Roger Dobson of Newark Road, Southwell, the author of a book called Southwell Inns And Alehouses.

The book, to be published by Nottinghamshire County Coun- cil in June, chronicles the history of pubs in the town from 1600 to 1975.

Wednesday’s tour was advertised through the local history group but also attracted people from Newark, including the chairman of Newark Civic Trust, Mr George Wilkinson.

It took in 13 current and former pubs and breweries, beginning at the old maltings on the Burgage and finishing at the site of the Castle Inn, on Westgate, which was demolished around 200 years ago.

Many of those on the tour had contributed information for the book from their own memories or local knowledge.

Mrs Joan Nix, of Woodland View, Southwell, provided Mr Dobson with her memories of the Portland Arms on King Street.

The building is now a group of shops called the Portland Arcade.

It includes The Chocolate Shop, which was used as the landlord’s accommodation, and the Turnaround craft shop, which was the bar.

Mrs Nix said she remembered going to the pub in the 1960s with fellow rockers who all rode motorcycles.

“Everybody came here from Newark, Farnsfield, Blidworth and Rainworth,” she said.

“We used to meet up at the Oxton crossroads where there was a fish shop and come round to the Portland.”

Unlike most pubs in the town at that time, the Portland Arms catered for young adults and had a juke box and a hot dog machine

Mr Dobson said: “It was the first pub in the town to attract a new clientele.”

Mrs Nix was able to tell Mr Dobson the layout of the pub, including the use of the various rooms.

The pub closed in 1969 when it was taken over by a new brewery.

At the time of the closure the landlord was Mr John Crepeau, a French Canadian war hero.

The pub dated back to the early 18th Century and had its own maltings, a wall of which can still be seen at the back of the current arcade.

A total of 30 inns, alehouses and breweries are included in Mr Dobson’s book.