Tuesday 13 September 2011

Kildakin, St Kilda's Drive

Former Kildakin, St Kilda's Drive, Cheetham. (c) googlemaps.

The Kildakin was a 1960-70s new build estate pub which unofficially gave its name to the Kildakin Estate in north Cheetham, off Cheetham Hill Road just inside the Salford city boundary.  The name comes from a play on words - a kilderkin is a beer barrel twice the volume of a firkin.  Shown here in 1977 surrounded by functional low-storey council flats, in 1990 it was a Boddingtons house with the flats still there.  An amusing story tells of how Piccadilly Radio once held a Football Roadshow in the Kildakin vault in the late '70s.  The kids off the estate "were like a plague of locusts nicking all the tat they bought with them - T-shirts, car stickers, that kind of crap [1]."  As shown above, the estate has gone, to be replaced by nicer detached and semis.  Meanwhile, the old Kildakin lives on as someone's house, unmistakably an old estate boozer.  

Former Kildakin, St Kilda's Drive, Cheetham. (c) googlemaps.

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12 comments:

  1. Mr Wilson14 September 2011 at 11:53

    A kilderkin is a beer barrel twice the volume of the standard firkin. The pub in question is on St Kilda's Drive. Hence the Kildakin. Ingenious.

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  2. Mr Wilson16 September 2011 at 17:25

    Another interesting fact, the 'Kildakin Estate' is actually in Salford.

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  3. Anonymous18 September 2011 at 10:32

    All pubs within the city centre and beyond

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  4. Mr Wilson18 September 2011 at 13:20

    I wasn't suggesting the pub was outside your remit - I just thought that as your write-up doesn't mention it, you might be surprised to find this area falls within the Salford border.

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  5. granata18 September 2011 at 14:04

    Thanks for the comments. Kildakin an interesting play on words. You're right, the Salford city boundary appears to pass down St Marks Lane, a stone's throw from the Kildakin. Do you know if the Paletine, Edward St and the Albert Inn, Short St in Lower Broughton are still open?

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  6. Mr Wilson18 September 2011 at 20:23

    They're both still on my list - I reckon there are 38 pubs still open in Salford (as compared to 250 open during the 70s). I did hear a rumour they had closed but its so depressing I can hardly bear to go and check. I'll investigate this week (unless anyone else knows for sure?)

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  7. granata18 September 2011 at 21:11

    Good news, been confirmed that both are still open. Pints were had in the Albert just last night! http://twitpic.com/6my7ig

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  8. Mr Wilson18 September 2011 at 21:46

    I'm so pleased - and pints as well - its been cans before now. The Albert is Salford's true hidden gem - much more so than the Eagle, Star etc. I think I'll go and check anyway - just to celebrate - how it stays open must be one of the great mysteries of the universe.

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  9. Unknown12 July 2018 at 22:50

    My mum and dad were the landlord and landlady in the late 70s till late 80s. We grew up her and have great memories in that pub... :)

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  10. Unknown27 November 2018 at 11:52

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  11. Anonymous8 August 2022 at 16:20

    We ran the pub late 70ist early 80is Derek and Eileen

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