The Griffin was a huge pub on the corner of Great Cheetham Street West and Lower Broughton Road, sadly demolished in 2008 (and, as ever, replaced with... nothing). There are a number of photos at flickr from Eddie Manchester recording the demolition of this grand old pub. It doesn't look too bad here... or here. But... going... going... gone. The original Griffin dates back to the early 1700s, first listed in 1732 under Thomas Pendleton, who is recorded as an alehouse keeper in 1716, so the Griffin may date back earlier than that [1].
As shown above, the original Griffin was set back from the main road, had a bowling green to the rear, and had facilities for stabling horses. Threlfalls owned the Griffin by the end of the 19th century and applied to build a new pub by expanding onto the green and creating "a colossal drinking palace" (reputed to be the biggest in Manchester for a time); plans which were approved. This was despite objectors who complained that the new hotel would be a "gigantic drinkshop" and attract "riff-raff, scum and rabble [1]."
Griffin, Lower Broughton Road, Lower Broughton. (c) Mark Naylor at vimeo.
It is quite ironic that the pub was eventually closed down with no small thanks to the gangs who ran protection rackets all over this part of Salford. By the time Whitbread had the Griffin, the green was costing too much to maintain so they turned it into a car park. This came in handy when the pub closed and became the Oriental Star [1] then Saigon Chinese restaurants before its unfortunate demolition a few years ago.
It is quite ironic that the pub was eventually closed down with no small thanks to the gangs who ran protection rackets all over this part of Salford. By the time Whitbread had the Griffin, the green was costing too much to maintain so they turned it into a car park. This came in handy when the pub closed and became the Oriental Star [1] then Saigon Chinese restaurants before its unfortunate demolition a few years ago.
1. Salford Pubs - Part Two: Including Islington, Ordsall Lane and Ordsall, Oldfield Road, Regent Road and Broughton, Neil Richardson (2003).
Ah, the Griffin! As a resident of the Castle Irwell student village - and then one of the truly dodgy flats above the shops over the road - during the early '90s I can remember many a session on the Cask Boddington's, back in the day.
ReplyDeleteOf course, we're talking the £1 a pint, nectar-of-the-gods (when they got it right) version of Boddington's. None of that nasty watered-down stuff they churn out in Wales, or wherever the "brand" is produced by InBev these days...
I remember the Griffin very well had many family weddings and birthday parties in the room upstairs. sadly missed great pub in its day
ReplyDeleteWe lived in York Street and occasionally popped into the Griffin for the Whitbread Trophy, or even Tankard if we were flush!
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ReplyDeleteAs a very young child my Nanna and Grandad used to run this pub.
ReplyDeletei lived at the griffin from 1965 until 1971 great years my mum and dad were the landlord and landlady
ReplyDeleteGreat pub on route for match day at the time. MUFC. RIP Griffin ❤
ReplyDeleteCB radio nerds used to meet up here to 'eyeball' each other 🤣
ReplyDeleteHad a great group of deaf people who drank in pub.
ReplyDeleteMy grandad and grandma ran this pub and my dad grew up there, I can remember as a child pinching packets of crisps from behind the bar 😀
ReplyDeleteAs students we lived in 171 Lower Broughton Rd. Occasionally drank in the Griffin, beautiful old pub
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