Moonrakers Inn, Chapel Street

Moonrakers Inn, Chapel Street, Salford. (c) Neil Richardson [1].

The Moonrakers Inn (118, below) was four doors along Chapel Street from Bolton Street and the Red Lion (120) which stood on that corner, with the Griffin (17) the other way along Chapel Street.  A former brushmaker's shop, the Moonrakers opened as a beerhouse in 1860, about the same time as the Volunteer opposite (119).  By 1891, then-owners Walker & Homfray brewery partially rebuilt the front elevation of what had been an 'antiquated, ancient and somewhat dilapidated structure', while incorporating the next door shop.  

Moonrakers Inn (118), Chapel Street. (c) Neil Richardson [1].

The new Moonrakers featured in the play "Hobson's Choice" in the 1920s, which led directly to a successful wine licence application.  After all, in said play, Mr Hobson went in the Moonrakers 'for an evening glass of wine to think things over'.  However, in 1938 magistrates and police ruled that the licence was no longer needed as there were no customers in at 9pm on a Wednesday, and only 10 on a Friday.  The building was converted to a clothes shop and for its last few years was part of the Aligarh Restaurant from 1980 until it was demolished [1].

Former location of Moonrakers Inn, Chapel Street. (c) Google 2013. View Larger Map.

1. Salford Pubs Part One: The Old Town, including Chapel Street, Greengate and the Adelphi, Neil Richardson (2003).