Beehive, Claremont Road, Moss Side. (c) NewtonBluesMCFC.
This classic two-roomed Hydes estate pub was one of the more popular around Maine Road, with fans spilling out onto the Claremont Road pavement when the weather suited. The Beehive would open nice and early on match day, particularly on derby days when it would have the back door open from 8 or 9am for match days regulars. It was said that match day takings would far outweigh a normal week or more's turnover.
Beehive, Claremont Road, Moss Side. (c) hydesbrewery.
We were in here on the last ever Maine Road night match - a youth cup tie against Middlesbrough - and the lounge was still busy with a good mix of elderly black gents and their 'doms', locals from the surrounding terraces and Alexandra Park estate, and football fans. Of course, 2003 was way before the smoking ban was implemented; since then Hydes installed a decent beer 'garden' and the pub apparently did reasonable trade along with the only other surviving Maine Road pub, the neighbouring Claremont.
Beehive, Claremont Road, Moss Side. (c) jeremyrubin.co.uk.
Sadly, the recession plus high prices and the lack of match day trade, plus the slowness of Moss Side's latest regeneration attempt, has killed off yet another Moss Side pub. The Beehive closed its doors this summer and is now up for sale (£300k) [1]. Predictably, but unlike many claimed, the football club leaving this area has seen it go even further downhill from the rather intimidating place it was when MCFC lived here. This part of Moss Side has now seen at least 15 pubs die in living memory... will the Claremont be next?
My grandad Alex billen use to runs this pub but I don't know if he still alive or not he had a son called John billen and he married my mum mary hunter Allan and had a son that was born in 1983 in St Mary's hospital my name is Richard billen
ReplyDeleteNew John he lived off Claremont Rd alex took pub over from my sister Natalie
ReplyDeleteI was sent up from London to Salford shopping city for a 3week job to strip out an existing shop then wire up a new coffee shop, in around 2004 it was about 13:00 I needed digs so I walked in to the flat iron, opposite ,The pub went a bit quiet as I entered, the locals looked at me as I ordered a pint of Holts with a London accent..
ReplyDeleteI went and sat down on a table near a group of old boys having a Monday drinking session. One guy after a few minutes asked what I was doing in the pub .? I said looking for digs. He said how much do you wanna pay. I replied as little as possible. The Deal was struck there and then I stayed in Dereks spare room for the 3weeks of the job. I was well looked after. I went back once in around 2010 to catch up and actually met Derek again
Never judge a Book by its cover. You never know what Magic is inside. Tim London