Former Great Western, Sedgeborough Road, Moss Side. (c) Mancky [1].
Also known as Duncan's Bar before it closed a few years ago, the Great Western was an old Groves & Whitnall house, seen in the 1960s and 1969 on Sloane Street, Moss Side. When the area was being developed, for example like here in 1974, the Great Western survived by Sloane Street was renamed Sedgeborough Street. Quite why the council decided to do this, especially when Sloane Street was famous for being the birthplace of sufragette Emiline Pankhurst [1], is anyone's guess. In the 1990s the Great Western sounded like a rum old boozer when Alan Winfield visited the Websters house [2], but these days the building has been put to use as business premises.
Former Great Western, Sedgeborough Road, Moss Side. (c) rightmove.
So which brewery was "a Red Rose House"? Was it Groves & Whitnall?
ReplyDeleteI was the last landlord 2008
DeleteLooks like a Groves & Whitnall sign on one of the photos.
ReplyDeleteJJ
http://www.britishbottleforum.co.uk/grovessite/miscgalleryimages/DSC02303.jpg
ReplyDeleteUsed to come here with my folk from being knee-high. Tom and Nora Dunican (*not* Duncan! Pronounced "dunnie-gun") ran the place from around 1963, having previously ran The Little Alex nearby. As can be seen in the photos linked to above, sometime in the mid-'70s, the pub was expanded into the adjoining house. It was also - confusingly - known as The Little Western to distinguish it from The Big Western on Gt. Western St.
ReplyDeletePopular with Irish and older Carribean ex-pats, there was live music at weekends, including a Sunday lunchtime turn. It remained a popular, safe, family-friendly (at least in the Sung) place through the Gunchester/Gooch gang years - quite an acheivement given the locale. After the closure of Websters Brewery in 1996, the pub continued as a free house.
I have fond memories of country/Irish bands such as The Galteemores (the Ryan family), Dennis & The New Exiles, The Roadworks from Sheffield and many more in the Snug. It was also popular with subbies and tradespeople, particularly in the Vault for Friday post-work pints. My Dad (still a groundworks contractor at 70) used to call this his labour exchange...!
The place was never quite the same after the death of the redoubtable Tom in around 2000. Nora took over the license and the day to day running was handled by John (surname escapes me) and Nora's nephew Danny, along with stalwart Eamonn. The property was on sale for many years and, after a steady decline in trade, finally closed it's doors on 18th November 2007. I have a few hastily taken photos from that night if you'd like them?
Love to see them
DeleteYeah Danny fucked that pub up
DeleteHi I frequented the Little Western during the early 80s and early nineties when Tommy and Nora ran it. Great place fond memories. I used to sing as a guest artist in the early to mid eighties with the Dave Hart band on a Saturday night. My name was Philomena Collins back then now Sheehan. Would love to see any photos or memories you may have. What a great place in its day
DeleteDan, have just 'added' you on Faceache. Hope that's okay!
ReplyDeleteFine John
DeleteYes please John
ReplyDeleteWent on google to find the name of the third pub on Sloane Street it was the Empress the other one was the Talbot
ReplyDelete