Pub Heritage Bridge of Aln Hotel
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Northumberland - Whittingham
One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest
This pub is currently closed (since 01/04/2015)
Listed Status: II
Whittingham
NE66 4RW
This imposing former coaching inn has been owned by the same family since 1918. The unsophisticated fittings date mainly from the austerity years of the 1950s and are redolent of that period. The public bar, in particular, has hardly changed since then with a tiled fireplace, high-backed fixed seating and a counter which was a hatch in a screen until the early 1970s. On the left, another public room also has a 1950s fireplace and more high-backed seating, creating a passage from the entrance. The hatch in the corridor on the right acted as the hotel reception. Across the corridor is the lounge, formerly the dining room, which is used for meetings, functions and so forth; another 1950s fireplace here.
A real time-warp which has been in the same family ownership since 1918. An imposing Virginia creeper covered hotel still with its stables from its days as a coaching inn. The fittings are not sophisticated but are interesting as showing the kind of things installed in many a pub during the austerity years of the 1950s. The public bar with 'Select Bar' on the door from the corridor is virtually unchanged since then with a tiled fireplace, high-backed fixed seating and a bar counter which was a hatch in a screen until the early 1970s and 70s ply panels cover old wood on the front.
On the left is another public room also with 1950s fireplace and more high-backed fixed seating which creates a passage from the entrance. Note the tiny corner Formica top tables in the seating. There is no till just a drawer. The corridor on the right has a hatch which acted as the reception for the hotel. Across the corridor there is a lounge, formerly the dining room which is used for meetings, functions etc. and has another 1950s fireplace. Famous visitors include Ramsey MacDonald and his daughter Isabel in 1931 (there is a photo in the kitchen) and Ted Heath visited in 1971 (and 1982?) - see the photo on the bar back.
Full Description
On the left is another public room also with 1950s fireplace and more high-backed fixed seating which creates a passage from the entrance. Note the tiny corner Formica top tables in the seating. There is no till just a drawer. The corridor on the right has a hatch which acted as the reception for the hotel. Across the corridor there is a lounge, formerly the dining room which is used for meetings, functions etc. and has another 1950s fireplace. Famous visitors include Ramsey MacDonald and his daughter Isabel in 1931 (there is a photo in the kitchen) and Ted Heath visited in 1971 (and 1982?) - see the photo on the bar back.
