GRADE II LISTING UPDATED FOR THE BLACK HORSE, PRESTON

Robinsons Brewery are proud to announce that The Black Horse pub, a Grade II listed pub situated in Preston, has recently had its Grade II list description updated with new information about its historic interior. The Stockport based brewers acquired the pub on 3rd June 1929, when they purchased Kay’s Atlas Brewery of Ardwick, Manchester, and have been proud custodians since.

Image from Robinsons’ archive showing the layout of the pub in December 1926

William Robinson, Managing Director at Robinsons Brewery (pub division) said: “We’re extremely proud to own pubs with such a rich British history. Providing people with a real connection to history and offering traditional inns that show the life of the pub through the ages is very important to us, so we’re proud the pub’s listing has been noticed and updated.”

The Black Horse is an impressive pub from the boom years of Victorian urban pub building. The amended list entry better describes the significance of this building and the importance of its surviving interior. It was rebuilt in 1898 to the designs of local architect J A Seward for Kay’s Atlas Brewery of Manchester. From the Friargate entrance, there is a pair of small smoke rooms, full of original fittings, either side of a mosaic-floored corridor which extends through to the back of the building. The Orchard Street entrance leads into a richly decorated public bar, dominated by a semi-circular ceramic counter in front of which is more mosaic flooring. At the back of the servery are glazed counter screens to the main corridor. Originally there was a ‘Market Room’ (a meeting room for market days) at the rear but in 1929 this was replaced by the present, U-shaped seating area plus indoor toilets.

As described by Historic England:Listing helps us to mark a building’s significance and celebrate its special architectural and historic interest. It brings specific protection so that its special interest can be properly considered in managing its future.”

For more information on The Black Horse, visit robinsonsbrewery.com/pubs/black-horse-preston/