Much of what has appeared on this site and its predecessor has vanished forever. From August 2002, these pages are an essentially complete record of the news pages and visitor postings, arranged in chronological order. ("Essentially complete" means "those things that came to our attention which have not since fallen prey to computer malfunction") Before then, there is a patchy and incomplete record of pub news, culled from a variety of sources. More recently, some of the other items that have appeared on this site have been archived under the apppropriate year. Old pubs of the year can be found on the Pub of the Year index page. Archive photographs of local pubs can be found via the pub pages. Note that in a number of cases news items were published in good faith which subsequently turned out to be not entirely true. No attempt has been made to retrospectively hide our errors.
Archive 2003
3 January
New licensees at Revolution (Lancaster), Boot & Shoe (Lancaster), Flag (Nateby), New Inn (Morecambe), Old Hall (Heysham), Royal (Bolton-le-Sands), Skerton (Lancaster).
The new Eric Bartholomew (Morecambe) (10-18 Euston Road) has had a license applied for.
Cooper's Tap (Morecambe) is to be de-licensed.
14 January
The Midland (Morecambe) has been sold again. Read more on Virtual Lancaster
3 February
Roof Tree (Middleton)
6 February
The Station (Ribblehead) was at last sold in early December - I hear the new regime is an improvement.
Castle (Hornby)
Contrary to earlier reports, the Black Bull (Bentham) is not all-keg, but they sometimes run out of cask beer.
9 February
New licensees at Boot & Shoe (Lancaster), Crown (Morecambe), Fenwick Arms (Claughton), Old Hall (Heysham), Roof Tree (Middleton), Royal (Bolton-le-Sands), Skerton (Lancaster).
Brysons: by request of the Ambrose (Barrow-in-Furness), mild is to be reintroduced, this time under the name of "Terns Tipple"
11 February
After nearly a year of being shut, Melling Hall (Melling) is to be converted to flats - unless we can stop this.
The licensee of Bowerham (Lancaster) retired at the end of February.
13 February
The new Eric Bartholomew (Morecambe) has got its licence and will be called the Eric Bartholemew.
Certain members at the Reform Club (Lancaster) are attempting to get it to stock cask beer.
22 February
The King's Arms (Kirkby Lonsdale) is to let.
5 March
The Albert (Lancaster) has reopened with a new licensee.
The Dutton Arms (Burton-in-Kendal) has been sold.
Spooners (Lancaster) has gone all-keg.
7 March
New licensees at Brown Cow (Lancaster), Pier (Morecambe), Varsity (Lancaster), Walkabout (Lancaster).
New licensee at the Royal (Morecambe) - no longer an Alan Crookall pub - could it get cask ale now?
Alterations proposed for Fisherman's Rest (Wyreside Lakes Fishery) . (Is this a pub? Does anyone know anything about this place?)
Alterations proposed for Guy's (Bilsborrow) .
17 March
The licensee of Paddy Mulligan's (Lancaster) left on St Patrick's Day (when else?)
3 April
Thwaites are selling two Lancaster pubs. The Albert (Lancaster) has gone to the proprieter of the Gatehouse restaurant.
The second Thwaites pub to be sold is the Sun (Lancaster) .
4 April
New licensees at Paddy Mulligan's (Lancaster), Baroque (Morecambe), Last Orders (Lancaster), Queen's (Morecambe), Bath (Morecambe), Clarendon (Morecambe), George & Dragon (Wray), Greyhound (Halton), Highwayman (Nether Burrow), Holiday Inn (Lancaster), Nag’s Head (Lancaster), Stonewell Tavern (Lancaster), Victoria (Glasson Dock), Walkabout (Lancaster).
Extensive refurbishment at the Bradford Arms (Morecambe) .
South Lakeland Leisure Village (Warton) have been granted a licence.
10 April
Heysham Cricket Club (Heysham) is to get cask beer soon.
23 April
The Royal King's Arms (Lancaster) now has a single handpump in the hotel bar selling a rotating beer.
2 May
New licensees at Battery (Heysham), Brown Cow (Lancaster), Elms (Morecambe), Ocean Edge (Heysham).
31 May
Hampson (Hampson Green) is to become a residential home.
The Crown (Morecambe) is to be refurbished soon.
Brysons: Two new beers have recently appeared, part of the "Lancaster Landmark" series: Castle, ABV 4.1 %, with wildflower honey; and Memorial 4 %, with wheat and ginger.
6 June
New licensees at Blue Anchor (Central Lancaster), 1725 (Central Lancaster), Bowerham (Lancaster), LAOne (Lancaster), Revolution (Lancaster), Varsity (Lancaster), Roebuck (Bilsborrow), Toast (Lancaster).
Bentley’s (Lancaster) is getting an outside drinking area.
The Bull (Morecambe) is apparently shut.
The Bobbin (Lancaster) has reopened after a ten-day refit. It looks just the same.
The licensee has left the Three Mariners (Lancaster) . This pub is soon to be renovated and become a restaurant.
60-62 Church Street is to become a restaurant-cum-wine bar (with a full licence)under the name of Sante (Lancaster) .
19 June
Mitchells:have got a deal with Dent Brewery.
30 June
The New Holly (Forton) has no handpumps any more.
4 July
New licensees at Blob Shop (Lancaster), Borough (Lancaster), Cross Keys (Carnforth), Stork (Conder Green).
Lankys (Lancaster) is being thoroughly renovated.
10 July
New licensees at Masons Arms (Ingleton).
The Hill Inn (Chapel-le-Dale) is up for sale.
The temporary manager at the Three Mariners (Lancaster) is being quite successful and plans for a restaurant have been shelved.
18 July
The change of licensee at the Cross Keys (Carnforth) is just a wife taking over from a husband and not a regime change.
Mitchells:Okells beers have started appearing in Mitchells pubs, so presumably they have a deal with them too.
25 July
The licensee of the Yorkshire House (Lancaster) is leaving soon.
26 July
Brysons: Mitchells have signed a supply deal with Brysons. Great news.
Mitchells:Mitchells have signed a supply deal with Brysons. Great news.
1 August
New licensees at Three Mariners (Lancaster), Lancastrian (Lancaster), Castle (Hornby), Rastelli’s (Lancaster), Ridge (Lancaster), T'Owd Tithebarn (Garstang).
8 August
The licensee of the Golden Ball (Snatchems) is leaving in September.
The Bath (Morecambe) has a new licensee.
Correction: The Hill Inn (Chapel-le-Dale) is not for sale.
The Masons Arms (Ingleton) is for sale.
The Sun Dial (Bentham) is for sale (perhaps already sold).
A tenant has been found for the Three Mariners (Lancaster) .
12 August
There is a new manageress in place at the Bowerham (Lancaster) First impressions are of no change.
The owner of the Marton Arms (Thornton-in-Lonsdale) is planning to retire later this year.
16 August
The Castle (Hornby) , previously all-keg, now has 2 guest beers. Quality seemingly erratic, though.
The Royal King's Arms (Lancaster) , currently all-keg, is to stock Bryson's. Suggest you try the place on Bank Holiday Monday..
5 September
New licensees at Kampus (Lancaster), 1725 (Central Lancaster), The Pub (Lancaster), Rastelli’s (Lancaster), Pickerings (Catterall), Revolution (Lancaster), Three Mariners (Lancaster), White Cross (Lancaster), York (Morecambe), Yorkshire House (Lancaster), White Bull (Bilsborrow).
The Brown Cow (Lancaster) is to be altered a bit.
The Collegian (Lancaster) is having a mild month.
The owner of the Marton Arms (Thornton-in-Lonsdale) is retiring. The pub has been sold to Enterprise Inns - the stated intention is to keep it running along the same lines.
The Masons Arms (Ingleton) has been sold to a private owner with financial backing from Thwaites.
The Sun Dial (Bentham) has been sold to a private owner with financial backing from Thwaites..
The pool room of the Three Mariners (Lancaster) is to be turned into a restaurant..
Lanky's has reopened under the new name of Lounge (Lancaster) . The new licensee is from Revolution, who is attempting to so the same thing but with rum instead of vodka.
6 September
The Albert (Lancaster) closed on August 31.
8 September
The Castle (Lancaster) reopened about 9 August.
29 September
The Brewster & Travel Inn (Lancaster) is open. Anybody been in yet?
30 September
The Royal (Morecambe) is apparently shut.
The Sun (Lancaster) is closed for refurbishment.
There is work going on at the Albert (Lancaster) .
The Sante (Lancaster) is now open.
3 October
New licensees at Fred's on the Ball (Morecambe), Dalton Arms (Glasson Dock), Duke of Lancaster (Lancaster), Decades (Morecambe), Ridge (Lancaster), Sun (Lancaster), White Cross (Lancaster), Yorkshire House (Lancaster).
Page link: Outstanding Services Award 2003
4 October
I hear a rumour that the Fenwick Arms (Claughton) is to close.
7 October
The Graduate College Bar (Lancaster University) will soon have eight handpumps with Goose Eye and Jennings beers permanent.
10 October
The Albert (Lancaster) having been acquired by the neighbouring residential developer, is being extended into the shop next door and turned into a wine bar.
The Fenwick Arms (Claughton) is to reopen early November, contrary to earlier rumours.
The Hampson (Hampson Green) is to become a residential home like the nearby Foxholes.
15 October
Scottish & Newcastle Breweries:have sold all their pubs to Spirit, who already have a lot of mainly ex-Allied pubs. Pubs in this area affected are: Alley (Lancaster), Queen's (Morecambe), Church (Bonds), Eagle & Child (Garstang), LAOne (Lancaster), Greyhound (Halton), Rastelli’s (Lancaster), Pier (Morecambe), Wheatsheaf (Garstang), King's Arms (Kirkby Lonsdale),
25 October
New licensees at George (Morecambe).
27 October
The Nag's has been renamed Last Orders (Lancaster) , without any other apparent change.
28 October
The Sun Dial (Bentham) is to reopen soon.
5 November
Brysons: The first bottled beers from Bryson's have just appeared. The first beer is Castle and the bottler is Hambleton.
7 November
New licensees at Farmer's Arms (Lancaster), Borough (Lancaster), Duke of Lancaster (Lancaster), Penny Street Bridge (Lancaster), Golden Ball (Snatchems), John O'Gaunt (Vale), Palatine (Morecambe), Ridge (Lancaster), Derby Arms (Inskip), Packet Boat (Bolton-le-Sands).
Alterations proposed at the New Holly (Forton) .
The Carnforth Station Heritage Centre (Carnforth) has applied for a full on-licence.
8 November
have agreed a takeover by Punch. The combined group may have to sell a few pubs to satisfy competition regulators.
14 November
The Cross Streets (Austwick) is to be sold as a private house.
The new regime at Paddy Mulligan's (Lancaster) has put cask ale back (Bitter and Thoroughbred)
18 November
The licensee of the Black Bull (Brookhouse) is leaving.
20 November
The Royal (Silverdale) is shut.
25 November
The Collegian (Lancaster) may soon have just Jennings for cask beer.
27 November
The Blue Anchor (Central Lancaster) is being trendified.
The Fenwick Arms (Claughton) reopened on 26 November. On that night, there was one handpump but no real ale because it was not in good enough condition
It now seems certain that they will be bought by Enterprise Inns: it is unlikely you will notice any change in the pubs.
What may be noticeable is that the firm has an agreement which should mean that from next year, their pubs will be able to take beers direct from microbreweries. Around here, look for Hart, Brysons and Dent
British Waterways Board:Are planning to set up a pub-chain, mainly to do up decayed canalside buildings. This is unlikely to affect this area, but some of the pubs they already have the freehold of may join this chain - these include the Water Witch (Lancaster) and the Canal Turn (Carnforth).
30 November
The Blue Anchor (Central Lancaster) reopened on the 29 November after a big refurbishment. Four cask beers were available; typical Mitchells range.
The Castle is to reopen soon as Kampus (Lancaster) .
2 December
The Collegian (Lancaster) is to take Jennings exclusively by Christmas. Beers should be Mild, Bitter, Cumberland Ale. Prices will come down by 3p/pt.
The licensee of the Morecambe (Morecambe) has left.
4 December
The Sun (Lancaster) is to reopen on 6 December.
The Sun Dial (Bentham) is under the same regime as the Mason's Arms (Ingleton).
The Masons Arms (Ingleton) has reopened with no alterations but it only sells Thwaites beer.
The Horse & Farrier (Bentham) has guest beers again.
The Flying Horseshoe (Clapham) is closed, probably for good.
The Brown Cow (Lancaster) is to be extended into the shop next door.
The Britannia (Lancaster) has mild (Thwaites).
The Albert has reopened as the Vine (Lancaster) .
Page link: Pub of the Year 2003
5 December
New licensees at Bull (Morecambe), Vine & Hops (Lancaster), Alley (Lancaster), Bobbin (Lancaster), Ma Murphy's Irish Bar (Morecambe), Carleton Inn (Morecambe), The Pub (Lancaster), Clarendon (Morecambe), Fenwick Arms (Claughton), George (Morecambe), George Washington (Warton), Greaves (Lancaster), Millenium (Morecambe), Pier (Morecambe), Ridge (Lancaster), Skerton (Lancaster), Sun (Lancaster), Victoria (Glasson Dock).
Alterations proposed at the Park (Lancaster) .
Alterations proposed at Pine Lake (Warton) .
Rack'em (Lancaster) : yet another drinking-shop, this one at 1st floor, 34 Church Street has been delayed.
20 December
31 December
The Royal (Morecambe) is open.
The steward of the Graduate College Bar (Lancaster University) is planning to leave soon.