One of the last to survive of the numerous pubs off the Wharf Street area – by the 1990s only two or three were left. The Bakers closed and was sold in 1998 after vainly struggling to remain a back street local since the re-development left the area bereft of housing.
The name Bakers derived from its early trading as well as supplying ale. The ovens were still in existence into the 1990s. Brunts Brewery supplied the beer, which then transferred to Nottingham Brewery, then on to Tennant’s and then Whitbread.
The Bakers was a beer only pub, but in 1873 the landlord of the time, Isaac Page, was charged with selling spirits without a licence. It was not until 1935 that the Bakers obtained a wine and spirit licence.
On the Monday of the 30th November 1998, the tenant of the Bakers held an auction to sell off the fixtures and fittings, ending its back street pub role.
The Bakers was to remain closed for little over a year when private buyers bought the property and enterprisingly turned it into a music venue. In view of its location this was a brave gamble.
On the 3rd of February 2000, the old Bakers was reborn as the Musician. Despite its small size it soon had a reputation for good music and bands.
The Musician is still open for business as of writing.