Recorded sometime as Highcross Street.
In 1746, it was first recorded in Recognizance orders. JR lists Joseph Follett as victualler.
By 1790s, John Hester was landlord and may have gone through to circa 1827, when Samuel Hester followed. The New Inn seemed a prominent inn for auctions and meetings, as in 1811 fifty-four frames were auctioned here. In 1813-16, the Society of Florists would meet here.
In 1834, the inquest was held here on the suicide of Hannah Facer, until recently landlady of the Hat & Beaver. She had for the previous few weeks been lodging at Mrs Booths, near the New Inn Southgate Street (full story see Hat & Beaver).
In 1836, Samuel Hester retired with Robert Bostock taking over. He was followed by Thomas King, 1840 and Richard Cain 1841.
Cain consulted magistrates on a point of law he could not resolve. A ‘gentleman’ came into the New Inn with a horse and chaise, and asked for a loan of 10/- on the deposit of the steed and chaise. Cain discovered when the ‘gentleman’ failed to return that the horse belonged to a Mr Tabbener and the chaise to Mr Miles. Cain had returned the horse to Mr Tabbener in repayment of 15/- for its feed and upkeep, but wanted to know if he was justified in charging Mr Miles 10/- for the return of the chaise. The town clerk replied Cain could not detain Mr Miles chaise on which he had leant money to a person with no authority. Richard Cain was then sent away to ponder his mistake.
Other victuallers of the New Inn included John Usherwood 1844, John Bickley 1850, John Brown 1855, Robert Hall circa 1857, Ann Richards 1859 and William Hollin during the 1860s. There are no further records of the New Inn Southgate Street.
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