Built in 1950 -19 55, the estate was built to house many displaced from inner city slum clearance, within the city boundary. The Stirrup Cup pub was built on the Thurnby Lodge Estate. Like many estate pubs, it was a popular busy place in its time, the number of cars in the picture are testimony to that (see photo above).
I had my first beer in any pub, in the Stirrup Cup, 1958. I was fourteen and frequented a youth club close to the pub, I would go with a couple of school friends as we were into early rock n roll, a record club evening was held here, plus the local girls would be there, as I was 6ft tall I was bet to go and ask for a pint, which I did. ‘A pint please’ I asked, ‘Mild or Bitter?’ came the landlords reply. ‘Yes please’ I declared. ‘You can have half a mild’ he said, obviously doubting my drinking experience, also not completely belittling me. Chuffed, I went outside complete with my half of mild to flaunt in front of my mates.
Barry Lount
At the time, the Stirrup Cup was a Shipstones house until taken over by Greenhalls, circa 1978. After passing through a couple of hands, it was taken on by Enterprise Inns.
The demise of many pubs was partly the result of the 1990 beer orders that restricted the amount of outlets a brewery could own. Consequently, new pub companies sprung up taking the excess from the breweries.
In some cases, after over 200 years of experience of running their own pubs, breweries were forced to hand over many of their tied houses.
The new profit led companies didn’t brew themselves but bought and sold to their tenants, who in turn were charged high rents – in many cases making their business unviable. Investment slowed down, good landlords became scarce, temps were often called in, adding to the downward spiral.
This was not the only reason, obviously, but certainly helped the demise.
The Manor was a victim of this as were many estate pubs: demographics, drinking habits, lack of industry and manual work, smoking ban, all day opening took its toll on drinking habits. Maxine Desalles wrote Lady of the Manor on her seven years as landlady of the Thurnby Lodge pub. It isn’t not for the faint hearted, but a truthful account of pub life for some in the early 2000s.
The Stirrup Cup is still very much open for business as of writing.
The Pub History Project has a podcast. Please subscribe and have a listen with a pint of your favourite ale.
In the 70’s when ‘Time’ was called in The Mayflower on Ocean Road on a Sunday lunchtime a rush of people drank up, got in their cars, and roared off down the road to The Stirrup Cup who, for some reason, served for another half an hour!
Thanks for your comment Barrie and your interest