Five historic Barrow pubs that managed to find new life

South Lakes Investments Ltd applied to Westmorland and Furness Council to convert the former Dirty Duck pub on Raglan Street into a 14-bedroom HMO.

This change of use has not been uncommon in the town.

READ MORE: Former Barrow pub The Dirty Duck could be turned into 14-bedroom HMO

Some pubs that have lain dilapidated for years have been taken on by entrepreneurs to breathe new life into properties with others converted into thriving businesses.

Some pubs have been specifically chosen to fulfil a growing need for housing in the local area or to serve the many contractors that come to Barrow.

Here at the Mail, we took a look at five of Barrow's most historic pubs that are no longer pubs. 

The Washington Pub, now luxury apartments

The 'Wash' as it was affectionately known, on Roose Road dated back all the way to the 1800s.

It was refurbished back in early 1990s and in recent years was turned transformed from its "derelict and unloved state" into luxury serviced apartments and rooms.

The 61 apartments and 21 rooms were designed to meet the needs of Barrow's contractors and professionals with the aim of providing high-quality accommodation. 

The Peacock Inn, now a beauty salon

The Peackcock Inn dated all the way back to the 1880s and was fully refurbished in the 1930s. 

It closed down in 2016 and was taken on by a Canadian entrepreneur in 2017 and converted to a nail bar/ beauty therapy shop.

The pub is now Fixed Up salon and offers everything from hairdressing to nails, tanning, waxing, massages and even body piercing and tattoos.

The old doorway signs for ‘The Saloon’ and ‘The Smoke Room’ can still be seen.

The Old Bank Pub, now a Mediterranean Grill

This Grade II-listed building started out as two shops and was then converted into a bank in the early 1900s’.

It went on to become The Old Bank Pub on Duke Street and was briefly home to a takeaway business.

The premises is now Dodona House Mediterranean Grill or have recently acquired a sandwich shop on Dalton Road.

Wheatsheaf pub, now apartments

The Wheatsheaf pub in Hindpool Road was converted into high-end rental accommodation for professionals.

The property has retained The Wheatsheaf name and the conversion was deemed as meeting the housing demand from professionals coming into the area to work at large companies, such as BAE Systems.

The Brewery Inn, will be two HMOs

Originally the ‘Brewery Tap’ i.e. the nearest pub to the brewery, Case's brewery was in Cavendish Street, Barrow, was built in 1866-67 by Wadham and Turner for Messrs. T. Thwaites and T. Hindle.

The Barrow Times, (Oct 19th, 1867) reported on the opening, calling it 'the most modern brewery in the North West.

The pub was reported to have closed at one point in 1972. 

A re-opening in 2005 and the then- management often ran the popular Brewery Football Syndicate for its members.

The council approved plans in October to convert a former pub in Barrow into two Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMO’s). 

The planning statement addressed concerns over the loss of a pub in Barrow Town Centre.