Middlesbrough's lost pubs remembered in new book

The stories of Middlesbrough's communities are tied into its pubs, the book's author says

An area's lost pubs - and the tales of those who frequented them - are being remembered in a book.

More than 150 photographs of bars in Middlesbrough feature in Last Orders! which draws on an extensive collection held by the Teesside Archives service.

Many of the images were taken by over several decades by local resident Les Bulman.

His collection was donated to the Middlesbrough Council-run archives service following his death in 2019.

The Navigation pub at North Ormesby, which is still in business today

Several of the images in the book date back many decades

The Albion, Captain Cook, The Navigation and The Zetland are among the pubs featured.

Material from the collection of the late Middlesbrough historian Paul Stephenson is also included alongside newspapers reports and people's memories of the many watering holes.

Dr Tosh Warwick, a Middlesbrough-born historian who has compiled the book, said he was to "delighted to share unique photographs, histories and stories from Les' visits to long-lost or much-changed pubs for the first time".

Dr Warwick, who is a researcher at Sheffield University, added: "Les' works provides a fascinating insight into pub life, particularly the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s."

The book examines the "central role" pubs played as community assets

The Central pub is still open today although it looks different to its appearance here

Many of the images have not been seen publicly before.

Mr Bulman worked in the construction industry but had a keen interest in Middlesbrough's social history - particularly that of its bars.

Middlesbrough Council said the book highlighted the "central role of pubs in the past and their importance as architectural, historic and community assets today".

The Acklam Hotel on Newport Road was demolished in 2006