Inns & public houses

THE WAYSIDE STOP or inn was among the first buildings in Bourne to give refreshment and overnight shelter to travellers in years past and from those early beginnings sprang the hotels and public houses we know today.

The Angel Hotel in the town centre dates from the 18th century and is probably the oldest surviving hotel for guests in the town and the former livery stables can still be seen at the rear, now converted into shops. It was an important posting house during coaching days because it stood on one of the main routes from London to York and a daily stagecoach service passed through, often making an overnight stop and usually picking up passengers. There are also records of babies being born there to expectant women passengers who suddenly went into labour.

Another ancient coaching inn is the Burghley Arms across the road, once a private residence and formerly known as the Bull, a name which persisted until 1955 when it was changed to the Burghley Arms in honour of Lord Burghley who was born there in 1520. Other historic public houses include the Nag's Head, once a popular meeting place for most of the town's sporting and social organisations, and the Anchor Inn in Eastgate which dates back to the days when the Bourne Eau was navigable and was frequented by sailors from the boats which plied their trade along the waterway.

The Burghley Arms in 1910

The Nag's Head in 1887

Through the centuries at various times, a total of 36 taverns or public houses are recorded in Bourne together with 30 beer houses which sold only ale but their number declined as a result of the continuous taxation on alcohol and by the turn of the 19th century they had disappeared completely.

In recent years, there has been a fluctuating pattern of closures and openings with the most dramatic developments occurring during the final years of the 20th century when the face of the traditional public house began to change, influenced by the ban on smoking in public places, a decline in drinking habits and a demand for food to be served. New public houses such as Smith's of Bourne and The Jubilee which have opened in North Street reflect these changes and by 2010, there were just twelve public houses within the parish although not all are doing good business and some face an uncertain future.

Smiths of Bourne today