Pub – The Beehive, Whitfield

Location: 35 Hague Street, Whitfield

Opened: 1837

The Beehive is still open.

Text from ‘History in a Pint Pot’ by David Field. Published by Glossop & District Historical Society in May 1999.

James Robinson was already a beer retailer and grocer in 1837 when he successfully applied for an alehouse licence. He was followed in 1838 by John Hall and in 1841 by John Higginbottom but returned in 1845. He left again in 1846 to build the Surrey Arms with Joseph Rose Hadfield taking over.

In 1847 it was described as having stables, brewhouse and other conveniences. Joseph Hadfield would appear to have been a very busy man as in the 1851 Census he was described as aged 38, an innkeeper, a farmer of nineteen acres, a tailor, parish sexton and a quarry master. He employed two farm labourers, an apprentice tailor and four stone miners.

Quarrying must have gone with the pub as in the 1861 Census William Miller the licensee was also described as a stone dealer as was John Trueman the licensee from 1871-1894, probably using the quarry to the rear of the pub.

In September 1864 a Celery Show was held at the Beehive Inn.

Messrs. Wood Bros, were the owners at this time remaining owners until Sir John Wood Bart, sold the pub to Gartside’s Brewery in 1951. The name Beehive was no doubt taken from the beehive on Joseph Hague’s School across the road.

Leslie Wolfenden the licensee from 1974-1981 was chairman of the Glossop Licensed Victuallers Association and of the Glossop Bass Charrington Tenants Association.

Following Bass’s disposal of its tied estate, the pub was eventually bought by Texas Grills of Eccles in 1993.

Post 1999 – The Beehive is still open.