30th October 2023
Written by Holly Richardson
The oldest pub in Lancaster has received a new lease of life following a considerate refurbishment by Robinsons Brewery. The Three Mariners was acquired by North-West based family brewers Robinsons from Mitchells of Lancaster in 2015.
The historic city centre pub has been carefully renovated to retain its quirks and charms, inherent in its character. The design team at Robinsons worked closely with the council’s planning team to ensure that the listed building’s heritage was preserved, and with business partner Dan Taylor, to ensure the investment met the needs of the growing business.
The designer at Robinsons who was in charge of the scheme said: “Aesthetically, the aim was simple, to ensure it looked like it had always been there. Working with pubs like The Three Mariners, which have such historic significance is always interesting. To create something that is desirable and looks great, with the intention to look aged and well embedded in the pub.”
The pub which has been in situ since the 1400’s originally sat on a street called Bridge Street and was called ‘Carpenters Arms’ back then. All that remains of this street now is the cobbles outside the pub. In the medieval days, Lancaster imported sugar, cotton, rum and mahogany and exported furniture and general merchandise to the colonies in North America and West Indies at the time, which has been reflected in the pub’s ancient maritime theme.
Alongside the pub’s new décor and design scheme, The Three Mariners is a hand-pull paradise with 12 hand-pulls on the bar and an additional 10 kegged beers. The choice of beers range from firm favourites such as Robinsons Dizzy Blonde to craft beers such as Luna Stout. Each of these 22 beers being housed in a cellar above the pub, one of the only gravity-fed pubs in the UK.
As well as the excellent selection of real ales and beers, The Three Mariners has a great food menu to enjoy in the new surrounds, with bespoke booth seating perfect for enjoying a bite to eat.
Dan took on the license of The Three Mariners earlier this year following the success of his other Robinsons pub, which was awarded Lancashire’s CAMRA pub of the year, The Black Horse in Preston. Since re-opening, the pub has been booming, with two successful music festivals across the weekends and the pub bustling with customers eating and drinking, impressed with the new look.
