Old-style boozer ‘frozen in time’ and punters would not have it some other means

The Queens Hotel in Swansea is a traditional pub that is by no means tried to be cool and has no plans to alter.

This iconic Welsh watering gap, nestled close to the marina on Gloucester Place, gives patrons a glimpse into the previous with its decor paying homage to town’s previous docklands business, WalesOnline stories.

While different pubs have needed to modernise and even shut down because of competitors, The Queens Hotel stays a beacon of custom. Its partitions are adorned with footage of ships and nautical memorabilia, and it serves conventional cask ales from an expansive bar. Regulars even have their very own private stools and tankard glasses stored behind the bar for his or her visits.

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The Queens Hotel is a correct cosy spot, with old-timey wallpaper and carpets, a cosy couch like your nan’s, and even a piano for the odd sing-song. Opened means again in 1892, it was as soon as a hang-out for women of the night time who’d cheekily present their costs on their shoe bottoms.

Joe Hixson, the boss of The Queens Hotel, has been a part of the crew for 20 years. He reckons the pub’s a uncommon gem as a result of it is so pleasant and stuffed with tales. “People search out this place because there’s not many like it. They come in who like to socialise and have chats with people whether they know each other or not.”

He additionally stated: “You don’t get that in modern places. It has got a real history, we always had a big merchant navy crowd coming in. People still come in talking about the boats, what they did and who they met on them. Our general clientele are aged 50+, but we’re getting more and more youngsters coming here too. People are looking for that pub experience that you would not get at a bar.

“When we open up at 11am, you know people will go for their own seats. You know Steve will be sitting there, Kate will be sitting there, and some even bring in their own special glasses. It makes them feel like this is their place. Here you will meet people from all walks of life and meet new faces all of the time and everyone gets along great. It’s unique for the city centre and is somewhere you can have a warm welcome, a drink and socialise.”

The pub is an actual slice of custom, with workers like Donna Buckley, who’s been shelling out home-cooked grub for 20 years, serving up tasty dishes like steak and ale pie and lasagne till half two. Plus, there’s stay music each week! The bond between the regulars and the crew is tremendous tight they’re extra like an enormous household. Mr Hixson shared how the workers even received pressies like chocs and flowers from the purchasers at Christmas.

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Simon Thomas, 55, a former Army man and a daily on the Queens since 2011, loves the place. He stated: “It’s a cracking boozer, there’s good people here, the staff are great. If you’re a local here, you could come in and there will be three or four people deep at the bar sometimes, but they will notice you straight away, and by the time you get to the bar your pint has already been poured. It’s just a good atmosphere here. Everybody knows everyone.”

Keith Sekree, 43, who moved from London to Swansea final 12 months, rapidly grew to become a fan of the pub’s no-frills attraction. He shared: “It’s exactly what Wind Street doesn’t have, it doesn’t have big screens, no fancy prices or fancy glasses, it’s just honest. I moved to Swansea in March, and I thought I’d give the local a go, so I sat in a corner seat keeping myself out of the way of everyone, and Simon came through the door and we started chatting and made friends. I’ve become probably the newest regular customer. It’s not pretty to look at, but in London, they’d call it a fancy bar and have got an interior designer to do what you see here, where it’s authentic.”

Harold Hope, a daily on the pub since 1983, spoke fondly of the institution. He stated: “We’ve lost a lot of good pubs in Swansea like the Adam and Eve, The Swan, and what we’ve got now at the Queens is the only proper pub in Swansea. It’s like family.

“One means or the opposite, it is household. The factor about this place, everybody cares and it is a supporting atmosphere for completely all people. You go to different pubs in Swansea now and you do not get that type of help. That’s what pubs like this have been all the time about. The Queens is totally distinctive, and was a fisherman’s pub.

“You still get fisherman coming in. If this place ever changed, Swansea would be a very sad place. We have no other pub like this, and it supports its community, and that’s what pubs always were.”

Mr Hixson, who has a framed image of the pub’s late longtime landlord Gary Owen, expressed his dedication to maintain the venue thriving. He stated: “I just want to make sure everything is alright now that he has gone and that it always remains the same. I want to do him proud.”

* This article was crafted with the assistance of an AI device, which quickens Daily Star’s editorial analysis. An editor reviewed this content material earlier than it was printed. You can report any errors to starletters@dailystar.co.uk