more about the tavern

The information we’ve pieced together for the Tavern is based largely on people’s interviews. Of course we are dealing with a pub, alcohol consumption, and a long passage of time, which means specific dates can sometimes be sketchy and hard to pin down. Every effort has been made to get the order of landlords correct, despite occasional hazy recollections (quite apt for the Tavern, really). We’ve been able to give more specific dates for the later Tavern years – and the pub’s time as Moriarty’s – thanks to dated and signed licensing documents in the files at Wolverhampton Archives. Again, if you’ve got specific information on tenancy dates then do get in touch.

The video below was created using fantastic photos provided by Deb Ashworth. You’ll hear her talking about them in the video. Deb’s parents, Fred and Barbara….

The door to the pub is no longer visible in Queen Square, but would have sat between the Halifax and the Yorkshire Bank. The back door is still visible in Woolpack Alley, with reference to the Shakespeare in the stonework.

In 2023, the building which used to be home to the Tavern in the Town was put up for auction. It was described by Bond and Wolfe as follows…

The property comprises an attractive deceptively spacious Grade II Listed, four storey mid terraced building. Currently configured to provide on the ground floor the main banking hall, a rear corridor with four meeting rooms off, staff kitchen, stores and stairs leading to basement storage, on the first floor there is a board room, WC's, stores, staff room and boiler room. On the second floor there are three further offices, and additional male and female WC's. The accommodation is well presented throughout.

It apparently sold prior to auction. There was a guide price of £350,000 on it. It would now appear to be owned by a company with a non-specified purpose registered to a residential address in Penn. According to the title deeds the sale price was £400,000.