The Hauliers Arms was once tied to Mitchell & Butlers brewery in Birmingham, which became a subsidiary of the Bass Charrington Group – one of the infamous ‘Big 6’ brewery giants of the 1970’s. For the last thirty years, or so, it has been known as Baker Street and the pub sign has a Sherlock Holmes theme. There is no Arthur Conan Doyle connection, Baker Street is the simply the name of the old road at the side of the pub – now a truncated by the Gloucester Quays development immediately behind the pub. All that remains of Baker Street on the Southgate Street side is the street sign on the pub and the area now forms an outside drinking area. Behind the shopping mall the course of Baker Street follows the approach to the Quays car park.
The area has changed beyond all recognition in the last 25 years or so. Customers now frequenting the Baker Street pub today may have been retail shopping at Gloucester Quays or enjoying their drinks after spending leisurely time strolling around the nearby Gloucester Docks. The Hauliers Arms once had a completely different customer – workers from the Fielding & Platt factory, manufacturers of heavy plant machinery. Until Fielding & Platt closed Baker Street was used to access the factory beyond Southgate Street and it was not unusual for Pickford’s low-loaders with massive components negotiating the tight turn into Southgate Street from Baker Street.
The name of the Hauliers Arms and Mitchell & Butlers were once displayed in either raised lettering or painted on a decorative plaster framed board at the front and the side of the building respectively. Modern plastic signage has since been placed into the recessed space. Perhaps the original signage remains to be rediscovered one day – perhaps in a future refurbishment and name change back to the Hauliers Arms.
Baker Street is now a family owned traditional style pub, with the emphasis firmly on live music and events. Unusually for a city centre pub it also retains its skittle alley and has a games room where darts and pool can be played. The pub is most popular at the weekends when DJ’s play on Friday nights and regular live bands on Saturdays. Large TV screens show Sky Sports, BT Sports and other televised events.
When Liverpool FC defeated Cardiff City and won the Carling Cup in 2012, Molson Coors organised a nationwide tour of the silverware and the locals at Baker Street had their chance to hold the prestigious Carling Cup and have their photograph taken with it on Sunday 4th March 2012.
Barry Hurley was the owner from 1998 until 2016 when he sold up. His company Places Trading Ltd. also ran the Brunswick, Famous Pint Pot, One-Eyed Jacks and the Welsh Harp.
Landlords of the Hauliers Arms / Baker Street include:
1856,1859 Thomas Clifford
1879,1885 George Thomas Beard
1893 E. Chatwin
1894 Howard Grigg
1902 William Jones
1906 Arthur William Hands
1910 Ernest Chatwin
1919 William G. Mendham
1927 William Dowler
1936 A.T. Marriott
1939 William Bradbury
1957 W. Ward
1969-1977 Ken and Eileen Holder
1985 Robert Boyd (Hauliers Arms)
1998,2014 Mark Summerell (Manager) (Baker Street)
2016 Ian Gare
