Whitbread spent £953,000 on the conversion of the old Jennings print works, which opened on January 3rd 1999. The new pub opened next door to the Chicago Rock Café. Jennings printers were at the Brunswick Road address for around 100 years before the stationary shop and business moved to Southgate Street in 1997. When the Hogshead was being fitted out the original print boards were found in the upstairs loft. They were restored and displayed on the walls of the pub. When the pub opened it was hoped to have around 200 different cask ales on offer every year and customers were invited to ask for sample the brews before buying. The local newspaper ‘the Citizen’ got over enthusiastic about this and the headline ‘beer on the house’ with the opening paragraph “visitors to Gloucester’s newest pub, the Hogshead, are being given the chance to sample the brews on offer free of charge.” probably did not go down too well with the management.
The premises was given a refurbishment, opening as Sloanes Bar.
Manager:
1999 Lesley Tait
