IT IS now home to a busy nursery school, but in days gone by, this beautiful Georgian building was a popular pub near the river Wye.

Hereford Times: The closed pub in 2009The closed pub in 2009

The Salmon Inn, which became a pub in 1956 when the Hereford and Cheltenham Brewery transferred the licence from the Whalebone Inn opposite, is one of many city pubs now consigned to the history books.

Hereford Times: Jon and Frankie Jackson in 1990Jon and Frankie Jackson in 1990

The once-popular pub was run for more than 35 years by landlord John Jackson and his wife Frankie.

Mr Jackson, who retired in 1990 at 65, arrived in Herefordshire in 1942 to train with the RAF at Madley. He later met Frankie, and the pair were married at St Paul's Church in Tupsley in 1946.

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After working for the civil service, Mr Jackson, who was also founding chairman of Hereford United's Vice Presidents Clun and a United director for 17 years, took up the reins as the pub's first landlord in 1956.

During his many years behind the bar, Mr Jackson also held the positions of chairman of the Hereford and district and the midlands licensed victuallers associations.

Hereford Times: Jan Reynolds in the new conservatory in 1991Jan Reynolds in the new conservatory in 1991

The pub was briefly closed for refurbishment after Mr Jackson's retirement, reopening in December 1990 with Jan and Phil Reynolds, also of the Oxford Arms in Widemarsh Street, at the helm.

"The Salmon will undoubtedly take its place among Herefordshire's finest eating houses," Mr Reynolds said at the time, speaking of the new-look pub, which featured a newly-built conservatory and a separate restaurant serving specialities such as supreme of salmon in champagne sauce alongside its main bar.

Hereford Times: Jan and Phil Reynolds with their Pub of the Year plaque in 1992Jan and Phil Reynolds with their Pub of the Year plaque in 1992

And the pub certainly hit the mark, winning the title of 1991 Herefordshire Pub of the Year in 1992.

But by 2012, the pub was no more, with plans approved to convert the building into a nursery in December of that year.

Hereford Times: The pub's time was limited in 2009, when this picture was takenThe pub's time was limited in 2009, when this picture was taken

Sue Marshall, from Brampton Abbotts, near Ross-on-Wye, was given the go-ahead to bring new life to the Salmon Inn on Hampton Park Road after councillors granted planning permission.

The site aimed to cater for about 80 children with 16 staff being employed.

“I’m so pleased that we have been granted permission to open a nursery in Hereford,” said Mrs Marshall in 2012.

“We’ve received incredible support from the surrounding local community with hundreds of our nearby neighbours signing in support of the application.

“The Salmon is a beautiful building and I’m so pleased that we’ll preserve it as a building that the community will continue to be able to access.”