Historic Hereford hotel was demolished for modern new pub

The gloriously elaborate building that housed the King's Head Hotel in Hereford's Broad Street fell victim to the wrecking ball in November that year as its owners forged ahead with plans to replace it with a brutalist new building.

The topping off ceremony at the King's Head in Broad Street, Hereford, 1968

West Country Breweries Ltd, who were the owners at the time, said they hoped to reopen the pub within 12 months after the last drinks were served in the old 19th century building on the corner of West Street and Broad Street on October 12.

The new pub would have three storeys, with a restaurant on the second floor and bars in the ground and basement floors. The top floor would be living accommodation for licensees, the brewery said, with no letting accommodation planned.

Mayor Ivor Williams (centre) with Sally Ann Turner, Whitbread's Ideal Barmaid of 1968, and Col J, Hill, Lord Lieutenant of Monmorth and Whitbread Flowers director at the new King's Head in Broad Street, Hereford

The new pub opened in December 1968 under Whitbread-Flowers, which had come about through a merger between West Country Breweries and Whitbread, with Mayor of Hereford, Mr I. I. Williams on hand to pull the first pint.

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He had lived in the old King's Head as a youngster when his father was licensee, the Hereford Times reported.

The new, ultra-modern, air-conditioned building would accommodate the former joint trade of the King's Head and the old Nelson Inn next door, it was reported.

It had an "advanced audio system", allowing for a selection of the latest recordings or background music to be played in the basement bar, while the ground floor lounge offered picture windows onto the street.

The new King's Head in Hereford's Broad Street in 1968

The focal point of the new pub would be the staircase which connected all three floors, with a massive 30-foot-high illuminated mural depicting chess pieces running the length of the stairs.

The Mayor said at the time that the opening of the King's Head was "one more step towards the final development of Hereford city", and that he hoped in two to three years' time, the council would be able to present a picture of Hereford city of which everyone would be proud.

But despite the fanfare to which it opened, the new-look pub failed to impress Hereford pubgoers, and it would close a few years later.

The old King's Head is now home to HVOSS. Picture: Google Maps

It is now home to the Hereford Voluntary Organisations Support Service.

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