A LOST Herefordshire pub has been on the minds of Hereford locals.

The Buckingham Inn, which was in Hereford’s Whitecross Road, has been remembered fondly in previous posts on the We Grew Up in Hereford Facebook group.

Remembering the former pub, Andy Morgan said: “It was one of the first pubs we went to when we got our motorbike licences. I remember Nancy [a former landlady], and when we were there there was a bloke called Ken constantly playing the bandit machine.

“I remember playing pool, and Spirit in the Sky was a favourite on the jukebox. Happy days.

Angie Haines, recounting her childhood memories at the pub, said: “My dad spent many a time in there. I used to have to go and tell him Sunday lunch was ready. I always had a Vimto with a straw from the little window.”

Andrew Boucher, remembering his rehearsals in the pub, said: “Used to rehearse there in the skittle alley with my band Cyan (1995-2000).

“Did a few freebies there for the then landlord, John Woods, and what a character he was.”

A previous landlady of the Buckingham was also recalled, with Keith Harris saying: “I worked behind the bar at Hereford Racehorse for Nancy and Phil. Their son, Paul, who was a jockey, used to give me tips and I did quite well out of it.”

The Buckingham Inn poured its final pint in 2014, with supermarket giant Tesco buying the lease of the pub and quickly turning it into a convenience shop.

The Buckingham went the same way of the Game Cock in Holme Lacy Road after it too was converted into a Tesco Express in 2010.

At the time of the takeover from Tesco, Mark Haslam, from Herefordshire Camra, said that it was a shame that the county had lost another pub.

He added: "A planning loophole means that pubs can be converted without planning permission, therefore there are no safeguards in place that allow the community to be consulted and a pub's viability is irrelevant."