The History of The Portland Hotel
From: InnSpire - Issue 2 – July 1996

The Lancashire, Derbyshire & East Coast Railway opened to traffic in March 1897. Its northern terminus was the Market Place Station on West Bars, adjacent to two old inns - the White Horse and the Bird in Hand. To take advantage of the additional custom generated by the railway, the owners of the White Horse, William Stones brewery of Sheffield, applied to build a new hotel. This was approved by the licensing magistrates in April 1898.

As the licensing laws of the time prevented a pub from closing down during rebuilding, the new hotel was built in two parts. Building of the first phase commenced on the site of the Bird in Hand which had closed and had recently been demolished, its licence being transferred to the refreshment rooms in the new station. When the first part was complete the licence was transferred from the White Horse, along with the landlord, Job Siddall. The second phase was then erected on the site of the White Horse. The hotel, named after the Duke of Portland, on whose estate much of the railway ran, was officially opened Christmas 1899 by Lord Roseberry (Prime Minister for the Liberal Party 1894/5).

In April 1925 the hotel was sold to the Brampton Brewery Company, an unusual move for this period as ownership of public houses was fiercely fought for. The purchase price being £14.000 for the building, plus a further £2,750 for fittings. Warwick's and Richardson's became owners in 1955 after taking over the Brampton Brewery. Take-overs have since brought various owners, finally resulting in its present ownership by Mr. and Mrs. Miles.

Mr. Miles was responsible for bringing back traditional ale to the hotel. The present range consists of John Smiths bitter, Courage Directors; Marston Pedigree and the 'limited edition' beer from Courages, Woodhams Old Chopper. Reflecting the quality of the beers, the Portland was a CAMRA Good Beer Guide entry from 1991 to 1994. The quality of the beer is still good, only intense competition keeping it from retaining its Beer Guide entry.

John Hirst