The Oldest Pub in Morecambe

Records show that in the year 1660 there were cottages standing on the site now occupied by this public house.

In 1818, premises known as 'The New House' stood on the site, and it is believed that the property had been used as a public house before that time for over 100 years. It is evident that, by 1841 the name had been changed to 'The Fisherman's Arms', but in 1878 the then owner - landlord, one Robert Birkett, sold the property under the name of 'The Birkett Arms'.

In 1905 the premises were purchased by William Tong & Sons Ltd, brewers, of Bolton. Later through a series of take-overs and mergers between brewery companies, ownership became vested in Tetley Walker Ltd, now Tetley-Carlsburg plc. In the mid 1990s when Parliament decreed that brewers could not also be public house landlords with giant estates the pub became part of the Vanguard group, and this company was accquired later by Punch Taverns (PTL) Ltd. Punch Taverns are the largest independent pub company in the UK with houses throughout the UK.

The business is now operated as a leasehold business which means the running and maintenance of the building is undertaken by the current landlords, and a rent paid for the premises to the landlords.

In 1950s modifications were carried out internally, but the exterior was left substantially unchanged. It was at this time that the name The Smugglers Den came into being.

Although recorded history does not connect the house directly with smuggling activities, there is ample evidence that it took place in Poulton le Sands, and rumours indicated that the practice was connected with Poulton Hall, which is now a local housing area located where the old market used to stand in Poulton le Sands, the name of this part of Morecambe, normally just referred to as Poulton. There is a fascinating rumour that there was a tunnel connecting the cellar of the pub with the hall, however any tunnel that existed in times gone by would have long since been filled in by numerous redevelopments in the area. The road that the pub stands on used to be called Main Street and was as the name suggests the main thoroughfare in Poulton. Morecambe itself is an amalgamation of three villages, Bare, Poulton le Sands and Torrisholme, these three villages combined in 1889.

Whilst the connections to smuggling are open to conjecture, it is evident that there has been a link with seafarers for many years, and local fishermen can still be counted amongst the customers.

The Oldest Pub in Morecambe

Award Winners

News & Events