Most‑loved Shropshire pubs from the 90s - according to readers

We took to social media to ask Shropshire Star readers about their favourite pubs from the 1990s.

If you have fond memories of hazy rooms full of cigarette smoke, the clack of pool balls and jukeboxes loaded with Britpop, then you probably have a favourite pub from the 1990s.

In a time before gastropubs and artisan IPAs, sharing platters and menus for dogs, these were the places of first pints, first kisses, terrible haircuts, and legendary lock‑ins.

This list gathers the Shropshire favourites people still talk about decades later - consider it a little time capsule of the era when brick-like mobile phones had a pull-out antenna the length of your forearm and the boozer was the beating heart of the community.

Gone but not forgotten

The Elephant and Castle in Ketley, Telford, recieved a lot of love on social media.

There’s been a pub at this site since the 16th century - although the historic coaching house that used to occupy the site was demolished in the 1960s as part of a wider redevelopment at the busy junction.

The pub - once the Severn Stars and then (for a short time) Twenty's Video Bar - closed for the final time in 2008, and is now an Indian restaurant.

Over in Shrewsbury, many locals had fond memories of The Plough Inn, a pub which used to occupy a historic building in the Square.

The timber-framed building is now home to Fatface.

The Bulls Head on St Mary’s Street was dubbed a “proper old fashioned boozer” by one commenter, while another recounted a fond memory of playing darts in the pub.

The historic building on Newport’s cobbled street is now home to an opticians’ office.

The 16th-century coaching inn dubbed ‘Naughty Nell's’ in Shifnal was heavily rumoured to be haunted - but that didn’t stop it being a favourite stomping ground among commenters.

Unfortunately, the historic building remains vacant today.

The Red Admiral in Telford opened in 1968, just as the new town of Telford was designated.

It was set up to serve the newly built Sutton Hill estate and remained open until 2006.

The building’s burnt-out shell was demolished in 2007 after becoming a target for vandals and arsonists.

The Haygate in Wellington was a popular venue for aspiring musicians from across Shropshire to cut their teeth on a small stage.

But the beloved pub closed in March 2018 and it was demolished the following year.

Still pulling pints today

Many commenters had fond memories of The Boathouse in Shrewsbury - a pub still popular with locals and visitors today.

Just last month the pub was featured on a list of UK’s top 30 beer gardens, clocking in at number 10 in the country.

The White Hart in Ironbridge was remembered by one commenter as a “proper local pub”.

Today, the Wharfage pub is still going strong with a restaurant providing seasonal country dining, pub food and traditional classics.