Pub Sign Photo Study – The Old Hunters Tavern – Stalybridge
@arthurchappell (44941)
Preston, England
June 25, 2016 4:24am CST
This sign has just won a national annual award for the best pub sign in Britain 2016.
Though existing as a beerhouse since 1837 the Old Hunters was not officially licensed until 1962, the year of my birth.
The sign’s well-dressed hunter walks casually, self-assure, with his rifle at the ready, and two excitable dogs sniffing round frantically for any as yet unseen prey.
The hunter looks relatively young, possibly in his forties, with the attention to detail on the clothes, dogs and woodland footpath very well handled though there is a hint of the imminent menace when men and dogs discover rabbits, hares or other prey to the hunt. A worthy award winning sign.
The pub has won other awards, including real ale prizes and more unusually, a prize for the best kept toilets. I enjoyed a beer and took a look in the gents just to see how clean and tidy they are – answer, very.
Arthur Chappell
13 people like this
10 responses
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
25 Jun 16
That's a great sign, love the black lab! Reminds me of my Gracie. My non hunter black lab. The only birds she chased were the long legged cranes in our yard in Florida. Protected birds of course.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
25 Jun 16
it reflects a time in history where a gentleman walking round like that with a hunting rifle would not cause social panic and anti-blood sport campaigning was unheard of
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
25 Jun 16
@arthurchappell Well I like that. It's a beautiful sign. I would love to go to a British pub yet I never go to a bar here. Bar's aren't my idea of fun but a pub seems different. Probably not for women though! I read the James Herriot books and they always seemed friendly.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
25 Jun 16
@Jeanniemaries Herriot wrote of the 60's and 70's when many bars had men only rooms and seriously bad attitudes to women - that has all gone now - you'd like many of our pubs nowadays
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
25 Jun 16
@amadeo the photo is live - not sure why it isn't for you and it is ok soon
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
26 Jun 16
it is a rather detailed sign, I like it
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43645)
• Denver, Colorado
25 Jun 16
Pub Sign of the Year Awards? Now that's cool!
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
25 Jun 16
I'm enjoying your study,the photos and the text.
Are there special painters for these signs?
the giving of names to the pubs seems as important as naming a baby.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382348)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jun 16
Although it's a lovely sign I'm a bit surprised it won 'best sign'. Don't really know why though. And perhaps with a few more awards for clean toilets the standard of toilet cleanliness might increase which wouldn't be a bad thing!
1 person likes this
@MissNikki (5234)
• Maple Ridge, British Columbia
26 Jun 16
I had no idea that Britain gave awards for best pub sign - I love that idea! Very nice artwork on the sign.
