Former landlord of Blackpool's oldest pub dies

John Moore who was at the famous Whitegate Drive watering hole for ten years from 1982, was 86.

He had been a resident of the Glenroyd Care Home but died in hospital after having contracted coronavirus.

During his time at the Saddle, John saw in major renovations at the 17th Century inn, famous for its rooms with coal fires and its Bass heritage.

The Roundhead army was said to have been stabled there and the pub’s renowned “Lords” room, once “men only”, was where former Marton Council meetings were held.

Before coming to Blackpool, Mr Moore ran several different pubs around the county and also in Manchester, where he had been a police dog handler before entering the licensed trade.

At the city’s Town Hall Tavern, also an historic real-ale pub, he became a dedicated member of the Honourable Order of Bass Drinkers, a forerunner of the Campaign for Real Ale, which still holds meetings in Manchester and on the Fylde.

Mr Moore is said to have formed the Bass Drinkers’ Seagull Division, when he came to the resort and the Saddle Inn – then a landmark Bass pub but now owned by Stonegate.

The HOBD still holds meetings there occasionally and members said John was “a great bloke, kind and stalwart, who would be sadly missed but always remembered”.

He died on Saturday and leaves five daughters, Pauline, Patricia, Eileen, Nancy and Claire plus nine grandchildren.

His daughter Pauline Kirk said John passed away covered with the colours of his favourite football team, Liverpool, where he was born. His Irish wife, Ellie, 81, died in May last year.

Pauline said “He loved being a landlord, it was his life. The Bass drinkers society was like a second family to him.

“It is just sad that now, because of coronavirus, we cannot give him the wake in the Saddle he would have wanted.

“We are devastated as a family and I know he will be missed by many people in Blackpool.”

The funeral will be on Tuesday, December 29, with the service at St John Vianney and then Carleton Cemetery.