Bendigo: The lost Nottingham pub in Sneinton which still has an iconic statue on its roof

The Bendigo pub opened in 1957, before being renamed The Hermitage in 1999The Bendigo pub opened in 1957, before being renamed The Hermitage in 1999
The Bendigo pub opened in 1957, before being renamed The Hermitage in 1999 | Nottingham World
It was a popular watering hole for more than four decades

Here in Nottingham we’ve got a rich history when it comes to pubs, arguably more so than any other city in England. 

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That’s because Nottingham lays claim to two of the oldest pubs in the country - the Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem and its close neighbour the Ye Olde Salutation Inn. 

For centuries Nottingham’s many pubs have been places of refuge for residents and visitors alike. 

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There are currently more than 200 pubs in Nottingham, but if you hopped in a time machine and returned to the 1970s and 1980s you’d find hundreds more.

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It’s estimated that the UK has lost 6% of its pubs over the past six years, with more than 500 watering holes closing in 2023 alone. 

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But pubs closing is not a new thing. 

In fact, one of Nottingham’s most famous pubs has been closed for more than 15 years. 

Named after the city’s famous bare-knuckle boxer, the Bendigo pub in Sneinton opened in 1957. 

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With its iconic statue of the undefeated boxing champion standing proudly on its roof, the Thurgarton Street pub was one   of the city’s most popular pubs for more than four decades. 

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Indeed, during Nottingham Forest’s European success in 1979 and 1980, former patrons recall the pub’s statue being draped in red and white scarves. 

The Bendigo’s story ended in the late 1990s, when an altercation forced the pub to temporarily close. 

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Reopening as The Hermitage in 1999, the pub remained open for another decade, before closing in 2009. 

Today, despite the building’s days as a thriving pub a distant memory, Bendigo himself still stands overlooking passers-by.

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