Memories of Watford High Street pub during the 1970s

A Watford Observer photographer visited the Coachmakers Arms in June 1974 to snap pub goers enjoying a pint and being served a meal for a feature after it had reopened at the start of that month, presumably after changing hands or being refurbished.

The pub used to be located in High Street near to the flyover and approximately where the Yorkshire Building Society is today.

• Memories of Watford High Street before the flyover
• Looking back at much-missed The Horns pub in the 1960s
• The village high street pub near Watford that became a restaurant

The Coachmakers Arms has reopened at the start of June 1974 (Image: Watford Observer)

Watford Museum’s volunteer archivist Christine Orchard looked back at the pub’s history in an article previously published by this newspaper.

She said: “The Coachmakers Arms was opened around 1850 and was probably named after its landlord’s trade, as George Homer Ware was a coach builder, originally from Dorset.

Lunch being served in the pub (Image: Watford Observer)

“By 1881 Francis Pooley had taken over at the pub and it continued to be run by him and later just by his wife until around 1912.

The Coachmakers Arms c1930 (Image: Watford Museum)

“The pub is shown here [above] in the late 1920's and the poster affixed to the left of the pub makes it clear how long ago the image was taken.

“The advertised film was called "Jaws of Steel" which was released in 1927 and was a silent adventure film featuring the dog star Rin Tin Tin.