Hidden beneath a layer of wallpaper, four Spanish silhouette murals, including a flamenco dancer and civil war enactment were been discovered while renovating The Crown Posada, famous for its half English, half Spanish origin.
Thought to date back to the early 1900s, the artworks sanction the history of the pub, originally called The Crown, which history suggests was at one time owned by a sea captain who had made his money in India. Despite having a wife in Spain, the seafarer was said to have kept a mistress in Newcastle and after she joined him in the pub, added the Spanish word for inn or resting place to its name.
Andrew Nicholson, manager of The Crown Posada, which is part of the Sir John Fitzgerald Group, said: “The Crown Posada is steeped in history which is definitely part of its appeal and our regulars often recall its Spanish background so it was fantastic to witness the unveiling of the murals.
“Despite dating back to the early 1900s, it’s not quite known who the artist is as unfortunately the artworks have not been signed but the team is really intrigued as they’re such lovely pieces.”
The real ale specialist, based at Newcastle’s Quayside, has recently re-opened its doors after undergoing refurbishment works. The project included renovations to update the bar and counter facilities in order to perform more efficiently.
Debbie Anderson, Director of Business for the Sir John Fitzgerald Group added: “The Crown Posada has moved on a lot since its Spanish owning and our aim was to ensure the design team recognised the history and respected the authenticity of the designs. In this sense, we have been able to maintain the historic value of the premises whilst ensuring our customers can enjoy the venue’s relaxed feel.”
The Crown Posada is open Monday – Wednesday noon – 11am, Thursday 11am – 11pm, Friday 11am – midnight, Saturdaynoon – midnight and Sunday noon – 10.30pm. For more information, call 0191 2321269 or visitwww.crownposadanewcastle.co.uk.