Jobs boost as Angel and Royal pub to return to Doncaster for first time in 50 years

The Angel and Royal, which was knocked down to make way for the Frenchgate Centre in 1962, will bounce back later this year.

The historic name has been chosen for the former Old Angel in Cleveland Street which is currently being given a huge makeover and is set to be back in business in the next months.

Gary Roberts, spokesman for new owners Amber Taverns, said: "The new name is a variation of the historical names – The Angel & Royal. Works are progressing well and we are looking to open the business late October, but a date has not yet been confirmed."

The name will be remembered by legions of older drinkers and was one of the town centre's best known watering holes.

A former landlord of an Angel Inn on the east side of French Gate opened the New Angel on the opposite side of the road in 1810, the older establishment surviving until 1838.

Conveniently situated on the Great North Road, the new premises quickly became Doncaster’s principal hotel.

A prominent list of guests stayed at the new Angel but the most important were Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Prince Alfred and the Princess Alice.

They spent a night there on August 27, 1851 while journeying to Balmoral.

Afterwards, the hotel was styled Angel & Royal.

The last pints were pulled at the premises on December 30, 1962 at 11.30pm.

The New Year’s Eve extension had been brought forward - and regulars dug in’ to a huge iced cake baked by a customer to commemorate the closing.

Then, the hotel, was demolished to make way for the Arndale (now Frenchgate) Centre.

Added Mr Roberts: "It will be a wet led business that will no longer serve any food – but we will sell a fine range of cask ales, craft beers, cocktails and a great gin selection.

"We will have a full sports package from Sky and BT and will show it on our superb video wall and multiple screens."

He added that the pub was now recruiting for full and part-time staff

The Old Angel closed down earlier this year after being sold by then owners Wetherspoon.

Blackpool-based Amber Taverns snapped up the bar - fornerly Yates's Wine Lodge - and which first opened in 1997.

The distinctive building, with its turreted tower, was built on the site of a row of shops, which were demolished to make way for the new watering hole.

The row was known as King Charles Terrace - and a garden in the street was said to have contained a pear tree, planted by King Charles I, hence the name.

The Old Angel was one 34 across the country put up for sale by the Wetherspoon chain last November.