Torquay – Printers Elbow II

This seems a sad story, it’s the Printers Elbow II pub which is now closed.

The origins of the pub name are all a bit complex, but back in 1979 Eddie and Charlie Thomas took over the lease of the Foresters Arms down the road a bit and they renamed it the Printers Elbow. To allow for the construction of the Fleet Walk shopping centre, the pub closed in 1986 and the landlord moved to the Globe pub on Union Street. This was originally constructed as a private residential property but had been turned into a pub called the Globe in 1833. Eddie Thomas moved his office down the road so to speak and the Globe was renamed the Printers Elbow II. The customers seemed quite happy with the whole arrangement until December 2022 when the building owners chucked the managers out. Karen Putt, the landlady, said to Devon Live:

“The company who owns the building, Criterion Assessment Management, who are attached to the Wellington Pub Company, own the building and have served the company I work for with a 28-day notice.”

The company is actually Criterion Asset Management and their reputation has in my opinion long been in tatters, as suggested in this Guardian newspaper article. It’s just my view, but the sooner the Wellington Pub Company are removed from the hospitality industry the better. Anyway, I digress.

Writing on Whatpub, CAMRA note:

“A proper old fashioned pub at the top end of Union Street, where locals excel in banter and fun, the interior is furnished with wooden settles, leather sofas and small stools, with drinking shelves in corners. It is one of the few pubs in the central part of town, to have a beer garden and smoking area.”

There is a sold sign on the side of the building, hopefully to a publican who wants to re-open it.