The Liquorice Bush

Liquorice Bush
The Liquorice Bush, Market Place
Interactive map of Liquorice Bush
Former names	The Tankard Inn
General information
Status	Open
Location	West Yorkshire, 8 Market Place, Pontefract, England
Coordinates	53°41′31″N1°18′37″W / 53.6919°N 1.3102°W / 53.6919; -1.3102
Estimated completion	c. late 18th century
Other information
Public transit access	Pontefract Baghill (nearest station)

The Liquorice Bush is a grade II listed public house in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England. It is believed that the pub is the only one in Great Britain with this name.

History

The pub was built in the late 18th century as a house but was converted into a pub in the middle of the 19th century. ^[1]

The pub is located on Market Place in Pontefract town centre which is part of a conservation area, and is closest to Pontefract Baghill railway station. ^{[2] [3]} The building was grade II listed in 1975 as the Tankard Inn, ^[4] and it is thought that the name of the venue changed during a renovation in the late 1970s or early 1980s. Between 2011 and 2018, it was one of many buildings in the conservation area that the council spent money on to improve and enhance the area and attract new business. ^[5] An application to renovate the pub was submitted in August 2025 and the planning documents Wakefield Council described the building as having a "high architectural value." ^[6] It is believed that the name Liquorice Bush is unique among British pub-names. ^[7]

The pub takes its name from Pontefract's association with the growing and production of liquorice. The pub featured on the BBC's One Show in 2008 alongside other areas and themes in Pontefract on the subject of liquorice. ^[8]

See also

• Listed buildings in Pontefract

References

1. "A look at the £1.5m restoration work in town's Market Place". Wakefield Express. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
2. Evans, Jeff, ed. (1993). Good beer guide 1994 (21 ed.). St Albans: Campaign for Real Ale. p. 345. ISBN   1852490063.
3. Mitchinson, James, ed. (29 August 2025). "Plans to renovate pub that celebrates liquorice links". The Yorkshire Post. p. 3. ISSN   0963-1496.
4. Historic England. "8, Market Place (Grade II) (1313287)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 August 2025.
5. "A scheme to preserve 27 historic buildings in Pontefract has been completed". Foreign Affairs. 8 November 2018. Gale   A561359527.
6. Gardner, Tony (27 August 2025). "Refurbishment plans for listed Pontefract liquorice pub". BBC News. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
7. White, Andrew (2014). The AA guide to Yorkshire. Basingstoke: AA Publishing. p. 220. ISBN   9780749576011.
8. Gerrard, David (2008). The hidden places of Yorkshire: including the Yorkshire Dales, moors and coast. Aldermaston: Travel Publishing. p. 328. ISBN   9781904434764.

External links

• The Liquorice Bush on Wakefield First