What exactly makes a pub ‘rough’ is subjective, of course, but punters seem to agree that a general state of disrepair and local ‘characters’ doing a steady trade in stolen goods are reliable indicators.
Some people suggested that the epithet could apply to any pub with a flat roof. There are certainly a few of those among our list, though it’s fair to say that’s not always true.
We’re not necessarily talking about the ‘toughest’ pubs, where violence is rife, either, although that was the case with some of these lost watering holes from the 70s, 80s, 90s and noughties.
One of the pubs on our list was nicknamed ‘the glass carpet’, as there was ‘more glass on the floor than behind the bar’, while another was branded a ‘den of iniquity’.
A major TV star is among those who have shared their experiences of these pubs, telling how he was once left fearing for his life after someone pulled out a gun while he was performing.
As many of you pointed out, a ‘rough’ pub is not necessarily a bad one, and lots of people recall enjoying some of their happiest nights at these boozers, even if they did have a bit of a reputation.
Sadly for them, these pubs have closed and in some instances been demolished and replaced with housing, or converted into shops. But the memories live on.
What’s the roughest pub you’ve ever visited? Let us know in the comments section.
13. Bobby Shafto
The Bobby Shafto in Newcastle is long gone but it's fair to say it had a bit of a reputation back in its day. One person told how when they visited in the 80s 'everyone stopped and stared' because they weren't a local', while another punter recalling a visit in the early 90s said they had 'never been so on edge'. Others recalled fights taking place there 'most nights' during the 70s, when 'all the kids would run down to see what was going on' after hearing a commotion. Perhaps most chillingly, one person said: "I used live next to it when I was a kid. There used to be an old bloke outside who used to chase us with a knife." | Newcastle Libraries Photo: Newcastle Libraries