Gibraltar’s Lost Pubs

 Here’s a journey through some of Gibraltar’s most bittersweet casualties:

1. The Hole in T’ Wall, Castle Street

The former pub sign on Castle Street (Now Kasbars)

Affectionately known as “Charlie’s,” this pub opened in 1975 and was legendary within Royal Navy circles.  For 40 years, generations of sailors flocked through its doors.  Covered ceilings, a trove of naval memorabilia, and a storied farewell in January 2016 - 250 veterans gathered to honor owner Charles “Trico.”  When it closed, they even auctioned its cherished pennants and signs. The end of an era, indeed.

2. Six Steps Down (aka “The 6 Steps”), City Mill Lane

The now rather forlorn looking site of the Six Steps Down on City Mill Lane

Reputedly the smallest pub in Gibraltar, Six Steps Down was a snug haven for around six people.  Staff and patrons remember moments of overcrowding and camaraderie:

“Once on a special occasion we had 22 people in there…I worked there in 1968… I do miss those days a lot.”

Stories of RAF and Navy singalongs, bacon butties, and spontaneous community ties linger. But the pub itself has vanished - along with that intimate atmosphere.

3. Coach & Horses, Scud Hill

A sad looking Coach & Horses in 2011 after it had closed

Abandoned and neglected, this once-twee pub stood forlorn off the tourist path.  Still for sale years later, it serves as a haunting relic of better days.

4. Ye Olde Rock, John Mackintosh Square

A town centre pub on the Piazza and beloved by services personel, Ye Olde Rock closed in the early 2000s.  Now a block of offices and flats next to Sysons corner shop.

5. Chimney Corner, Fish Market Lane

Who would've thought, while tucking into a juicy steak at Gaucho's, that this was once a raucus military pub?  Once the heart of late-night revelry ("men dressed as ladies"), this site points to a more raucous era.  Today, the original corner has been refashioned into upmarket dining, with echoes of flamboyant nights fading.

6. The Three Owls, Irish Town

Possibly the most recent casualty, the Three Owls on Irish Town closed in 2023.  As one former patron wrote on Facebook:

It was a rite of passage for many who passed through our shores, whether born, adopted or just passing through.  Students gathered, sharing experiences with friends, the services knew this like the back of their hand, the seeds of many local bands were planted here, a generation of Gibraltar's finest pool players honed their art here, lifelong friendships made, even marriages met...

Why the Decline?

• Military withdrawal: From nearly 100 pubs, only about 18 remained by the 1960s; today, even fewer .

• Garrison discipline: In 1802, the Duke of Kent ordered all but three taverns closed and banned spirits to curb drunkenness - dramatically reshaping the drinking culture.

• Changing leisure trends: Restaurants, cafés, and bars eclipsed traditional pubs. Many closed or were repurposed.

Surviving Remnants and Nostalgia

A few pubs still carry the torch: Angry Friar, Star Bar, The Skull, Lord Nelson, The Ship, and O’Reilly’s. These establishments blend British pub ethos with Mediterranean flair - solid survivors of a shifting cultural tide.

But for many old-timers, the missing haunt is more than a closed door - it’s a lost community hub.

Lost But Not Forgotten

Each shuttered pub tells a story: of sailors packing into hole-in-the-wall dens, of high-spirited cross-dressing nights, of strategic blessings and crackdowns. Not just brick and mortar, these spots were the social epicenters of a community in uniform and civilian alike.

Final Pint

Gibraltar’s lost pubs represent more than just real estate changes - they mark the ebb of a garrisoned identity.  As the landscape transforms and the old military pubs are replaced with modern, swanky up market bars catering form the changing demographic of Gibraltar's population, let us remember the tankards raised, songs sung, and bonds formed in these now‑silent rooms.  They’re part of The Rock’s soul - and though pubs may come and go, the stories endure.