The Three Tuns was a local gay venue situated at 9 Bucknall New Road, Stoke-on-Trent. It was first listed in Gay Times magazine from 1993 onwards, however, it is also mentioned in an article about Stoke in Gay Times published July 1990 and was likely a gay venue for some time before this.

In an online post a community member commented that The Three Tuns was run by Ken and Peter who had originally kept the White Swan before moving to Spain. It seems likely (but needs to be confirmed) that they took over the Three Tuns after returning from abroad sometime in the 1980s.

The Three Tuns probably became a gay venue after The Excalibur gay club (previously the 141 in Marsh Street) moved to larger premises in Hillcrest Street in 1986. As The Three Tuns was close to the new club premises it was ideally situated to offer a daytime gay venue and an early evening rendezvous for the club goers.

In a local Lesbian Gay and Bisexual newsletter published in October 1997 an article mentions The Three Tuns being run by “Billy and Doug” and in January 1998 “The Pink Potter” says that in a surprise move Billy and Doug have left the Three Tuns and the new proprietors are John (aka Ruby) and partner Paul from the Club.

John Wain (Ruby) and business partner Richard Lancefield were owners of “The Club” in Hillcrest Street nearby and ran The Three Tuns until it sadly closed in 2010. Paul Yarwood, mentioned above, jointly managed the pub with Ruby.

Do you know when The Three Tuns first opened as a gay pub? Do you have any recollections and photos that can help us expand on this history?