The Horse and Jockey pub

What is it? 

The Horse and Jockey is one of the oldest buildings in Wrexham town centre. It has been operating as a pub since 1868, and is still running to this day. 

Where is it? 

32 Hope St, Wrexham, LL11 1BG 

What’s there? 

The 17th century pub still has many of it’s original features – such as it’s thatched roof – and serves local ales and food. 

Facts - 

▪ In the 17th century, the building was extended and divided into three cottages. Later, the part nearest to Hope Street was a private house, sometimes used as a guest house, while the part along Priory Street was a “beer house” called The Colliers. The buildings were combined into a single pub in 1868. 

▪ The pub was renamed the Horse and Jockey in honour of Fred Archer (1857-1886). The Cheltenham-born jockey rode at nearby Bangor-on-Dee, and at many other racecourses, before committing suicide aged 29, after the death of his first child and then the death of his wife while she gave birth to their second child. 

▪ There have been tales of a ghost called George at the Horse and Jockey. In 2013 landlord Geoff Williams said a spirit had once saved a cleaner from injury by grabbing hold of her leg as she began to topple off the chair on which she was standing.