FROM a nautical theme to rumours of past use as a brothel, a pub has been learning about its history during its £230,000 revamp.
The Punch Bowl, in Porchester Road, Mapperley, is set to open again on Friday November 14, starting with a special lunchtime opening for regulars.
Landlady Emmy Mills has used the reduced business during building work to research the pub's peculiar past.
Allegedly, The Punch Bowl was used as a brothel for American GIs during the Second World War, a lot of whom were stationed in Nottingham.
"The rumours are perhaps a little strong," said regular Paul O'Neill, of Daisy Road. "It was used as a US intelligence base and an officer's mess. After the war it was used purely by army staff."
Some regulars say a taxi driver used to chauffeur women to the venue during the time, when it was known as the Deccon Club.
Mr O'Neill's father was a builder and died in 1977 during construction work to expand the pub.
"It's nice that the current landlords are taking an interest in the pub's history," he said. "It give the place a bit more character."
History PhD student Hannah Nicholson, who works at The Punch Bowl, has been speaking to regulars who have recounted their memories.
"I think the most interesting part was hearing how it used to have a nautical theme," said Hannah, 24. "Apparently they used a boat as one of the bars and there was helmets and rope knots as decoration.
"It something a bit different to hear about and surprised me a little, except that it happened in the 60s and 70s."
Hannah has worked at the pub for two years while researching early 19th century history at the University of Nottingham.
"We had heard before that it was meant to have been used as a brothel during the war," she said. "And from what I've heard we've added a bit more weight to that rumour."
Emmy Mills, who celebrated her first year as landlady the day refurbishment work begun, said: "It's been a great excuse to learn more about the pub's past."
Mitchells and Butlers, which owns the Ember Inns franchise behind pub, has invested in a number of suburban pubs. Along with The Punch Bowl, it has pumped £200,000 into the Cadland Inn, in Chilwell - which has used tokens from its past as decoration.
The firm is also re branding Wollaton's Hemlock Stone and Dragon as a traditional neighbourhood pub and it stopping the sales of Thai food.
The Punch Bowl will be repainted green, have its patio area extended and its function room refurbished.
Emmy, 32, who hails from Newcastle, said: "I've worked all over the country and Mapperley is the first place I've felt at home because the people here are so friendly.
"They deserve a nice place to drink and feel like they can pop in at any time. It's a wonderful community and we hold all sorts of charity events in the function room - it's like our own community centre."
