QUALITY IN QUADRILATERALS

You may well know of our penchant for pub tiles. We’ve showcased them on our socials; immortalised The Shakespeare Hotel’s on a t-shirt; and skateboard decks celebrating local gems hang on the brewery wall, courtesy of our sister company, Pass~port. 

Even our branding itself regularly features diamond shapes – a nod to the tile-work of not only our own bar, but that of the beloved institutions we service across the east coast. 

Indeed, a well-tiled pub is a beautiful thing. Classy, enduring, timeless. But where did the tile trend come from and why did it start? The answers to these questions are pretty colourful, depending on who you ask… 

EXQUISITE PISS? LITERALLY?!

Pubs began to bring in tiling in the 1920s, around the same time that many public buildings did, from hospitals to swimming pools, as part of a movement towards hygiene. Think of inner-city train stations like St James, Museum and even parts of Central; they’ve all got tiles you could expect to find at your go-to Surry Hills watering hole. 

There’s many who argue that ‘hygiene’ is a polite way to phrase the reason behind tiling pubs however. That’s because the move came into vogue during the time of Temperance. This was the government-mandated early closure of pubs that was introduced in 1916, in an effort to curb excessive alcohol consumption. 

The strategy proved to be somewhat counter-productive. With pubs closing by 6PM, workers would knock off and flock to the bar to squeeze in as many beers as they could beforehand. This is where the expression “6 O’clock Swill” comes from. As punters rapidly loaded to the gills, the result was understandably messy, with vomit and even open urination a common result. 

Whether the human-waste thing is true or urban legend, as you can imagine, the ease of cleaning made tiles the ideal choice of surfaces for publicans. Staff could simply give the place a hose down at the end of the night and knock off themselves. 

FOR THE MODERN DRINKER

While today these tiles may have a classic look, when first introduced, they were considered prime examples of modern architecture and design. Never mind the sloppiness and sprinkling that took place on top of them. Tiles were chic and future-facing.

They were even showcased across architectural media of the time. Local brewers like Tooth & Co. (who you may remember from another TGBC blog article) would purchase a pub, remove all competitor products and fit the venues out with tasteful touches like glamorous tiling, in an effort to lure punters inside. 

Tiles were a building material of choice for new pubs, while some colonial-era pubs had their previous sandstone interiors tiled over to bring them into the times. And in many cases, these features have remained, no longer contemporary but valued as such. 

PUB TILES TOMORROW 

The move to protect pubs and their tiling is emboldening. Heritage lists are growing; some NSW venue listings even include interiors, like The General Gordon and The Annandale Hotel. And there are many local producers of heritage-style tiling for those seeking to maintain or restore their pub’s age-old charm. 

As a proud supporter of community and culture, TGBC is fortunate enough to partner with countless venues still sporting the tiles that’ve made them handsome (and hygienic) for upwards of a century. 

From the Nelson to the Glengarry, even Newcastle’s the Lass O’Gowrie, and many more. These establishments are important historic features of our country’s cultural landscape. Drop into your local to appreciate and show some support – drinking responsibly and using the facilities as intended, of course!