Coronation Street: The Rovers Return Picture Special

UPDATE: There is a more modern version of the picture special here.

Tonight for the first time on-screen the ‘new look’ Rovers Return was seen in the ITV soap. Coronation Street bosses have kept the look of the Rovers familiar down the years as we look back at its many eras and popular staff in a photo special.

It’s 1961 and Coronation Street is the latest show to arrive on ITV. Airing twice a week it soon became the nations favourite saga. Outside Minne Cadwell and Ena Sharples debate the latest.

In the fictional world of Weatherfield the history of the pub can be traced back to the 1600’s. Originally called The White Mare it was demolished in 1900 to make way for the current building.

The pub was owned by brewery Newton & Ridley, the first on-screen tenants were Jack and Annie Walker.

1969: The first time the pub is seen in colour with its green wallpaper and orange bar.

1969 was also the year we first saw the legendary barmaid Betty Turpin. She would become the pub’s longest serving staff member.

In 1970 Jack died suddenly from a heart attack, leaving Annie devastated. She however had the support of her senior barmaid Betty Turpin, the pair were joined by busty Bet Lynch as junior barmaid.

Glum days, Coronation Street in 1975.

In 1979 a major incident caused chaos at the Rovers Return when a lorry crashed into the front of the building.

Another lick of paint for the boozer, it would undergo numerous tweaks over the years.

In October 1983 it was the end of an era when Annie decided to finally say farewell to Weatherfield. Son Billy was not interested in taking on the tenancy of the Rovers Return Inn however Annie persuaded him that the pub must be kept in the Walker family by offering to pay off his gambling debts.

In 1984 the Rovers Return battled The Flying Horse in the Weatherfield Olympics. Here Rovers barmaid Bet Lynch with pub cleaner Hilda Ogden and future landlady Vera Duckworth take to the egg and spoon race.

Another look in 1984, the wallpaper by now had changed numerous times, and Billy Walker was in charge; but it was short lived as his lock-in’s saw him turfed out of the boozer.

To fend off a horrid temp-manager Betty Turpin urged Bet Lynch to apply for the tenancy (Betty feeling she was too old). Successfully Bet got the pub, but not long after it burned down thanks to an electrical fault.

The new-look Rovers Return Inn of 1986, it would remain virtually unchanged until 2008.

Another long running mainstay of the Rovers was the hotpot, devised to Betty Turpin’s secret ingredients. It stayed secret until rival chef Ciaran McCarthy stole it for The Joinery restaurant.

Into the 1990s and the street looks a lot less grotty, with the modern addition of homes and businesses on the right side.

It was the end of another era in 1995, when with a failed marriage to Alec Gilroy and lack of money saw Bet leave the boozer. She was forced out when Newton & Ridley decided to sell off the premises.

The Newton & Ridley signs are removed as the pub, for the first time in its history, goes into private ownership.

The first owners of the bar were Vera and Jack Duckworth. Jack had previously been a cellarman, but having inherited some money they took to being king and queen of the street. Many other owners would follow including Natalie Barnes and Fred Elliott.

By 2008 businessman, and long time resident of Coronation Street, Steve McDonald had bought the pub for his mother, Liz.

Liz gave the interior of the Rovers a revamp in 2008, however it proved unpopular with regulars. The brown and greens a throwback to the 1960s version of the pub.

A more cosy wallpaper had been introduced by the time royalty visited the pub in 2010.

Liz left, and Steve eventually sold the pub to Stella Price who brought her family along for a bumpy ride.

Jealous, Stella ditched hubby Karl after he was caught having an affair. Stella started a romance with Jason Grimshaw.

Karl set fire to the pub, he hoped to die with Stella, but they were saved. Sadly his former mistress Sunita wasn’t so lucky.

2013: The revamped pub. Its the biggest change since the 1986 fire, mixing new fittings with the old.

As seen in tonight’s episode (May 26th) the new look Rovers Return finally re-opens.

The familiar Rovers Return Inn look has been retained on the street.

A detailed history of the pub can be found here.