Old Dog Inn

Old Dog Inn, Church Street

Old Dog Inn, Church St, privately owned, dire state of repair and lucky to still be standing after recent fires. Whilst the building itself has not been a victim of fire, several nearby buildings on Church Street have. They have subsequently been demolished. This included a Listed Building to the east.

This LEP article describes plans for the building in 2023:
https://www.lep.co.uk/business/the-old-dog-inn-restaurant-and-bedsits-plan-for-one-of-prestons-most-important-inns-4344495

Preserving Preston’s Heritage group considered it a good idea to have the whole of Church St on our Red List given the fact that this is one of the original streets of Preston, the history it has seen and the neglected state it is now in. As of February 2025 a group member reported this building to Building Control due to concerns for safety. We do not want to lose another listed building, so fingers crossed the Dog Inn becomes the new 3 Fox St.

The building suffered a partial collapse at the rear, but has more recently been secured and there are now plans in place to restore that section.

The Old Dog Inn is listed on the National Heritage List for England.

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1209745

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Old Dog Inn History

Early History and Methodist Connection

The Old Dog Inn traces its origins to the early 18th century. The original Dog Inn, located nearby at Blue Bell Yard, was destroyed during the 1715 Jacobite Rebellion, after which the inn was rebuilt on its current Church Street site.

By the late 18th century, the inn had become a key venue for the early Methodist movement in Preston. It hosted meetings and gatherings for Methodist followers, including events connected to visits by John Wesley. The inn’s role in these early religious activities is commemorated by a blue plaque, highlighting its cultural and spiritual significance in the town’s history.

Brewing Heritage

In the 19th century, The Old Dog Inn became associated with Matthew Brown & Co. Ltd, a prominent Preston brewery founded in 1830. Matthew Brown expanded his business from a small beerhouse on Pole Street to a company operating multiple malthouses and around 46 public houses. The Old Dog Inn bore the Matthew Brown wheatsheaf emblem above its doorway, symbolizing its place within the brewery’s network.

The brewery’s influence helped shape the character of the inn as both a social hub and a landmark in Preston’s local economy, bridging the town’s commercial and cultural life.