IT was one of the most celebrated watering holes in Southampton and bore the royal name of the former chief of the defence staff who opened it.

A huge turnout waited for Lord Louis Mountbatten at the entrance to the Kelly Bar, commemorating the destroyer he commanded during the war. But he inadvertently went through the wrong door and official guests – who included his former crew – were surprised to see him strolling around the corner through crowds waiting to see him.

The Lord Louis, which opened in 1960, was situated on West Marlands Road and ironically stood on the site of the old brewery bar destroyed by German bombers in 1940 and was owned by the Romsey-based firm Strong’s, later to be bought by Whitbread.

Standing in a prominent position in the city centre, it seemed an unlikely and audacious target for robbers. Yet this happened on two occasions, and each time the unfortunate victim was landlord Ernest Gregory.

In 1977 he had just stepped outside the door on the side of the pub that faced the exit road from the Hants and Dorset bus station when he was viciously struck on the head. Such was the force of the blow that he was nearly knocked unconscious and had to be treated at the General Hospital.

All he could tell detectives was that the robber, who left him with a huge bump on the side of his head, was wearing maroon trousers and scuffed brown shoes.

Worse came three years later. Woken up by his dog barking, he went to investigate and suddenly felt a gun placed against his head with an intruder issuing the chilling ultimatum: ‘The safe or your kids.’ Mr Gregory told the Echo: “I went out on the landing and looked over the banister down into the pub, when I was cracked across the forehead with a pistol.”

Two men, who had climbed the stairs after gaining entry through the living quarters, threatened him while a third acted as a look-out by the door. “One of the men held a short-barrelled pistol and the other grabbed my hair,” he said.

The first man thrust the gun into his back and his arms were pinned behind him.

“One told me, ‘the safe or your kids’ and started pushing me along the landing.

While his sleeping wife, Janet, and three kids remained oblivious to the drama, Mr Gregory was made to hand over the keys and had his legs and arms bound with twine.

The robbers emptied the safe of about £1,500 and fled.

Mr Gregory eventually managed to call his wife.

“It was very frightening,” he said.

“I was afraid they would grab my wife or one of the little ones. I am sure they meant what they said.”

In 1987 the pub passed into history. For eight years the locals lived with the threat it would be bulldozed by the very organisation it faced – the city council – to make way for the Western Esplanade development.

However, it went out in style. In mid-May it was issuing a most unseasonal message and invitation – Happy Christmas! On the 25th day of every month, customers could tuck into roast turkey, Christmas pudding and all the trimmings.

Manager Lee Bonham said: “The customers love it. We wanted to do something and it’s a nice idea but obviously there’s a sad side to it as well. It will be a great shame to see the pub go.”

N.B. Subs!...Could we run something this in a box below the piece again please?? Thanks!

In recent years, scores of pubs across Southampton have shut down. They were all focal points for their communities during their time, and their loss is often lamented. Some were sold because the owners’ could get more money for housing, others because landlords could no longer afford the expensive rents and costs of running a pub, while others may have simply seen their trade dry up.

The Daily Echo is going back through the archives to remember Southampton’s pubs which have been lost over the years. As well as a weekly look back at the forgotten establishments on the pages of Hampshire Heritage, The Daily Echo is also compiling a comprehensive gallery of Southampton’ Lost Pubs, with this series now available to view on the Daily Echo’s website.

Do you have any photographs or happy memories of your lost local? If so, Hampshire Heritage would love to share them with our readers. Please contact Jez Gale at jez.gale@dailyecho.co.uk or write to Hampshire Heritage, Southern Daily Echo, Newspaper House, Test Lane, Southampton,