Address: 2 Apollo Street, York, YO10 5AP
Description
Set against a vibrant green background, ‘John Smith’s Magnet Ales’ is spelled out in bold white letters, with a red U-shaped magnet in the corner.
History
Signs featuring a U-shaped magnet were once a common sight across York, advertising John Smith’s Magnet Ales, a hugely popular beer in the 20th century.
Another ghost sign depicting this iconic magnet image can be found elsewhere in the city.
John Smith’s Brewery in Tadcaster has brewed beers for generations, including the nitrogenated Extra Smooth and a cask-conditioned variant. This sign specifically promotes their stronger brew, Magnet Ales.
1990 – The Tadcaster John Smith’s factory Source: Tadcaster Historical Society
Magnet Ales remain a staple in the North East of England to this day.
After World War II, John Smith’s became one of the largest regional brewers in the country, operating over 1,800 licensed premises.
1935 Source: Explore York Archive Asset ID: 1003114
Several York pubs were owned by John Smith’s Brewery, including:
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The Golden Ball in Bishophill
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The Sun Inn in Acomb
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The Bay Horse in Fulford
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Thomas’s Hotel on Museum Street (which also has a prominent ghost sign)
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The Golden Slipper on Goodramgate
The Heslington Road sign was located not at a pub, but at an off-licence operated by James Todd in 1911, which specialised in bottled Magnet Ales.
By the late 20th century, the building ceased to operate as an off-licence and was converted into a residential property, which it remains today.
The sign today
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