Research on the history of the Tirola Bar in the Guildbourne Centre has been a little vague. We know the centre itself opened in 1974, and the first instance we could find of the bar was in 1975.

The last printed mention was in 1989, but we believe the actual year of closure was 1997, although this is unconfirmed.

Fortunately, there is a 'fans' Facebook page where memories and pictures have been uploaded. The Facebook link at the bottom of this page will direct you there.

Getting pictures of the Tiroler bar seemed to be impossible until I stumbled across a website tribute to Andy Franks - a guitarist with Uncle John's Band. The picture on the left shows the band performing in the bar in 1974.

In the picture, left to right: Andy Franks, Barry Ruffell, and Roger Cloake. Andy sadly died in 2010.

The Worthing Herald ran a feature on the bar in September 1989 entitled "The New Tiroler, re-opened" and continued, "Yodels of delight greeted the new-look Tiroler in the Guildbourne Centre when it reopened on Thursday night. An Austrian theme is still featured, with original Austrian woodwork around the booths and framed prints of the Alps."

If the theme was the same, then we ask, what changed? The answer was a new bar, carpets, upholstery, sound and light system, with the kitchens and toilets refurbished. The rest of the article promoted it as a quite lunchtime bar with good food and a lively disco in the evenings.

Time Line

A little bit more

1976 - Jock McGuckin & John Bachtiger
1984 - 1989 Roy & Pam Jones

The table, chairs, and bar top ended up in Macmillan's Bar.