The Rovers Return Inn, also known simply as the Rovers, is a fictional public house in the long-running British soap opera Coronation Street.
The Rovers Return occupies a corner of the fictional Coronation Street and Rosamund Street set location in the show, set in the fictional Lancashire town of Weatherfield. The pub was constructed by the fictional brewery Newton and Ridley.
The name comes from the Ye Olde Rovers Return in Withy Grove, Manchester, a 14th-century building that operated as a licensed public house but ceased to be so in 1924 and was demolished in 1958.Frangopulo, N. J., ed. (1962) Rich Inheritance. Manchester: Education Committee; pp. 195–96
The fictional pub has had three in-universe layouts. The original layout generally consisted of the style of a public bar. The fictional pub was later destroyed after a fire, caused by character Jack Duckworth. Later, the original layout was replaced by a single bar, until once again, being destroyed by a fire.
History The Rover's Return Inn opened in 1902 on the newly built Coronation Street (1902 being Coronation year for Edward VII). It was originally to be called The Coronation, but the brewery was forced to change the name as the go-ahead had already been given for the street to be named Coronation Street.Little. (1993) p.8. When Lieutenant Philip Ridley returned from active service in the Boer War, the pub was named in his honour.
Originally, the pub was divided into three separate bars: the public bar, the snug (usually inhabited by unaccompanied ladies, where drinks were half a penny cheaper), and the select (where drinks were pricier but were served by a waitress).Little. (1993) p.90. As late as 1960, the ruling in the pub was that ladies were not allowed to remain at the bar after being served. These archaic rules were dropped soon afterwards. When the pub was damaged by an accidental fire in 1986, the three bars were knocked into one large room.
The living quarters downstairs bear no resemblance to the exterior set of the pub. In reality, the living room (the "backroom") would be in the middle of the street at the side of the pub, outside the medical centre. Since 2008, viewers have seen scenes in a kitchen/dining room in the upstairs of the pub (for use by the licensee/residents), although no other characters had ever used or referred to this room previously.Little. (1993) p.91. A mock-up of the snug was a feature of the Granada Studios Tour.
The set's exterior doors are narrower than the doors on the interior set. This has always been the case as the exterior set is reduced in scale.
In early 2008, the Rovers Return was redecorated, giving it a fresh look more than 20 years after the refurbishment that followed the fire of 1986. It received new wallpaper, re-upholstered seating, new flooring, and new light fittings. A smoking shelter was built, reflecting the recent introduction of a national ban on smoking in enclosed public places, which is accessed by a new door in the main pub area.
Since that makeover in February 2008, the wallpaper was changed again in October 2008, making its on-screen debut on 17 October 2008. The producers were dissatisfied with the choice of wallpaper in February 2008. The new wallpaper is similar to the wallpaper used after the 1986 fire, which hung in The Rovers for 22 years.
The change of décor in February 2008 was a storyline in the show, in which Liz McDonald's (Beverley Callard) husband Vernon Tomlin (Ian Reddington) hired friends to redecorate. The new look of The Rovers in October 2008 was not explained in the story. A few weeks later, Emily Bishop (Eileen Derbyshire) commented to Jed Stone (Kenneth Cope) that the local pub had "recently" been redecorated.
Events The fictional timeline proceeds as follows: 13 May 1964: Martha Longhurst (Lynne Carol) dies after suffering a heart attack in the snug of The Rovers. 7 March 1979: A lorry crashes into The Rovers Return, injuring several people including Alf Roberts (Bryan Mosley), Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs) and Betty Turpin (Betty Driver). Deirdre Langton (Anne Kirkbride) panics because she left a young Tracy (Christabel Finch) sitting outside in her pram, but it emerges that she was kidnapped by Sally Norton (Yvonne Nicholson). 18 June 1986: A faulty electricity box starts a fire in the pub, and the whole interior explodes. Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear) is asleep upstairs, but is eventually rescued by Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell). 12 February 1993: Outside the pub, Lisa Duckworth (Caroline Milmoe) is run over by a speeding motorist while crossing the road. She is taken to hospital, but never regains consciousness and is pronounced dead a few days later. 13 April 2001: Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor) is raped in the alleyway beside The Rovers by an unseen assailant who is later revealed to be Phil Simmonds (Jack Deam). 10 April 2005: Tracy Barlow's (Kate Ford) biological father Ray Langton (Neville Buswell) dies of stomach cancer during a party to celebrate the second wedding of his ex-wife Deirdre Rachid (Anne Kirkbride) to Ken Barlow (William Roache). 22 February 2008: Violet Wilson (Jenny Platt) gives birth to her son Dylan assisted by Marcus Dent (Charlie Condou). 23 January 2012: During the wedding reception of Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) and Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson), Steve's ex-wife Becky (Katherine Kelly) reveals that Tracy suffered a miscarriage the day before she blamed Becky for the miscarriage, thus meaning that Tracy was lying. Steve subsequently leaves Tracy. 9 September 2012: Kirsty Soames (Natalie Gumede) goes into labour after a fight with barmaid Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan). She later gives birth to her daughter Ruby Dobbs in the back room. 18 March 2013: In an attempt to frame Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas) for arson, Karl Munro (John Michie) sets fire to The Rovers, leaving Stella Price (Michelle Collins) and Sunita Alahan (Shobna Gulati) hospitalised, and killing Toni Griffiths (Tara Moran) and later Sunita. 26 May 2013: After telling Izzy Armstrong (Cherylee Houston) that Gary Windass (Mikey North) had made a pass at her, Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) goes into labour with their child two months early. 14 October 2013: After accusing barmaid Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) of having an affair with her husband David (Jack P. Shepherd), Kylie Platt (Paula Lane) attacks her in The Rovers, leading to an explosive catfight. During the fight, Liz McDonald (Beverley Callard) returns to Coronation Street and announces that she is now co-owner of The Rovers. 25 December 2013: A drunken Kylie Platt (Paula Lane) makes a pass at Rob Donovan (Marc Baylis) and ends up brawling with Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) yet again outside of The Rovers. 22 January 2014: Anna Windass (Debbie Rush) walks into The Rovers and reveals the news of Hayley Cropper's (Julie Hesmondhalgh) death to the regulars. 27 May 2014: Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) tells his wife Carla Connor (Alison King) about his affair with Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) in the backroom. She storms into the pub, shouting that she wants to "kill" Tina. When Tina is later attacked and dies, Carla becomes the prime suspect. 13 May 2015: Liz McDonald (Beverley Callard) is attacked by two thugs, but she is unaware that her partner Tony Stewart (Terence Maynard) arranged the horrific attack. 21 October 2016: Following David Platt's (Jack P. Shepherd) horrific car accident on the street, an explosion caused by leaking petrol rips through the street and blows in The Rovers' windows, which also leaves Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh) in a state of shock. 15 September 2017: Rita Tanner (Barbara Knox) publicly collapses at Jenny Bradley (Sally Ann Matthews) and Eva Price's (Catherine Tyldesley) joint hen party, as a result of a brain tumour. 25 December 2019: Derek Milligan (Craige Els) storms into the pub armed with a shotgun and holds many residents hostage, including Gary Windass (Mikey North), Ali Neeson (James Burrows), Johnny Connor (Richard Hawley), Jenny Connor (Sally Ann Matthews), Rita Tanner (Barbara Knox), Izzy Armstrong (Cherylee Houston), Fiz Stape (Jennie McAlpine), Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall), Seb Franklin (Harry Visinoni), Tracy McDonald (Kate Ford), Liz McDonald (Beverley Callard), Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) and Emma Brooker (Alexandra Mardell). He later fights with Gary and Ali, before shooting outside to show the locals that the gun is in fact loaded, however the bullet hits Robert Preston (Tristan Gemmill), who is about to enter the pub. Robert later dies in hospital from the shooting. 27 March 2023: As she and Ryan Connor (Ryan Prescott) prepare to leave the pub to go to her wedding to Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard), Daisy Midgeley (Charlotte Jordan) is confronted by her stalker Justin Rutherford (Andrew Still), who throws a bottle of sulphuric acid at her. Ryan comes to Daisy's defence and jumps in front of her and gets most of the acid in his face and upper body whilst Daisy gets some on her chest. Justin flees the scene but is later arrested after Daisy confronts him in Weatherfield General's car park and alerts the police. 29 March 2024: Glenda Shuttleworth (Jodie Prenger) is left alone to run a speed dating night in the pub after Jenny and Daisy make plans that coincide with the night. She meets a man who she jokingly complains to about being left alone. Later that night, Glenda closes the pub as a group of masked men enter and attack her whilst looting the pub.
Employees
Current staff Character Job role(s) DurationBen DriscollCo–owner (50%) / Landlord2025–present Maggie DriscollCo–owner (50%)2025–present Eva PriceLandlady2025–presentSean TullyBarman / Cook2005–presentGemma Winter-BrownBarmaid2018–presentGlenda ShuttleworthBarmaid2025–presentLauren BoltonBarmaid2025–presentOllie DriscollCook2025–present
Previous staff