What's the history of the Queen Vic?
The Queen Vic is central to the whole EastEnders concept
The original idea for EastEnders still remains true - a show based around a Victorian Square with a pub at the heart of the community. Sketches were made by Keith Harris (Series Designer in 1980s) to reflect the Victorian style.
The creators of the show visited the East End for ideas
Julia Smith and Tony Holland were the originators of the programme. During their research, they found pubs that hadn't yet become wine bars, and still managed to retain a feeling of being local.
The Queen Vic needed to be instantly recognisable
It had to be right enough for every viewer to feel that they'd been there. That meant creating a feeling that the Vic had stood for a hundred years.
The pub was built in the 1980s
The pub was built in 1984/5. The original pub was brown, and later on it was painted green and yellow. Grant set fire to the pub for insurance money on Sharon's birthday in 1992. It was then repainted red. The internal sets are in a separate studio to the building that's in the Square.
There was a plan behind the naming of the Vic
The Square needed a name, and the idea was that it was built in the time of Queen Victoria. It seemed only natural for the Square to be named after her husband Albert, and for the pub be named after her.
Who have been the landlords of the Vic?
Den and Angie Watts were the Vic's first landlords
Den and Angie ran the pub until 1988. When their stormy partnership ended, Pat Evans and Frank Butcher took over. In 1990 they quit and the Vic was managed by Sharon Watts until ex-policeman Eddie Royle took over.
Eddie was stabbed to death by Nick Cotton
After Eddie died, Sharon successfully applied for the tenancy along with newcomers Grant and Phil Mitchell When Grant and Sharon split in 1995, Peggy Mitchell bought Sharon out and came to live in Walford.
The Mitchells take over
Peggy married Frank Butcher and they ran the Vic together. When Grant left in 1999, Phil sold his share of the pub to Dan Sullivan for a fiver. Eventually, Phil bought back his share and threw Dan out.
Frank and Peggy's marriage didn't survive
Peggy was forced to sell the Vic after Frank did a runner and left her penniless. To her horror, Sharon and her new business partner Steve Owen bought it and Sharon moved back in.
The Vic returns to Mitchell hands... for a while
In 2002, Sharon sold her share back to the Mitchells and Peggy appointed Alfie Moon as manager. In 2004, Den Watts tricked his way back behind the bar, in an elaborate ploy using the Mitchells' lawyer Marcus Christie
Den always wanted to end his days in the Vic...
After discovering that Den had been having an affair, Chrissie plotted to take the Vic from him. However, things went too far and Den was killed. After forging the documents, Chrissie took over and used the Vic to manipulate Sam.
Ian tried to beat the Mitchells
Ian bought the Vic from Chrissie, using Johnny as a front. Ian was desperate to own the prized boozer. However, the sale was void as Chrissie never owned the pub legally. Sharon offered the Vic to the Mitchells who accepted straight away.
An Intresting read
Happy 21st Birthday EE
The Queen Vic is central to the whole EastEnders concept
The original idea for EastEnders still remains true - a show based around a Victorian Square with a pub at the heart of the community. Sketches were made by Keith Harris (Series Designer in 1980s) to reflect the Victorian style.
The creators of the show visited the East End for ideas
Julia Smith and Tony Holland were the originators of the programme. During their research, they found pubs that hadn't yet become wine bars, and still managed to retain a feeling of being local.
The Queen Vic needed to be instantly recognisable
It had to be right enough for every viewer to feel that they'd been there. That meant creating a feeling that the Vic had stood for a hundred years.
The pub was built in the 1980s
The pub was built in 1984/5. The original pub was brown, and later on it was painted green and yellow. Grant set fire to the pub for insurance money on Sharon's birthday in 1992. It was then repainted red. The internal sets are in a separate studio to the building that's in the Square.
There was a plan behind the naming of the Vic
The Square needed a name, and the idea was that it was built in the time of Queen Victoria. It seemed only natural for the Square to be named after her husband Albert, and for the pub be named after her.
Who have been the landlords of the Vic?
Den and Angie Watts were the Vic's first landlords
Den and Angie ran the pub until 1988. When their stormy partnership ended, Pat Evans and Frank Butcher took over. In 1990 they quit and the Vic was managed by Sharon Watts until ex-policeman Eddie Royle took over.
Eddie was stabbed to death by Nick Cotton
After Eddie died, Sharon successfully applied for the tenancy along with newcomers Grant and Phil Mitchell When Grant and Sharon split in 1995, Peggy Mitchell bought Sharon out and came to live in Walford.
The Mitchells take over
Peggy married Frank Butcher and they ran the Vic together. When Grant left in 1999, Phil sold his share of the pub to Dan Sullivan for a fiver. Eventually, Phil bought back his share and threw Dan out.
Frank and Peggy's marriage didn't survive
Peggy was forced to sell the Vic after Frank did a runner and left her penniless. To her horror, Sharon and her new business partner Steve Owen bought it and Sharon moved back in.
The Vic returns to Mitchell hands... for a while
In 2002, Sharon sold her share back to the Mitchells and Peggy appointed Alfie Moon as manager. In 2004, Den Watts tricked his way back behind the bar, in an elaborate ploy using the Mitchells' lawyer Marcus Christie
Den always wanted to end his days in the Vic...
After discovering that Den had been having an affair, Chrissie plotted to take the Vic from him. However, things went too far and Den was killed. After forging the documents, Chrissie took over and used the Vic to manipulate Sam.
Ian tried to beat the Mitchells
Ian bought the Vic from Chrissie, using Johnny as a front. Ian was desperate to own the prized boozer. However, the sale was void as Chrissie never owned the pub legally. Sharon offered the Vic to the Mitchells who accepted straight away.
An Intresting read
Happy 21st Birthday EE
