The Hub Inn

Before we embark on a serious look at the cathedral complex, let’s take a trip to the pub. Every great fantasy series has a legendary pub, tavern or meeting place. The Fellowship of the Ring began in some ways at ‘The Prancing Pony’, Harry Potter drank butter beer in ‘The Three Broomsticks’. Ankh-Morpork was home to ‘The Broken Drum’, reputedly the most disreputable establishment in the city, before it burnt down and was rebuilt as ‘The Mended Drum’.

The city of Art is greatly known in the world of Gear, for its public parks, classical architecture, markets, Museums and cultural landmarks. It is also home to many taverns and pubs, but if you’re searching for a hero or a tall tale, there is only one place in the city you need to go, and that would be to ‘The Hub Inn’. Taking up most of a city block is the drinking establishment known as ‘The Hub Inn’, along two of its sides run Long Street and Eighth Street. The first wily owner of this inn carefully put the main door on a tiny stretch of private pavement right on the corner, meaning he didn’t need to pay special access fees to the city council, which charge businesses more for the doors that lead out onto main streets, which is another sign of the Arten’s love of bureaucracy and an almost equal love for avoiding it.

This slightly unusually V shaped building was originally built with three stories and a basement, but due to its popularity as a place to eat, drink and to stay the night, the attic spaces were converted into further accommodation. The original owners, the Smiths were humans, they had previously run a successful inn in Salis, before taking up the opportunity to open one in the new city of Art. On the whole they ran a successful business, although they made the mistake of adding stables and a hayloft in a city with few horses, so during a refurbishment these spaces were altered to provide private drinking rooms on the ground floor and to extend the parlour on the first floor.

The cheerful painted sign of ‘The Hub Inn’ shows a wooden wheel-hub in green and silver. The name itself is painted in curly gold lettering, which shines against the mostly blue and green background. There are many theories as to why there is an old ship’s figurehead alongside the inn’s sign. One story suggests that Mr Smith was a sea captain in his past, another swears that the figurehead was payment for a large bar bill, and another which is probably more accurate is that the the Smiths bought it as a novelty to entice people in to ask questions about it.

They ran‘The Hub Inn’ for many generations and shared their glory days with that of the city itself. It was also said about the inn, that Mr Smith knew everyone in the city and could get you anything you needed for a price.

This little drinking establishment became a popular haunt for young Artens and a certain type who enjoyed its diverse patrons. At the height of its popularity you might brush shoulders with the Grand Sky Commander Chexia, Gilliam Dryden the map maker and adventurer, Tiana Kenzake, Miguel Lance and their friends who were the first rebels. Alongside these well-known Artens would be a multitude of merchants, sailors, sorcerers, mercenaries and adventurers.

The third image shows ‘The Hub Inn’ after the refurbishment with the attic conversion. I always imagined it being built from red brick with green painted windows as this makes me think of a cheerful friendly place.

Whilst the Inn was an idea I originally came up with at the same time as the learning to fly story, it has changed very little, whilst the stories around it have evolved beyond recognition. This shows that key locations are essential for story telling and world building. ‘The Hub Inn’ only pays a minor part in the current ‘Broken Promise’ stories, I hope that one day its importance will be rediscovered in another story, set in the golden days of Art.