Long before every neighborhood seemed required by law to have a "gastropub" serving artisan aioli and twelve-dollar fries, Houston had The Black Labrador. Everybody simply called it "The Lab."

Opened in 1986 in a charming little English-style building at Montrose Boulevard and Richmond Avenue, The Black Labrador became one of Houston's most beloved neighborhood pubs. It wasn't flashy. It didn't try to reinvent British cuisine, though Lord knows that needs doing. It simply served honest food, proper pints and made everyone feel like they'd wandered into a comfortable village pub somewhere outside London—even though traffic on Richmond Avenue suggested otherwise.

The menu was faithful. Fish and chips. Shepherd's pie. Bangers and mash. Scotch eggs. Ploughman's lunches. Sticky toffee pudding. A nice cheese tray, if I remember correctly. If your definition of comfort food involved gravy and potatoes, and about three pints, you were in good hands at The Lab. 

This place had a huge following. Dog lovers adored it. Soccer fans packed it, long before it was cool in mainstream Houston circles. Neighbors claimed their favorite tables. Business lunches stretched comfortably into a game of darts and then, eventually, happy hour. But it was last call in 2019 when the university bought and redeveloped the property. 

Which brings us to this matchbook.

Like the pub itself, it's understated and wonderfully British in spirit. The cover features the handsome portrait of the namesake black Labrador against a simple black-and-white design that feels more country estate than corporate branding. Flip it over and you'll find the original Montrose Boulevard address—an increasingly rare reminder of one of Houston's true neighborhood institutions. 

It remains in good overall condition with clean graphics, light honest wear on a few of the corners and excellent display appeal. The gloss remains in perfect condition. All in all it's a charming little souvenir from a Houston institution that managed to stay relevant simply by refusing to chase trends. 

Details

• Original The Black Labrador matchbook

• Features the classic Labrador artwork

• Good overall condition

• Montrose Boulevard address on reverse

• Approximately 1.5" wide × 2" tall × 0.25" deep

• Pointless argument about a EFL Championship team nobody has ever heard of not included 

Sadly there aren’t that many good options for a British style pub in Houston. The Red Lion is still going. But the Stag’s Head, Sherlock’s on Westheimer, the Richmond Arms and, of course, the Black Lab—all gone. But you can lock in your own bit of down-the-boozer history with this exquisite local ephemera find.