It had originally been called The Bull when it opened in 1961 and was built as a replacement for another public house, also called the Bull, which stood around 50 yards away in Bull Road, Vange. The original Bull, which dated from the 19th century, had stood in the way of a proposed new neighbourhood shopping centre to replace the existing shops which were considered inadequate by the Development Corporation, who at that time were transforming Vange with new housing estates. It was subsequently demolished in the early months of 1962 and the shopping centre, when completed in 1964, took the name Bull Parade.

The new Bull opened on Tuesday 7th November, 1961. Arthur and Teresa (Terry) Goldstone were the first licencees having transferred from the 'old' Bull on opening.

It was operated by the Mann, Crossman and Paulin brewery chain, who had also run the former public house, and a prominent Manns sign adorned an outer wall. An off license was incorporated into the buildings design. By the 1970s it had become part of St. George's Taverns.

Though originally in Bull Road, which in October 1961 had opened to traffic on a new realignment and junction with Timberlog Lane, its address became 469 Clay Hill Road when the full length of Bull Road was renamed Clay Hill Road in 1963.

From Friday 7th June, 1985 the pubs' name was changed to The Powerhouse which it remained until February 1998 when, following a violent incident that ended in a fatality, it closed. The pub then remained empty until September 2002 when it was demolished and a large block of two bedroomed flats were erected in its place.

For most of its existence the lounge bar stage was a popular venue for live entertainment. Countless bands played there over the years including Hedgehog, Street, The Cold Hand Band, Granny Grunt, Chief O'Hara, The Business, Rudy Cafe, The Pilchards and Big Lynne. Female strippers were another attraction with Sunday sessions running for a time in the 1980s.