NI Bulletin 218 Mar 2021

Finally - the first steps out of lockdown for our hospitality industry are imminent - on April 12th pubs will be able to offer outside service. I’m sure you all have the date in your diaries! So let us know what is going on at your local heritage pubs by sending through any updates to: info@pubheritage.camra.org.uk or by updating the entries on WhatPub.

In the last bulletin we covered the new Outstanding Conversions and Restorations website, organised by Andy Shaw. This can now be viewed as a work in progress here: OCR Pubs. Any comments can be directed to Andy at andshaw@gmail.com.

First up we’ve got news of two high-quality refurbishments that are nearing completion (note that our photos are pre-refurbishment):

Greater London, BOLEYN TAVERN, East Ham E6. The Boleyn Tavern is due to re-open this year following an extensive refurbishment. The pub was bought by the Remarkable Pub Company from Greene King in 2018. Its main claim to fame was for being a favourite matchday pub for fans of West Ham football club, so following the clubs move from nearby Upton Park (formerly Boleyn Park) its future was uncertain. The Remarkable Pub Company have also refurbished and run another NI London pub, the Salisbury Hotel, N4. Robert Thomas of Remarkable says the Boleyn will re-open once normal trading re-commences. Currently they are wary of opening too soon as people are bound to wander around the pub to gawp at the stunning interior. In the meantime you can view the ongoing refurbishment on their regularly updated Instagram account: Boleyn Tavern Instagram. A good record of the works. We will let you know as soon as we have a definite re-opening date. Thanks to Jane Jephcote for the update.
See the entry on the Heritage Pubs web site.

South Yorkshire, COACH & HORSES, Barnburgh. The Coach and Horses, a rare example of an interwar improved pub in a village setting, has also been undergoing a refurbishment. It closed in 2016 but in 2020 was then thankfully bought by Gordon Jones who runs the Don Valley Brewery. See here: Doncaster Free Press. Gordon says: ‘We’ve put it back to being an art deco pub and worked to the rules. I think it’s beautiful’. Similarly they are not opening straight away but looking at having a re-opening event in May. We understand this will be a ticketed event so for details best keep up to date via their social media: Coach & Horses Facebook.
See the entry on the Heritage Pubs web site.

Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley, CENTRAL BAR, Renton. There is less welcome news concerning the closure of the Central Bar. In June 2020 a change of use application was submitted by the owner, which the PHG objected to. The local press now reports that the pub is due to be sold by auction, as a ‘development opportunity’: Dumbarton Reporter . However after 10 months the planning application is still to be determined. Consequently, Paul Ainsworth has written to West Dunbartonshire Council for clarification on its status. Unfortunately, we have no news of any local resistance to the plans and the comments section on the application is not available. Recently the pub featured in the 2016 remake of Whisky Galore (see final item).
See the entry on the Heritage Pubs web site.

Essex, VIPER, Mill Green. A planning and listed building application has been submitted for the Viper – lodged 3rd March. We reported last year on its closure and purchase by local publican Rupert Cherryman. Much of the application is for external works to outbuildings and fencing, as well as the refurbishment of the interior, which had become quite dilapidated. The owner is clear about maintaining the existing character, so hopefully no damaging changes will occur. It seems like a significant amount of work is required, so don’t expect a re-opening soon.
See the entry on the Heritage Pubs web site.

North Yorkshire, MAGNET, York. The sad saga of the Magnet continues. Recognised until recently as York’s best-preserved example of a suburban inter-war newbuild, the Magnet (Regional Inventory) has now been closed since 2018 and allowed to deteriorate. Developers Moorside have now submitted a third planning application seeking to demolish the Magnet and replace with housing. See: York Mix . Kevin Keaveny reports that the local CAMRA branch are on the case and helping a local group in fighting this new application.
See the entry on the Heritage Pubs web site.

Greater London, TIPPERARY, Fleet Street EC4. Quick work by an antique reclamation specialist prevented the loss of the magnificent mirrors from the Tipperary (Regional Inventory) on Fleet Street. The pub is recognised as the first Irish themed pub in London having been taken over by Mooneys of Dublin in 1895. The mirrors, advertising Guinness and Jameson’s, date to this period, and are considered some of the finest in London. After seeing one being removed illegally, apparently having been sold to a museum in Ireland, he immediately alerted planning enforcement officers and also Jane Jephcote of the London Pubs Group. The planning officers fortunately were able to ensure the return of the mirror to their rightful place the same day.
See the entry on the Heritage Pubs web site.

Greater London, CARLTON TAVERN, Kilburn NW6. The celebrated case of the Carlton Tavern (was Regional Inventory) draws to a happy conclusion this month, with the re-opening of the pub due on April 12th. The pub was demolished in April 2015, two days after it became illegal to demolish an ACV listed building without planning permission. Westminster Council ordered the owners to rebuild it in a landmark case. And now six years later it is actually re-opening! Congratulations to the ‘Rebuild the Carlton Tavern’ campaign group and all involved who ensured that this actually took place. Story here: Guardian.
See the entry on the Heritage Pubs web site.

Find heritage pubs on a map. We have had a request asking how to locate inventory pubs on a map. This can be done via WhatPub: WhatPub
1. If you search ‘Village/Town Name' you will see all the pubs nearby.

2. On the right under ‘Filter by Features’ - tick the 'Important Historic Interior’ box and the list becomes only ‘inventory pubs’.

3. Then click on ‘View On Map’ (top of the page) and the nearby 'inventory pubs' are shown

4. Move / expand the map and more ‘inventory pubs’ will appear.

5. Click on the ‘P’ symbol to identify the pub and click on the pub name to go to its WhatPub page.


Heritage pubs on film Thanks to all who responded last month with examples of heritage pubs that had appeared on film. Particular thanks to one reader who drew my attention to this book: Britain’s Best Real Heritage Pubs, written by a certain Geoff Brandwood. Page 226 details heritage pubs that feature in TV and film! Brilliant!
This indispensable work is available for sale at a very reasonable price here: CAMRA Books.
We have one contender not mentioned in Geoff’s book: Mike Dewar reports that the Café Royal in Edinburgh appeared in Chariots of Fire.

Please feel free to forward this bulletin to your friends who are also interested in visiting pubs like these - if they wish to receive future bulletins direct all they have to do is sign up by sending an email to bulletin@pubheritage.camra.org.uk .

Tom Chapman