Pub Heritage Pub-Heritage-Bulletin-236-Oct-2022
We open with a couple of items that highlight the increasing pressure on pub businesses due to the cost of living crisis as licensees struggle to make ends meet, and face imminent loss of their businesses and livelihoods. CAMRA are urging all members to lobby their MPs on this issue before the autumn budget statement which is now due on 17th November. If you are a CAMRA member you should have received an email on 26th October covering this. Background and a link to contact your MP can be found here: CAMRA Budget 2022.
National Inventory News
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West Midlands, OLD SWAN, Netherton. We bring the terrible news that the Old Swan, known as Ma Pardoe’s, one of the National Inventory’s most celebrated institutions, is facing closure due to rising costs and reduced footfall, with the legendary pub now selling only half the amount of beer compared to pre-lockdown. The pub is famous for brewing its own beer, and was one of only four remaining brew-pubs when CAMRA was formed. The associated Olde Swan Brewery would also close. See:
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West Midlands, WHITE SWAN, Birmingham. We covered the refurbishment and re-opening of the White Swan by experienced landlords Nigel Barker and Will Young (who also ran the recently closed Woodman) in September last year. Unfortunately, they find themselves in a similar situation to the Old Swan. Nigel has now extended the lease on the pub, but only by a month, and if trade does not pick up in that time he will likely have to shut. He blames the rising costs associated with the business, lack of government support, reduced footfall, as well as the disruption caused by the extension of the tram network in Birmingham. See:
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Gloucestershire & Bristol, KINGS HEAD, Bristol. Some better news. We reported on the sympathetic refurbishment of the Kings Head, which has been shut since March 2020, in August. Now we have news of a planned opening in November. New owners are Kelly Sidgwick and Bob Cary, who are co-founders of Bristol brewers Good Chemistry. This is very exciting news and will hopefully bring a new lease of life to this fantastic pub, famed for its unique and delightful Tramcar Bar. See:
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Greater London North, WINCHESTER, Highgate. Some more good news is that the long-closed Winchester has now re-opened, having been shut since 2014. It is being run by the Northern Union Pub Company, who have been responsible for re-opening three other long closed pubs in London. During the years of closure, the local community successfully fought off three change of use applications, so the re-opening has been a cause of great celebration locally. Will Johnson visited recently and reports little change to the historic features. See:
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East Yorkshire, OLDE WHITE HARTE, Hull. We reported in May on the outrageous and illegal removal of one of the bars from this grade II* listed building. Since then, Dave Gamston and Alan Canvess have been pressing Hull City Council for some serious rectifying action. The perpetrators have, however, been given the opportunity to submit a retrospective application and the process is currently stalled awaiting this. It is worth remembering that Star Pubs and Bars, who are still the owners, made an application in 2017 for works which included the removal of this very same bar to increase seating. Following many strong objections, however, including from Historic England and CAMRA, this element was completely dropped from the application. So the owners are fully aware of the unlikelihood of it getting approved through the planning process. Pub Heritage Group now has growing concerns about all the foot-dragging, by both the owners and the Council itself, and sees no reason for further delay in the issuing of an enforcement notice. Pressure for this is being renewed.
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West Yorkshire, NEW BEEHIVE, Bradford. Paul Ainsworth reports that an expected application (see August bulletin) has been submitted for change of use of the pub to office use as well as a listed building application for various alterations. Paul, Dave Gamston and Peter Down from the Bradford branch are working on an objection, which will be submitted this week.
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Greater Manchester, SHAKESPEARE, Farnworth. Continuing the saga of the Shakespeare, Don Chatwood reports that the pub has now been put up for lease for £5,000 a month with Tanzys Properties, where it is advertised as being ‘previously the Shakespeare pub’ and suitable for various uses: See:
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West Midlands, WAGGON & HORSES, Oldbury. This corner pub, built by Holts around 1900, celebrated for its wall tiling and copper tiled ceiling, has re-opened. It had closed in June this year; we are unsure yet if that was a change in management or for refurbishment. Any updates on the re-opening welcome.|
Greater London West, ELGIN, Notting Hill. The Elgin, which is run by Young’s, has closed temporarily for a refurbishment. Due to re-open 16th November.
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Greater London Central, AUDLEY, Mayfair. The Audley has re-opened, following a high-profile renovation by Artfarm, who are owned by Iwan and Manuela Wirth of Hauser & Wirth fame. The ground floor remains very much a public house, and it looks well worth a visit. In a first for the bulletin, we refer you to this link from Conde-Nast Traveller: 
North West Wales, BULL, Beaumaris. Paul Ainsworth reports that this fine old coaching inn has changed hands. See: 