Pub Heritage Pub-Heritage-Bulletin-241-Mar-2023
National Inventory News
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Devon, DREWE ARMS, Drewsteignton. The possible community buyout of this famous Devon pub, as reported in January, is progressing well with the local community setting up a Community Benefit Society. A public meeting was held in the village church on 24th March and the organisers have reported a lot of support for and interest in the venture. To find out more and keep up to date with the campaign go to:
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East Yorkshire, OLDE WHITE HARTE, Hull. We reported in the November Bulletin that, following pressure from PHG and others, the owners had agreed to reinstate the illegally removed bar counter and bar-back. The necessary Listed Building Consent application has now been approved; the Council being satisfied that the proposals would restore a traditional appearance to the bar overall. However, they have accepted non-reinstatement of the bar shelf because, in their officer's view, it's a 1970s addition - this despite our submitting photographic evidence that it was much older. Thanks to Paul Ainsworth and Alan Canvess for this.
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East Yorkshire, POLAR BEAR, Hull. Dave Gamston reports: In previous Bulletins (August 2020 and January 2022) we’ve highlighted the Polar Bear’s transformation into what is now overwhelmingly a live music venue; also, the unsympathetic (and unauthorised) internal alterations that have come along with this and have already put the pub’s National Inventory credentials in serious question. Its operators, who might otherwise be complimented for their vigour and drive to make the music venue a major success, have now made application to develop the rear beer garden with a canopied extension and decking to better serve their purposes. Regrettably their proposals also involve wall (and seating) removals which will effectively convert the still-surviving back bar into little more than a garden entrance foyer, thereby inflicting yet more serious harm on the already-degraded listed interior. Hull CAMRA are taking the lead in objecting.
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East Yorkshire, STATION BUFFET, Bridlington. As indicated in last November’s Bulletin, CAMRA’s representations on Brass Castle Brewery’s refurbishment proposals would be to commend them overall but also to suggest a rethink on certain over-sized new wall openings. Our comments along those lines were formally submitted in December. A delayed report from East Riding Council’s own conservation officer has now finally appeared and, significantly, it expresses much the same concern as ours about the more intrusive of the openings and suggests a width-reduction to mitigate the effect. It is less forthright, though, on whether actual doors should be hung, which has certainly been our own suggested preference (and expressed directly to the applicants).The onus is now on Brass Castle to either amend their proposals (hopefully, they will) or ask for the application to be determined as it stands. In all other respects optimism runs high for the revitalisation going ahead later this year. (Thanks to Dave Gamston for this update.)
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Merseyside, VINES, Liverpool. Further to last month’s lead story The Vines re-opened on March 29th following a refurbishment by the 1936 Pub Company. The launch photos look very impressive – worth a look here:
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Greater Manchester, MAWSON, Chorlton-on-Medlock. The Mawson Hotel, a red brick pub rebuilt in 1936-7 and retaining a largely intact 1930s interior, has been closed since 2012. An application was lodged back in January 2020 which included the retention of the public house on the ground floor, with residential above. Paul Ainsworth now reports that a revised heritage statement has been lodged with Manchester City Council. This statement indicates that the applicant is going to apply for a change of use of the ground floor to class E – mixed use of café, offices etc. No application has yet been submitted, but we anticipate that this will be forthcoming.
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Berkshire, BELL, Aldworth. Congratulations to the Macauley family and all at the Bell for being awarded West Berkshire CAMRA’s pub of the year 2023. The truly wonderful country pub has been in the hands of the same family since the 18th Century and was awarded CAMRA national pub of the year in 2019. Other news from the Bell is that a nano-brewery has been set up in a building at the rear of the pub, and their Five Giants ale will be available in the pub as supplies allow. See:
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West Midlands, TURF TAVERN, Bloxwich. The Turf is a remarkably unchanged terrace pub which has been in the same family ownership since 1871. It closed in March 2020 and has not reopened since the pandemic. Mick Slaughter has spoken to the owner, Zena Hiscott-Wilks, and a re-opening is unfortunately looking unlikely for foreseeable future.
Regional Inventory News
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Greater London South East, OLD JUSTICE, Bermondsey. The Old Justice, built in 1933 in the 'Brewer's Tudor' style, closed five years ago. It was Grade II listed just as the owner began tearing out the splendidly intact interior but Southwark Council took enforcement action requiring reinstatement. The pub re-opened in February. See:
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Worcestershire, BELL, Pensax. The Bell, previously awarded CAMRA’s West Midlands Pub of the Decade, closed in October. The community quickly organised an ACV (Asset of Community Value) which was granted in December and they are now setting up a Community Benefit Society to facilitate a community buyout of the pub. See:
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West Midlands, PRINCE OF WALES, Birmingham. We covered the departure of landlord Keith Marsden in the August Bulletin. The pub, which is owned by Greene King, was then let to another tenant who took over in September. The pub is currently closed for a refurbishment with the management posting that they value the traditional character and are ‘keeping as much of the original features as possible’. The pub is not listed, so any updates once reopened would be appreciated.
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Aberdeen & Grampian, DOUGLAS ARMS HOTEL, Banchory Mick Slaughter reports that the Douglas Arms Hotel is closed and up for sale. It is on the market for £395,000 through Graham and Sibbald: |
Two London Regional Inventory pubs are currently closed for refurbishment: Hare & Hounds, East Sheen is due to reopen on 6th April and the Rocket, Euston due to reopen on 13th April.
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