NI Bulletin 104 Sep 2011

WEST MIDLANDS, Rose Villa Tavern, 172 Warstone Lane, Birmingham B18 6JW 0121 236 7910. Jim Laws brings this welcome news about this c.1920 pub in the Jewellery Quarter which has a fine tiled interior: 'it has reopened and is being run by people who also own two other real ale pubs in Birmingham. It has been cleaned up but as far as I can see all the previous features as per the National Inventory website entry and photographs remain.' Thanks, Jim, for this excellent news. For more details see www.therosevillatavern.co.uk. See the entry on the Heritage Pubs web site.

NORTH-WEST WALES, Albion, Conwy Mick Slaughter reports that similar plans seem to be afoot to sensitively restore this pub by the new owners – such as removing paint from the 1920s brick fireplaces. Sounds like it should be a real star among the Real Heritage Pubs of Wales, hopefully before too much longer. See the entry on the Heritage Pubs web site.

YORKSHIRE (EAST), Eagle, Skerne The long campaign to save and revive this rare timewarp pub – one of only 11 in the entire UK with no counter or serving hatch – suffered its worst, and probably final, setback on 5 September when the East Riding Council's planning committee unanimously approved plans to convert it to a house. Dave Gamston of Pub Heritage Group who, along with Hull's Alan Canvess, has been at the forefront of CAMRA's tireless efforts for the Eagle over the last seven years (including getting it listed in 2005) paid tribute to the CAMRA colleagues and others around the country who had sent in objection letters. These had included well-reasoned challenges to the Council to deal with the application in a proper professional and impartial way, and not cave in to the financial self-interest of the applicant and false arguments about the pub's lack of potential viability. Alas, all this fell on deaf ears and the CAMRA representatives attending the planning meeting, including myself as our one and only permitted speaker (allowed just 3 minutes!), were left dismayed and appalled by the one-sidedness of the proceedings. Dave reflects: 'the lack of any local objections to the application – regardless of what manipulation of local opinion there might have been – was always going to count heavily against the Eagle's survival. At the same time, the planning decision leaves us much to reflect on. It raises concerns about the integrity of the planning process (and some planning professionals) and about how CAMRA's serious pubs campaigning is perceived in some quarters. It also offers much food for thought about the future direction of our campaigns for other threatened heritage pubs. See the entry on the Heritage Pubs web site.

WORCESTERSHIRE - Hanley Castle, Three Kings The Three Kings, Hanley Castle has just celebrated 100 years in the Roberts family. In 1911 Fred and Ethel Roberts took over, passing the licence on to their son George in 1960, with his widow Sheila taking over in 1990. Today it is in the hands of the third generation of Roberts, George and Sheila¹s daughter Sue. A Three Kings Inn Grand Centenary Ball was held on Sat 3rd September at the Glebe Playing Field, Hanley Castle 7.30 for 8pm tickets £38 each ­ tables of 10 available ­ 3 course meal, auction of promises, live music and disco. On 23rd July they held a special Village Day to celebrate the 100 years and Malvern Hills Brewery produced a special beer (4.2 ABV) to celebrate the the 100 years. See the entry on the Heritage Pubs web site.