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Pub Heritage Bulletin 258 Aug 2024

Release date: September 02, 2024

Three Star Heritage Pubs

 

West Midlands, BARTONS ARMS, Birmingham. We are pleased to hear that the Bartons Arms reopened on the 31st August. This famous Birmingham pub was designed by architects James & Lister Lea for Mitchell & Butlers and opened in 1900. It is one of the country’s most impressive pubs from the late Victorian period and there was much concern for its future when the previous tenant quit due to spiralling costs in January. Thankfully owners Oakham Ales have found a new tenant to take it on - See: Birmingham Mail. It was due to open on the 25th August but was delayed temporarily by a flood. We are not sure yet on opening hours – so please check with the pub before visiting.
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West Midlands, WOODMAN, Birmingham. We last reported on the closure of the Woodman in October 2023. Owner John Brearley of Union Inns has contacted us with the excellent news that it is scheduled to reopen on Friday 13th September. Union Inns have undertaken a restoration that promises to return the pub to its Victorian heyday. Designed by James & Lister Lea, the Woodman was completed in 1898 and contains a wonderful original bar and bar back and a fantastic tiled smoke room.
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Greater Manchester, ALEXANDRA, Stockport. After a brief closure for refurbishment the Alexandra has now reopened. The pub, built in 1911, has a largely intact five room layout with particularly fine Art Nouveau tile work in the lobby bar. Owners Robinsons Brewery’s refurbishment has focused on the pub’s heritage and has included the removal of the false ceiling in the bar and restoration of the original black and white tiled floor in the gents. See: I love manchester. The pub was grade II listed in 1994 following a pilot study of Manchester pubs by CAMRA.
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Greater Manchester, SPRINGFIELD HOTEL, Wigan. The Springfield, an opulent brick & terracotta pub built in 1903, closed in July with the leasehold now up for sale by auction with a guide of £435,000: See: Addland. A planning application has also been submitted for change of use to turn the upper floors into a hotel with the ground floor remaining as a public house. Any further updates welcome. Thanks to Jonathon Bracken for this news.
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The CAMRA Pub of the Year finalists have been announced! See: CAMRA Pub of the Year. The overall winner is to be announced in January. Very good to see the following three excellent National Inventory pubs in the running:

 

Berkshire, BELL, Aldworth. Central Southern regional winner, the Bell which has been run by the Hunt/ Macaulay family since the eighteenth century is one of the finest traditional village pubs in the country. The Bell has been the winner of numerous CAMRA awards over the years including the National Pub of the Year in 1990 and 2019.
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Lancashire, BLACK HORSE, Preston. The West Pennines regional winner is the impressive Black Horse, built in 1898 with a fabulous Victorian interior including the semicircular ceramic bar – one of only fourteen remaining in the country. The Black Horse has recently received many CAMRA accolades including the Central Lancashire branch pub of the year for two years running.
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West Wales, CRESSELLY ARMS, Cresswell Quay. This delightful riverside pub has been run as a pub since 1880 and retains a simple unspoilt interior dating from the Victorian period. Voted Welsh Pub of the Year 2024 it has been going from strength to strength in recent years under the management of landlord Steve Adams.
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Two Star Heritage Pubs

Nottinghamshire, TURKS HEAD, Retford. The Turks Head, rebuilt in 1936 has been elevated from One to Two Stars due to the many fittings that survive from that period despite the original three-room layout having been opened up. Also, there is very welcome news that an application has been submitted to Historic England to list the pub.
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One Star Heritage Pubs

Greater London West, SWAN, Hammersmith. The Swan, run by Nicholsons, has been added to the National Inventory at One Star. Built in 1901 this grand Victorian pub has a spectacular exterior. While the interior has undergone some changes it retains many original features including flamboyant arches, a double staircase, stained glass windows and an elaborate moulded ceiling. The smaller rear room is of particular note containing a large inglenook fireplace and good quality curved panelling.
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Worcestershire, BUSH, Worcester. John Czyrko reports the very good news that the Bush has reopened after being closed for over five years. The star feature of the pub is the wonderfully ornate L-shaped bar back.
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Greater London East, ROUNDHOUSE, Dagenham. The main bar areas of this imposing pub are closed for a refurbishment with the work due to be completed in October. The Roundhouse, built in 1936, is a classic example of a large interwar pub. It was built to serve the nearby Beacontree housing estate with facilities not restricted to drinking - originally it had a tea room and also an indoor bowling green. The unusual design is the work of specialist pub designer Alfred W Blomfield. Whilst most of the fittings are replacements you still get a good sense of the original spaces. The pub is not listed, and any updates following re-opening would be welcome.
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Cornwall, ROSELAND INN, Philleigh. The Roseland Inn, located on the Roseland peninsula, has reopened this summer after being sold by Punch Taverns. The pub dates back to the 16th Century and has a three-room layout in a rustic style that has changed little since the 1950s.
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Other Items of Interest

CAMRA Pub Design Awards.

The annual awards held in conjunction with Historic England are now open for nominations. The Five categories include New Build, Community Local, Historic England Conservation, Conversion to Pub Use and Refurbishment. This year the Vines, Liverpool was awarded the Conservation award as reported in the June bulletin. Nominations close on the 17th November. For more information See: CAMRA Pub Design Awards

CAMRA Heritage Award.
A reminder that the inaugural Heritage Award is also open for nominations with the closing date of 12th November. The Heritage Award celebrates the successful revitalisation of a heritage pub that is included on the National Inventory at Three, Two or One Star. For further information see: CAMRA Pub Saving Award

St Albans Pub Heritage Tour.
As part of the CAMRA St Albans Beer & Cider Festival Paul Ainsworth will once again be leading a pub history tour of the town on Saturday 28th September. To book tickets & more info See: St Albans Pub Heritage Tour.

Sheffield Pub Heritage Walk.
Dave Pickersgill is also leading a new Sheffield Pub Heritage Walk as part of the CAMRA Steel City 48 Beer & Cider Festival this October. The walk on Thursday 17th October is focusing on the pubs and fascinating history of the ‘Little Chicago’ area. For tickets and more info go to: Guided Walk Little Chicago. There is also a pub heritage talk on Little Chicago the following day - for tickets go to: Pub Heritage Talk Little Chicago. An accompanying booklet has been produced and is just back from the printers (A5, 32 pages, full colour throughout, £2.99 rrp) .This will be available at the festival and from local retail outlets soon. Dave tells us that further booklets are planned for 2025 and 2026 and also that there are now less than 100 copies of the book, 'Sheffield's Real Heritage Pubs' left – contact: pubheritage@sheffield.camra.org.uk . for retail enquiries or copies by post.



If you have any news on our Heritage Pubs please send updates to: info@pubheritage.camra.org.uk .

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 with the word “subscribe” as the subject or “unsubscribe” if you wish to stop receiving bulletins.


Tom Chapman

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