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London’s Real Heritage Pubs We are pleased to announce that a fully updated edition of London’s Real Heritage Pubs is now available to purchase from CAMRA books for the very reasonable price of £8.99 (only £6.99 for CAMRA members): CAMRA Shop.
The new guide is edited by Neil Pettigrew and Rex Ward of the London Pubs Group and provides a well-researched commentary on the interiors of 249 of the capital’s historically important pubs with accompanying full colour photographs as well as informative articles. Absolutely essential reading for any pub heritage enthusiast - get yours now before the Christmas rush!
Three Star Heritage Pubs
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 Northumberland, STAR INN, Netherton. We are delighted to share the news that this unique survival, unaltered for over a century, has finally been given the recognition and protection of statutory listing that it deserves. We give credit to Historic England for their balanced judgement (with considered weight to non-architectural background factors) in what may not have been the most straightforward case on their desks. The listing comes more than a year after the sad passing of ‘legendary’ landlady Vera Wilson-Morton (previously reported in our June 2024 Bulletin), the last-in-line of the family who had owned and run the establishment since 1912. It became known that Vera had willed her entire estate, including the Star itself, to a kind neighbour who had helped and supported her through her final years (including with keeping the pub occasionally open) Cordial contact, on behalf of Pub Heritage Group, had already been made with this same individual while Vera was still alive, and he would be in little doubt about the pub’s outstanding national importance and our great concern for its future. Unfortunately though, when we subsequently approached him about his plans as the pub’s new owner, he had no wish to engage with us. Given that impasse, we felt no compunction about seeking emergency spot-listing for the Star and did so in March this year. A poignant rider here is that we had submitted an earlier listing application for the Star in 2009 but English Heritage (as Historic England then were) never got it processed, due to stubborn resistance from the proud and feisty Vera to allowing their inspectors access to the building’s interior!! (Thanks to Dave Gamston for this report)
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 East Yorkshire, STATION BUFFET, Bridlington. In the May bulletin we reported the good news that the Station Buffet, closed since December 2019, had been leased by Belschnickel Brewery. Kevin Berthold of the brewery has been in touch to say that the Buffet, which is one of only two on the main national rail network unaltered licensed station buffets that survive from before the Second World War, will reopen in Spring 2026. Their premises licence has been approved and they intend to serve four of their own beers & three cask ales on rotation. The brewery will be located in the adjacent old taxi office and they aim to start brewing as soon as possible. Thanks to Stuart Mumby for this encouraging news.
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 West Midlands, BARTONS ARMS, Birmingham. It is very sad to hear that the magnificent Bartons Arms, one of the most impressive late Victorian pubs in the country, is closed again. The operators closed the pub temporarily on July 27th and have since made the decision not to reopen blaming rising costs. The pub had only reopened in August last year following eight months of closure. Oakham Ales own the freehold and let’s hope that they find a new operator soon. Thanks to Ash Corbett-Collins for this news.
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 Edinburgh & the Lothians, BOMBAY BAR & GRILL, Prestonpans. Formerly the Prestoungrange Gothenburg, the Bombay Bar & Grill opened as anticipated on the 5th August (see May bulletin). Although the emphasis is unsurprisingly on food the bar is open to non-diners although no real ale is available. Pictures from the reopening show that the wonderful arts and crafts interior appears unchanged. The pub has struggled in the last few years with a number of pub operators failing to make a success of it, leading the owner to consider alternative uses. View the Pub
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 West Midlands, OLD SWAN, Netherton. Landlord Tim Newey, who has been the licensee of the Old Swan (Ma Pardoe’s) for twenty five years and has actually worked at the pub for 47 years, is retiring from the famous brewpub in February. The Old Swan was one of only four surviving pubs with home brewing when CAMRA was formed in 1971 and the Olde Swan Brewery is still in operation on the premises. Owners Star Pubs & Bars are seeking a new tenant according to a sign displayed at the pub (although there is nothing on their website yet). If visiting, please note that due to lack of daytime trade the wonderful Victorian public bar is currently only open in the evenings, although it seems you can ask to go in there. The news of Tim’s retirement is concerning and hopefully a new licensee can be found to run the pub in due course. Thanks to Mick Slaughter and Mick Croxford for this news.
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Two Star Heritage Pubs
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 East Yorkshire, POLAR BEAR, Hull. The retrospective listed building application that was submitted by the owners to cover unauthorised works to this grade II listed pub (which included unsympathetic alterations to the bar back and inappropriate new signage -see September 2024 bulletin) has been refused by Hull City Council as expected. An enforcement notice to rectify the unauthorised works is due in the near future we understand. It’s very good to see the council’s and in particular their conservation officer’s steadfast response to the situation. The Polar Bear is currently run primarily as a music venue with its standout feature being the magnificent ceramic fronted counter, which is one of only fourteen surviving in the UK. The Polar Bear was previously in the top tier of National Inventory pubs, but unsympathetic changes have sadly led to its demotion to Two Star. Thanks to Paul Ainsworth for the update.
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 Merseyside, CRACKE, Liverpool. We covered the sale and closure of this much-loved Liverpool pub in the April bulletin. It reopened last week following a refurbishment, which thankfully appears to have been very respectful with historic features and layout remaining intact. There was concern as the pub is not listed, but all seems well. See: Liverpool Echo. Any first-hand reports are welcome, and thanks to Paul Mudge for alerting us to the reopening.
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 Lancashire, RAMSDEN ARMS, Blackpool. We reported on the closure of this 1930s Brewers Tudor pub in the June bulletin with the local press reporting fears that it may be earmarked for development. However, owners Star Pubs & Bars are planning to invest in the pub and it will be up for lease in the near future, so concern about its imminent loss seems unfounded. However, the pub is not listed, and with a refurbishment planned the interior is at risk. Thanks to Rick Pickup for contacting us about this.
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Kent, CASTLE INN, Chiddingstone. The grade II*Castle Inn, owned by the National Trust, closed in early 2024 following the discovery of a void underneath the pub. The cavity was caused by the collapse of a previously unknown medieval well. The stabilisation works are complete and we are pleased to report that the pub reopened in June.
West Yorkshire, REDOUBT, Wakefield. Following a re-assessment, the Redoubt has been regraded from Two Star to One Star. It has a good intact four room layout but the fixtures and fittings are relatively recent and so overall a One Star rating is considered more suitable.
Berkshire, BELL, Aldworth. The Bell (Three Star) is the Central Southern regional finalist. It has been run by the Hunt/ Macaulay family since the eighteenth century and 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.
Edinburgh & the Lothians, VOLUNTEER ARMS (STAGGS), Musselborough. The Volunteer Arms (Two Star) is the Scotland regional finalist. This superb pub has been run by the same family since it was built in 1858. The well-preserved public bar has a surviving Victorian back gantry with four large spirit casks that are a rare survivor from the late 19th Century.
