Pub Heritage Bulletin 271 Oct 2025

North Yorkshire, GOLDEN BALL, York. The Golden Ball, a fine four room Victorian street corner local, has been successfully run by the Golden Ball Cooperative Ltd, a Community Benefit Society (CBS), since 2012. In that time, it has become a very popular and much-loved mainstay of the community and the local pub scene. The freehold has been put up for sale without warning by the owners, the Stonegate Group, and is being marketed by Savills with a price tag of £575,000.
The CBS have recently agreed a lease that runs until 2043. This would continue with any new owner of the freehold, so there appears little danger of the pub shutting as a result of the sale. The CBS has also registered the pub as an Asset of Community Value, which means that it cannot be sold to another party before they are given the opportunity to make a bid. And they would be given six months to raise the funds for its purchase. Although there is currently no obligation on the owner to sell to them, this must be a golden opportunity for the CBS to secure the freehold. Currently they are seeking clarification on the situation from York City Council and Stonegate.
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Cambridgeshire, QUEEN’S HEAD, Newton. Alaister Cook, pubs officer for Cambridge & District CAMRA reports that a ‘new’ room has been brought back into pub use at this much celebrated pub, which is one of the few in the country to have been included in every edition of the Good Beer Guide since its inception in 1972. The new room, which is accessed via a doorway in the Saloon Bar and was historically part of the pub, will increase capacity as the pub gets quite busy at times. Also, part of the rear garden has been opened for public use. The pub, which dates back to 1729 has been owned and run by the Short family since 1962. The following article, which celebrated the pub’s 50th year in the Good Beer Guide in 2022, is worth a look: BBC Cambridgeshire.
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Merseyside, PHILHARMONIC DINING ROOMS, Liverpool. Recognised as the most spectacular pub in England, the Grade I listed Philharmonic has reopened following a £500,000 refurbishment by owners Nicholson’s. See: Liverpool Echo.
As anticipated, given its listed status, the refurbishment was restricted to restoration of the stained-glass windows and the magnificent art nouveau gates, as well as new carpets and furniture. The Philharmonic, completed in 1900, was designed by Walter Thomas for brewer Robert Cain - they also created the other equally opulent Liverpool pub, the Vines, in 1907. The Grade I listing resulted from a joint project in 2019 by CAMRA and Historic England to improve the listing descriptions of National Inventory pubs. View the Pub

Northumberland, STAR INN, Netherton. Dave Gamston reports: The August Bulletin shared our delight that our listing application for the Star had been successful and that this rare survival now has the extra national recognition and protection it deserves. However, as we know only too well, listing of itself does nothing to require an owner to keep a precious historic pub open or develop its undoubted potential. Netherton itself is a small village devoid of any other facilities like a shop, post office or school (closed 7 years ago), bus service once a week and nowhere functioning as a community meeting place. Moreover, the nearest alternative pubs still operating are both a daunting 5 miles away. For all these reasons, and since nothing is presently known about the new owner’s intentions, the Star would seem to cry out for recognition as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). A letter has accordingly been sent from Pub Heritage Group to the Chairman of the local parish council suggesting they may wish to consider this possibility and offering CAMRA’s help and advice with applying. This will be formally considered by the parish council at its next scheduled meeting in early November.
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Norfolk, GREEN DRAGON, Wymondham. We last covered the Green Dragon in the April bulletin when Admiral Taverns were again seeking a new tenant following a succession of licensees in the last few years. The good news is that it reopened on the 19th September. Let’s hope the new tenants can make a go of it. The building dates to 1378 and it has functioned as an inn since the 16th Century.
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Cornwall, LONDON INN, Padstow. A recent refurbishment to this pub has resulted in all the old fittings being stripped out. Consequently, it has been removed from the Inventory.

Other Items of Interest
Neepsend Pub Heritage Walk Booklet Dave Pickersgill reports that the third booklet in the Sheffield pub heritage walk series is now available. Sponsored by Alder Bar and the Gardeners Rest, this publication concentrates on the Sheffield area of Neepsend, the ‘new Kelham Island.’ Included are copious images, a map, detail on the various pubs featured and lots of information on the area and its history.
The booklet costs £2.99 rrp and is currently available from several local stockists, including: Abbeydale Brewery, Beer Central, Biblioteka, The Crow, Draughtsman (Doncaster Railway Station), Famous Sheffield Shop, Forest, Gardeners Rest, Hop Hideout, Kelham Island Books and Records, Millennium Galleries, Rhyme and Reason and St.Mars of the Desert.
For copies by post and retail enquiries, please contact: pubheritage@sheffield.camra.org.uk .
The formal launch will be at the forthcoming Sheffield Steel City Beer Festival (15-18 October 2025). The Sheffield pub heritage walk series will continue with Kelham Island in 2026 and Riverside in 2027.

Dave has also shared a short audio piece where he talks about the history of Fagan’s, the One Star pub in Sheffield: BBC Sounds.



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

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Tom Chapman