Pub Heritage Bulletin 276 Mar 2026

Oxfordshire, NORTH STAR, Steventon. We have recently learned that the North Star, one of the best preserved basic rural pubs in the country, has been closed since September last year. We understand that significant repair works to the roof are required and it is unlikely to reopen before September this year, when a new tenant will take over. The main room at the North Star is one of the finest pub rooms in the country consisting of a snug formed by high backed settles centred around the fireplace- and the pub itself is one of only seven traditional pubs without a bar counter (service being via a stable door from the ground-floor cellar). The North Star is grade II listed, with the listing upgraded to include a description of the interior following an application by Pub Heritage Group in 2022. The pub has been run by the Cox family since 1842 and is still in family ownership. Thanks to Michael Sibbald for this news.
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West Midlands, WAGGON & HORSES, Oldbury. This red brick and terracotta corner pub, built by Holt’s Brewery in 1890, unexpectedly closed in February. The two-room pub has much high-quality tiling from the period particularly in the superb drinking passageway and public bar. The public bar has an original Victorian bar back and also an unusual copper panel ceiling. The pub made national news in 2024 when licensee Mike Westwood slashed prices on all drinks to reportedly make it ‘Britain’s Cheapest Pub’. Mike had been the licensee for eight years, bringing a period of relative stability to the pub, which had previously suffered periods of closure, so its closure now is concerning and any further updates would be welcome.
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Cheshire, WHITE LION, Barthomley. We last covered the grade II* White Lion, a wonderfully characterful and popular thatched village pub dating to 1614, in the January 2024 bulletin after Marston’s 20-year lease had expired the previous year and the pub closed. The owners, who are the trustees of Lord O’Neill’s estate, are employing agents Fisher German to oversee a restoration project. They were granted listed building consent in August 2024 to undertake necessary repairs to the timber framing as well as re-roofing. The owners have stated their intention to proceed with the work and re-open the pub but a lack of progress or any indication of a likely timescale is leading to growing frustration amongst the local residents and the parish council, who successfully applied to make the pub an Asset of Community Value in 2023. The ‘Save The White Lion Barthomley’ group now has 2.9K followers on facebook, all desperate to see their beloved pub open once again. See: Facebook. Thanks to Ian Bray for updating us on the situation and let’s hope we can report some positive action from the owners soon.
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Merseyside, HERCULANEUM BRIDGE, Liverpool. Mick Lancaster reports that this unspoilt Edwardian pub, which was built in 1902 by Cairns Brewery and retains its original layout and fittings, appears to no longer be open to the public, but is trading solely as a bed and breakfast. Any further clarification on the situation would be welcome.
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Greater London Central, OLD RED LION, Finsbury. The Old Red Lion, re-built in 1899, has recently had a refurbishment after new owners took over this popular theatre pub in April 2025. Unfortunately, the bar back, which dates from the inter-war period or possibly the 1950s, has been replaced with a modern arrangement but the bar counter and the pub’s rarest feature – the three-quarter height glazed screen that separates the right-hand bar - has been retained. Despite the removal of the bar back, overall the refurbishment has respected the pub’s heritage, so it’s One Star status remains. Will Johnson who visited the pub to assess the changes also reports that the big screen TV that used to show sport has been removed, restoring the pubs former familiar and cosy atmosphere. Thanks to Ingvar Lagerstedt and Hugh Steele for alerting us to the works.
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Cornwall, GOLDEN LION, Port Isaac. The Golden Lion, which is leased by Cornish Inns from St. Austell’s, closed along with three other pubs that they manage on February 20th due to the economic climate and lack of trade over winter in a location that relies heavily on the summer tourist trade. See: Cornwall Live. The Golden Lion is a multi-room pub dating back to the eighteenth-century with views over the picturesque harbour of Port Isaac (the location for the long running TV show Doc Martin). Let’s hope that St Austell’s can find a new tenant soon.
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