Gradings of heritage pubs

History

CAMRA began work on the National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors (NI) over thirty years ago. Initially, the aim was to identify and record the most intact pre-war pub interiors, regardless of their architectural distinction. Before long, it was decided to also include pubs with special features or rooms of national significance. By then, around 270 pubs had inventory status.

The next step was to develop Regional Inventories (RI), capturing interiors that fell short of the criteria for the national list but nonetheless of significant historic interest. Around the same time, it became apparent that early post-war pubs built on traditional lines and still intact were becoming rare beasts, so they became eligible for inclusion on both lists.

A few years ago, Pub Heritage Group (PHG) agreed to move to a single Inventory, based around a grading system and that work has now been completed.

How We Assess

Interiors are eligible for consideration if they have remained essentially unaltered for at least the last 50 years. There are three key aspects for assessments: -

Layout - survival of historic layout and internal divisions, either intact or readily discernible.

Historic Fittings – particularly old or original bar counters, bar-backs, fixed seating, fireplaces; vestibules, panelling, tiling and other ceramics.

Exceptional Rooms & Features - such as partitioned snugs; counter-less pubs; tiled paintings; snob screens etc.

The rarity of historic fittings counts very high in the selection process. We take into consideration the age, intactness and authenticity of fixtures and fittings (but not the quality of them).

Gradings

The current grading system is, we hope, simple and easy to understand. We now have a single National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors and within it there are three grades.

Three Star pubs are of outstanding historic importance. They will have stayed wholly or largely intact, in terms of layout and fittings, for the last 50 years and/or retain rooms or features that are truly rare or exceptional. Only limited loss of such ingredients is allowable before an interior fails this standard. Around 300 pubs are in this category, comprising most of the former NI pubs with some RI pubs that have been promoted. Three Star pubs should be well worth going out of the way to make a special visit to.

Two Star pubs are of very special historic interest. They are highly important but fall just short of Three Star levels of overall intactness and/or rarity and lost elements, often of layout, are clearly in evidence. Ex-RI pubs close in intactness to NI standard have been placed into this grading and some ex-NI pubs are also now in this category. We consider a detour to check out a Two Star pub is time well spent.

One Star pubs by far the most numerous category, are of special historic interest. They will have either readily identifiable historic layouts or retain rooms or features of special interest, but more significant changes are allowable than for the first two categories. Pubs here are largely from the former Ris.

How You Can Help

PHG keeps gradings under continual review and changes will be made from time to time. Generally, this is because there have been alterations to an interior that impact on the pub’s historic importance. In other cases, members will re-assess current gradings, especially where a pub has not been surveyed for a long time or where a wider range of member views is felt to be beneficial.

We are always keen to hear from visitors to the listed pubs, especially where there have been changes that we might not be aware of. Thank you.