Pub Heritage Bulletin 238 Dec 2022

Devon, DREWE ARMS, Drewsteighton. Paul Ainsworth reports that the freehold of the Drewe Arms is up for sale. This classic village pub was run by the legendary Mabel Mudge for 75 years until her retirement in 1994. The subsequent sensitive refurbishment of the late 1990s is recognised as a great example of how to update a heritage pub while retaining its historic core. Owners Stonegate have put it on the market for £500,000, see details here: Right Move. We understand that it needs substantial work including a new roof and re-rendering. There have been a number of tenants in the last decade and it is obviously suffering due to a lack of investment. Let’s hope a suitable owner for this much loved heritage pub comes forward soon. The pub is grade II* listed, so should be safe from inappropriate development. View the Pub

Greater Manchester, NURSERY, Stockport. Hydes Brewery head brewer and director Paul Jeffries recently gave a talk to the local CAMRA branch in which he revealed potential future changes at the Nursery, a little altered suburban interwar improved pub, which also has its own bowling green. Paul’s stated position is that while Hyde’s value the heritage status (the pub was listed in 2011) changes will be required in order to secure the pubs viability. Failing that closure would be considered. No planning application has yet been made and the branch will be keeping a close eye on developments. Thanks to Paul Mudge and John Clarke for this information.
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West Yorkshire, OLD WHITE BEARE, Norwood Green. The grade II listed Old White Beare has re-opened following an extensive £500,000 refurbishment. Andrew Davison has visited the pub and reports that the snug, which is the feature of most interest here and recognised as one of the best old pub rooms in the country, has thankfully been left essentially untouched.
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Tyne & Wear, STAGS HEAD, South Shields. The Stags Head, a Victorian pub on a narrow site, which has the unusual feature of having a bar on ground floor and another on the first floor, closed on the 16th December in what appears to be a tenant eviction by Stonegate. Thanks to Ian Monteith-Preston, pub protection office for Tyne & Wear CAMRA, for alerting us. We assume Stonegate will be seeking a new tenant.
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Lancashire, VICTORIA, Great Harwood. Built in 1905 The Victoria is valued for its intact Edwardian interior, and was included in Historic England’s listing of historic pub interiors, announced this year in June. We hear that the pub is now closed and that the owner is seeking a new tenant.
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East Sussex, PRINCE ALBERT, Brighton. The Prince Albert is well known as a music venue and we hear worrying news that plans have been submitted to develop the neighbouring property to retail and Air B&B. One of the B&B rooms actually backs on to the venue’s stage! If approved there is nothing to stop the developer converting the whole property to residential. The very real concern is that the pub will then face noise abatement issues threatening its viability, as the case with many music venues subject to inappropriate neighbour development in recent years. See: The Argus. With support from the Music Venues Alliance and Brighton & South Downs CAMRA it is reported that 1,000 objections have been lodged on the council website. Let’s hope that the community’s concerns are listened to. Thanks to Richard Williams for this.
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East Sussex, COLONNADE BAR, Brighton. Richard Williams also reports that the tenants of the Colonnade Bar, which is an integral part of the Brighton Theatre Royal, have been given notice that the bar will close in June 2023. This is part of a multi million pound redevelopment of the theatre. The theatre state that this is a temporary measure and that it will re-open. See: Brighton & Hove News.
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Staffordshire, CRICKETERS ARMS, May Bank. Andy Parkin, chair of CAMRA Potteries branch, reports the unwelcome news that the panelled lounge of the pub has been ripped out following a recent refurbishment. The Cricketers is included on the inventory primarily for its 1935 refurbishment, of which the panelled rear lounge was the star attraction. A re-assessment of its inventory status will be required.
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Other Items of Interest
Norfolk, IRON DUKE, Great Yarmouth. We have reported previously on the fight to save the great art deco pub, The Iron Duke, a Lacons brewery flagship pub that first opened in 1948 and was designed by Arthur Ecclestone. Following years of neglect by the previous owners, whose intention was to demolish, the pub was bought by the Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust in 2020, who have now unveiled plans to re-open as a burger restaurant. See: Great Yarmouth Mercury. Although it is unclear presently exactly what that entails and is described as being ‘Not just a burger bar, it will be a leisure complex with something for everyone’ This is much to the disappointment of the Friends of The Iron Duke, who have campaigned for years to save it and re-open the venue as a pub. The Friends, who were instrumental in getting the pub listed in 2017, have constantly queried the lack of consultation and transparency surrounding the project. See: Whats Brewing.

Private Eye: Nooks & Corners. Good to see that Private Eye has reported on the recent going-ons at both the New Beehive, Bradford and Olde White Harte, Hull in their architectural column, Nooks & Corners (Issue 5871) following contact by PHG. Let’s hope for their continued interest.

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

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Tom Chapman