New Grading System for Real Heritage Pubs
As you may be aware, Pub Heritage Group has adopted a revised method for grading pubs identified as Real Heritage Pubs, moving away from the former National Inventory, Regional Inventory and Some Regional Interest categories to a star rating system within a single National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors.
Three Star pubs are those of exceptional national historic importance. They will have stayed wholly or largely intact in terms of layout and fittings for the last 50 years or retain rooms or features that are truly rare or exceptional (or display a combination of the two). Around 300 pubs are in this category, comprising most of the former NI pubs and some RI pubs that have been promoted.
Two Star pubs are of outstanding national historic interest. They have interiors where the intactness, rarity and/or exceptional features are somewhat lower than for Three Star. We've placed in this category RI pubs close in intactness terms to former NI pubs whilst some ex-NI pubs have also been located here.
One Star pubs are of special national historic interest. They 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. These pubs are largely ex-RI though the best of the SRI pubs are also included.
The new grading system is now live on the website.
Following recent visits by members of the Pub Heritage Group there have been changes to the grading of the following London pubs:
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Greater London West, DOVE, Hammersmith. Upgraded to Three Star. The tiny snug is claimed by the Guinness Book of World Records to be the smallest public bar in Britain. The snug and front left hand rooms have barely changed in 100 years.
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Greater London South West, BUNCH OF GRAPES, Knightsbridge. Upgraded to Three Star. Built in 1844 the Bunch of Grapes retains much of a late Victorian re-fitting, of particular note are the rare partitions and snob screens, back painted mirrors and the possibly inter-war bar fittings.
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Greater London South West, FEELEYS, Clapham. Upgraded to Three Star. A rare survival of a virtually intact three-room pub layout from 1936 when it was rebuilt by Young’s brewery.
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Greater London South West, PARK TAVERN, Wandsworth. Upgraded to Two Star. Built in 1902 and included for the amount of fittings retained from a 1926 refit including an impressive inglenook fireplace.
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Greater London North, WINCHESTER, Highgate. Downgraded to Two Star. The much-celebrated reopening of the Winchester after years of campaigning by the community was reported in the October bulletin. A number of changes to the interior were noted to have taken place including the replacement of the Victorian bar counter with a modern one and the removal of fittings from the impressive publican’s office which has been repurposed as a snug.
Other News:
Two Star Heritage Pubs
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Norfolk, GREEN DRAGON, Wymondham. Good news that the Green Dragon, which is located in a fifteenth century timber framed building, has reopened after experienced operators Victoria and Graeme Macdonald, who run two other pubs locally, have leased the pub from Admiral Taverns. See:
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Suffolk, CROWN, Snape. The Crown, a village pub dating back to the 16th Century features a wonderful snug formed by high back settles thought to be at least 200 years old. The local press reported in April that it was boarded up and that the tenant had quit. The pub is owned by Adnams and they are actively seeking a new tenant.
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South Yorkshire, WHITE LION, Sheffield. The White Lion, owned by Star Pubs & Bars, is included on the inventory mainly for the early 20th Century remodelling by Sheffield brewers Duncan Gilmore & Co. It is currently closed for a refurbishment. Reassuringly, new tenant Daniel Price has contacted the Pub Heritage Group for advice. It was intended to reopen in May, but it seems there is more to do than originally anticipated. We will keep you updated.
One Star Heritage Pubs
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Nottinghamshire, LORD NELSON, Nottingham. The Lord Nelson, located in the Nottingham suburb of Sneinton, is an old cottage pub formed from farm workers cottages, with the fittings mainly from a 1950’s refurbishment. Roy Kirby brings us the good news that it has now reopened following its closure last year.
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West Midlands, PRINCE OF WALES, Birmingham. As reported in last month’s bulletin, The Prince of Wales has now reopened following a £400,000 refurbishment. Initial photos indicate that little has changed to the interior, although the entrance lobby has been removed. See:
Other Items of Interest
Sheffield Heritage Pubs. The 5th Edition of Sheffield’s Real Heritage Pubs and an accompanying walking map are now available for free download here: Sheffield CAMRA.
If you have any news on our Heritage Pubs please send updates to: info@pubheritage.camra.org.uk .
Please feel free to forward this bulletin to your friends who are also interested in visiting pubs like these - if they wish to receive future bulletins direct all they have to do is sign up by sending an email to bulletin@pubheritage.camra.org.uk with the word “subscribe” as the subject or “unsubscribe” if you wish to stop receiving bulletins.
Tom Chapman
