CAMRA’s Pub Heritage Group shares news and updates about pubs with historically significant interiors across the country. For further news see the Pub Heritage website here.

New grading system for Real Heritage Pubs

The Pub Heritage Group has adopted a revised method for grading buildings identified as Real Heritage Pubs. It has moved away from the former National Inventory (NI), Regional Inventory (RI) and Some Regional Interest (SRI) 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 of most of the former NI and some of the RI pubs which have been promoted.

Two Star pubs are of outstanding national historic interest. They have interiors where the intactness, rarity or exceptional features are somewhat lower than the Three Star pubs. RI pubs close to the intactness of former NI and some ex-NI pubs are in this category.

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 the first two categories. These are largely ex-RI, though the best of the SRI pubs are also included.

The new grading system is now live on the Pub Heritage website here.

Following recent visits by members of the Pub Heritage Group, there have been changes to the grading of the following London pubs:

Park Tavern, Wandsworth, Greater London South West

Built in 1902, the Park Tavern (main image above) has been upgraded to Two Star for the number of fittings retained from a 1926 refit, including an impressive inglenook fireplace.

Dove, Hammersmith, Greater London West (above)

The snug and front left-hand rooms have barely changed in 100 years, seeing the Dove being upgraded to Three Star. The tiny snug is claimed by the Guinness Book of World Records to be the smallest public bar in Britain.

Bunch of Grapes, Knightsbridge, Greater London South West (above)

Built in 1844, the Bunch of Grapes retains much of a late Victorian refitting, including rare partitions and snob screens, back painted mirrors and possible inter-war bar fittings. The pub has been upgraded to Three Star.

Feeleys, Clapham, Greater London South West (above)

Upgraded to Three Star, the pub is a rare example of a virtually intact three-room pub layout from 1936, when it was rebuilt by Young’s brewery.

Winchester, Highgate, Greater London North (above)

The much-celebrated reopening of the Winchester after years of campaigning by the community was reported in the October bulletin. Several 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. As a result, the pub has been downgraded to Two Star.

Two Star Heritage Pubs

Green Dragon, Wymondham, Norfolk (above)

Having previously reported the closure of the Green Dragon in the February bulletin, the 15th-century timber-framed building has reopened after experienced operators Victoria and Graeme Macdonald, who run two other pubs locally, have leased it from Admiral Taverns. For more information, see: Wymondham & Attleborough Mercury.

Crown, Snape, Suffolk (above)

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 it is seeking a new tenant.

White Lion, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (above)

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.

One Star Heritage Pubs

Lord Nelson, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (above)

The Lord Nelson, the Nottingham suburb of Sneinton, is an old cottage pub formed from farm workers cottages, with the fittings mainly from a 1950s refurbishment. The pub has now reopened following its closure last year.

Prince of Wales, Birmingham, West Midlands (above)

As reported in the March bulletin, the Prince of Wales has reopened following a £400,000 refurbishment. Initial photos indicate that little has changed to the interior, although the entrance lobby has been removed. See photos in the Morning Advertiser.

Sheffield Heritage Pubs

The 5th edition of Sheffield’s Real Heritage Pubs and an accompanying walking map are now available for free download here.
 
If you have any news for CAMRA’s Heritage Pubs team, send to: info@pubheritage.camra.org.uk. If you wish to receive the bulletins directly, 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.

Photos by Geoff Brandwood, Michael Croxford, Michael Slaughter and Kim Rennie.