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.

Three Star Heritage Pubs

Red Lion, Ampney St Peter, Gloucestershire

The Pub Heritage Group is happy to announce that the Red Lion (above) has reopened. This classic rural time warp has been closed since the death of landlord John Barnard in 2014 and has been under serious threat ever since, surviving two applications for a change of use. The group reported in March last year the welcome, but rather unexpected news, that an application for a new licence had been made. Currently it’s open in the evenings from Thursday to Saturday, 5.30-10.30pm. The new licensee, Basia Kondratowicz, is getting to grips with running the pub. Reports indicate that no changes have been made to the pub’s precious interior.

Dolphin, Hackney, Greater London East (above)

The Dolphin has reopened after being shut for two years after its licence was suspended in 2021. Previously well known to be open until 4am, the pub’s opening hours are now restricted to 12.30am. Reports indicate that the interior seems unchanged, but disappointingly still no real ale on offer. More information can be found in the Evening Standard here.

Station Buffet, Bridlington, East Yorkshire (above)

The Pub Heritage Group reported in March this year on the application to refurbish this very rare establishment. Following concerns about the size of two intrusive new openings into the former First-Class Refreshment Room, raised by both the local conservation officer and the group, a revised application has been submitted by Brass Castle brewery. While the proposed width of the openings has been reduced, it is not as much as had been hoped for, and the group’s suggestion of installing doors to better conserve the historic integrity of the old room has not been taken up. The group is hopeful that a resolution can be reached quickly and the pub, which has been closed since 2019, will reopen soon.

Forester, West Ealing, Greater London West (above)

The Forester, built in 1909 and one of the finest Edwardian pubs in England, designed by TH Nowell Parr (who was also responsible for the Angel, Hayes), closed on 18 June. The pub is owned by Fuller’s and, while previously tenanted, the plan is now to reopen it as one of its managed houses.

Several Three Star Heritage Pubs have been recognised in the CAMRA branch awards this year:

Castle, Macclesfield, Cheshire (above)

The Castle has been awarded CAMRA’s Cheshire Pub of the Year title, a remarkable turnaround for a pub that only reopened in 2021 following a six-year closure. The Castle was also awarded a CAMRA Pub Design Award in the Historic England Conservation category in 2022.

Albion Ale House, Conwy, North West Wales (above)

The Albion Ale House, built in 1921, has been awarded Pub of the Year by the Abercolwyn CAMRA branch. Having been saved by a consortium of four local breweries, it remains an essential destination for real ale lovers. More information can be found in the North Wales Pioneer here.

Speedwell Bar, Tayside, Dundee (above)

The Speedwell Bar has been named the Tayside CAMRA Pub of the Year. The pub, known as Mennies after the family that ran it from the 1920s until 1995, was built in 1903 and has a wonderful Edwardian interior.

Cock, Broom, Bedfordshire (above)

The Cock has been awarded East Bedfordshire CAMRA’s Rural Pub of the Year for the second consecutive year. The Cock is one of only seven traditional pubs in the country that does not have a bar counter.

 

Two Star Heritage Pubs

White Lion, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (above)

The pub has now reopened following a refurbishment reported in the April bulletin. Members of the Pub Heritage Group visited the White Lion and reported that the refurbishment has been very respectful of the historic interior and that the pub is clearly in good hands. More information can be found in the Star here.

Junction, Southampton, Hampshire (above)

The Junction, a Victorian pub built in 1876, has now closed. Owned by Greene King, the freehold was listed with Savills late last year and is now shown as being under offer here.

 

One Star Heritage Pubs

Olde Black Bear, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire (above)

The Olde Black Bear has reopened after being closed for a refurbishment and restoration project that has taken six years (although the first three of those appear to have been spent in the planning process!). Reputed to be the oldest inn in Gloucestershire, dating back to 1308, it consists primarily of a 16th-century timber-framed building and is now owned by furniture maker Luke Haines. Typical of many ancient pubs it has many historic features, but the pub interior has been altered and opened up over the years. Of particular interest is the decorative 16th-century leather ceiling in the public bar, which has been restored. More information can be found on So Glos here. Although the article implies that it is reopening later in the year, it is reported as now open on Whatpub.

Crook Inn, Tweedsmuir, Borders (above)

There is no current news on the reopening of the pub which closed in 2006. The Crook Inn was previously included on the National Inventory for its 1930s interior. The pub building has been saved from development due a long-running community campaign. For more information on the project see here. As far as the pub interior is concerned, the plan is to retain the very impressive art deco toilets, but sadly not the eccentrically rustic Willie Wastle’s bar from the same period. The Wee Crook Café is opening over the summer in a separate building from the Crook Inn itself.

Royal Oak, Oldham, Greater Manchester

Owned by Robinsons, the Royal Oak closed in March this year after the licensee quit.

Ship, Tottenham, Greater London North

Closed since February this year, the Ship is owned by Punch Taverns which is  seeking a new tenant.

 

Heritage Pubs Grading

The Pub Heritage Group has received requests for a list of the pubs that have been upgraded or downgraded as part of the recent regrading process. There is now a list of all the heritage pubs arranged showing their previous grading (National Inventory/ Regional Inventory/ Some Regional Interest), and showing their new star grading available here. There is a downloadable report on this page too, under the New Gradings section.

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 Michael Slaughter and Michael Croxford.