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

Brechin’s, Glasgow, Greater Glasgow & Clyde Valley

Brechin’s (main image above) has been upgraded to Three Star status. It has a virtually intact interior from the 1960s. The scheme, with its extensive ply panelling, ply and formica island bar plus leatherette seating is redolent of the period and is, as such, a very rare survival. The sitting room created by low partitions is an unusual and very distinctive feature. As well as the public bar downstairs, there is an equally intact function room on the first floor. It is certainly in the same league as the renowned Laurieston Bar not far away.

Station Buffet, Bridlington, East Yorkshire (above)

Brass Castle brewery, which had submitted a well-considered planning application to refurbish and reopen the Station Buffet – most recently covered in the June bulletin – has now withdrawn from the project for business reasons. Considering all the work that went into the planning proposal, this is a very disappointing and concerning turn of events. The Pub Heritage Group hopes an alternative operator will come forward soon. The lease for this extremely rare survival is now back on the market. For more information, see Lambert Smith Hampton here.

Brown Jug, Broadstairs, Kent (above)

A planning application for a change of use to residential has been lodged with Thanet District Council and is awaiting decision from the council. The pub closed in 2019, subsequently becoming a Grade II-listed building. The group reported in January 2022 that the pub had been bought by the artist Tracey Emin, who at the time said she had no intention of reopening it. Despite an objection by the local CAMRA branch, there appears to be no great clamour locally to save it, leaving the group to fear the worst.

King’s Head, Laxfield, Suffolk (above)

One of only six traditional pubs remaining without a bar counter, it is owned by the Low House CIC – a community interest company – formed by a small group of locals who bought it in 2018 to save it from development. Since 2022, the CIC has leased the King’s Head to Hare Hospitality to run the pub business. The CIC is now seeking to raise money through a share issue to pay off loans taken out for the purchase, set up a maintenance fund and fulfil its objective to further involve the community. For more information, view the East Anglian Times here.

Rose & Crown, Trowley Bottom, Hertfordshire (above)

Planning permission was granted in December 2022 to erect a modest two-storey extension in order to provide accommodation for a manager to run the pub. The pub consists of two small bar areas fitted out in the 1950s or 60s and has survived due to long-serving landlady Judy Wilding who died in 2016 aged 95. The current owner has been suffering health problems and the new extension will enable them to continue living there as well as providing accommodation for a manager. It is understood the works will not affect the bar areas.

Forester, West Ealing, Greater London West (above)

The Forester has now reopened as a Fuller’s managed pub following a recent refurbishment. More details can be found on the pub’s new website here.

Two Star Heritage Pubs

Gatehouse, Norwich, Norfolk (above)

The Gatehouse was built in 1934 by Norwich brewer Morgans as an improved public house. It was listed as Grade II in 2015 by Historic England, one of only 21 pubs listed at the time, recognising the heritage value of public houses of the period. The pub is now shut after the current owner died in March of this year. Norwich & District CAMRA branch is concerned about the pub’s future and is looking into reinstating its now lapsed Asset of Community Value status.

One Star Heritage Pubs

Fishmongers Tavern, Sheringham, Norfolk (above)

It was reported in May that the Fishmongers Tavern (formerly the Dunstable Arms) had reopened. Sadly, the 1930s interior has been completely ripped out and replaced. Consequently, it has been removed from the inventory.

Ring o’Bells, Lower Stretton, Cheshire (above)

The Ring o’Bells has been sold by Red Oak Taverns to a property developer, with the buyer wishing to strip the pub and remove the current tenants by the end of August. Paul Ainsworth is liaising with the North Cheshire CAMRA branch.

Chetwode Arms, Lower Whitley, Cheshire (above)

Closed since August 2022, The Chetwode Arms is up for sale for £595,000 with Matthew Philips. The site includes a bowling green, large car park and a field to the rear. More information can be found at Matthew Philips Surveyors here.

Other news

Montreal Arms, Brighton

While the pub is not on the inventory, owner Charlie Southall has been ordered by the planning inspector to replace the pub’s historic tiling which was removed illegally. For more information, see Brighton and Hove News here.

Duke of York, Elton

Following the sad news of the passing of landlady Mary Elliot, the group has been sent a short filmed interview with Mary from 2005, which is available to watch on YouTube here.

St Albans Pub Heritage Tour

On Saturday 30 September, Paul Ainsworth will be conducting a tour of St Albans pubs as part of the CAMRA St Albans Beer Festival. Tickets are available here.

Sheffield Pub Heritage Walk

Dave Pickersgill will be leading a short walking tour around heritage pubs in Sheffield as part of Heritage Open Days 2023 on Thursday 14 and Sunday 17 September. Tickets and further information can be found here.
Dave will also be giving a talk on the city’s pub heritage as part of Sheffield Steel City Beer Festival on Friday 20 October. Tickets and details can be found here.

If you have 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 them.

Photos by Michael Slaughter.