CAMRA and local authorities have joined forces in the wake of the Crooked House fire and demolition to ensure at risk pubs of value are properly protected.

The sloping pub in Himley, near Dudley, was destroyed in an arson attack and demolished without full permission.

CAMRA and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), a group of local councils, have drawn up a target list of heritage pubs.

Pub lovers are being encouraged to help protect their local as part of a new initiative to stop historic pubs being lost for good.

The WMCA and CAMRA target list plus recommendations from the public will be examined individually to see if and how they can be protected.

One of the pubs identified includes the New Inn, in Erdington, where regulars are campaigning to save the pub from property developers. Options include heritage or Asset of Community Value listings plus community ownership.

West Midlands mayor and WMCA chair Andy Street said: “Protecting our pubs isn't just about preserving bricks and mortar; it's about safeguarding the heart and soul of our communities. 

“That’s why we’ve teamed up with CAMRA to take action in the wake of the Crooked House case to ensure we do not see a repeat of a beloved pub being put at risk of being consigned to history.

“We believe we have already identified some of the most at-risk historic pubs in the region, but we need people to make their recommendations to ensure we are helping to protect the right venues.”

CAMRA pub and club campaigns director Gary Timmins said: “The complete destruction of the iconic Crooked House pub has brought a nationwide scandal to the forefront of people’s minds.

“Developers continue to flout the rules with pubs routinely converted or demolished without permissions in place, denying people the chance to save their local. 

“Community assets need support if they are to survive and thrive against a backdrop of rising costs. 

“CAMRA believes it is vital that venues are marketed as going concerns and everything possible is done to secure their future as community pubs.

“We are also campaigning to give councils more powers to save and reinstate pubs after the Crooked House incident and call on the government to use the Autumn Budget statement to extend vital help with business rates.”

As well as reviewing historic sites, the WMCA and CAMRA’s review also explores how local plans can be better used to protect pubs, as well as recommending an extension to the hospitality discount rate.

Pubs currently benefit from a 75 per cent discount on their business rate bills, capped at £110,000, but this is due to end in March 2024.

WMCA’s night-time economy advisor Alex Claridge said: “The entirely justified reaction of both local people and those across the country and the world to the loss of the Crooked House is testament to the deep cultural and emotional relevance of pubs and hospitality to so very many of us.  

“While we will continue to apply pressure where we can to ensure a happy ending for the Crooked House, I’m committed to using that passion, energy and attention to extend the legacy of the Crooked House far and wide starting with protecting unique pubs all over the region.”

“Whether it’s demolition, unscrupulous development, predatory energy companies or continued neglect at a policy level, these are perilous times indeed for heritage pubs.”

There are two forms of listings which are designed to provide pub protection status – one is under Historic England, the agency that looks after the country’s historic environment, and the other is the Assets of Community Value listing.

Listings managed by Historic England are protected in legislation. Demolition or alteration of listed buildings without planning permission is subject to a two-year prison sentence or unlimited fine.

There are 1,200 pubs in the WMCA area, yet only 133 of them are on Historic England listings.

Only three pubs in the WMCA area are listed on the Asset of Community Value register – with none in Birmingham, Dudley, Solihull, or Wolverhampton. 

Since April 2021, CAMRA has identified 81 pub closures in the West Midlands. In the first six months of 2023, CAMRA also recorded 21 pubs in England which have been demolished without planning permission.

Dudley North MP Marco Longhi is campaigning for a new law to better protect heritage venues. He described the WMCA and CAMRA’s campaign as a “great idea”. 

He said: “The events surrounding the Crooked House have shone a light on our current frameworks and it is clear that change is necessary. 

“I have already met with senior government ministers, including Lucy Frazer MP with whom I discussed the heritage value of places like the Crooked House and methods to better protect them.

“I shared with her my thoughts on local registers being compulsory-held, and periodically reviewed, by local authorities with a risk rating being attached to them as well as the current methods such as asset of community value and Heritage England listings.

“I am delighted that mayor Andy Street is lending his support to bring about change and I very much look forward to working with him and his team. This campaign is a great idea, and I would like to engineer a more fit-for-purpose listing system with wider protections that go beyond listings.”

As part of the List Your Local campaign, residents are being encouraged to submit the pubs they believe are of historical significance to the region. This can be done through the WMCA’s website: https://www.wmca.org.uk/what-we-do/protecting-our-pubs/

Pictured: Crooked House before demolition