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

Black Lion, Kilburn, Greater London North West

The Black Lion (main image above by Tolga Yilnaz) has won the Historic England Award for Conservation as part of CAMRA’s Pub Design Awards. The Black Lion is a Grade II*-listed pub and was built in 1898, designed by the architect RA Lewcock. Of particular note are the wonderful copper relief panels depicting 18th-century folk at leisure, which was designed by FA Callcott, who also worked on the magnificent Black Friar. London Village Pubs took on the lease of the Black Lion in 2022 and, as well as undertaking general refurbishments and removal of modern additions, it restored the ornate plaster ceiling which had been damaged by a water leak two years previously. For the full list of Pub Design Award winners and up to date photos, visit CAMRA’s website here.

Spread Eagle, Wandsworth, Greater London South West (above)

In the same Historic England Award for Conservation category, Young’s flagship pub the Spread Eagle has been highly commended. The Spread Eagle reopened in March 2022 following a major refurbishment. Rebuilt in 1898 in a lavish Flemish renaissance style, the rich interior gives a good idea of what a classy later Victorian pub looked like with a truly impressive display of etched glass and woodwork.

Drewe Arms, Drewsteignton, Devon (above)

The Pub Heritage Group reported last month on the community buyout of the Devon village pub. The share offer went live on 30 September via the Crowdfunder platform and has already had a positive response, raising nearly £230,000 in four days, with a target of £600,000. The offer is open until 29 October. For more information and a link to the current Crowdfunder campaign can be found on the Drewe Arms Community Pub website here.

Crown & Anchor, Llanidloes, Mid Wales (above)

The closure of this classic town pub was reported by the group in November last year. There is now the promising news that locals have formed the Crown and Anchor Restoration Project and are looking into options for community ownership. For more information about the community plan, visit the Powys County Times website here.

Two Star Heritage Pubs

Railway Hotel, Faversham, Kent (above)

The Railway Hotel has reopened under new management following a refurbishment. Located opposite the railway station, the main bar building was designed in 1898 for Shepherd Neame. It retains the original curved bar and bar back with screen partitions that were partially restored in 2007 (it had been opened up in 1966), allowing the original layout to still be appreciated. More information about the refurbishment can be found on the Morning Advertiser website here.

Victoria Hotel, Cleveleys, Lancashire (above)

This massive inter-war pub, with an interior designed in a baronial style, has closed. It is understood that the owner, Samuel Smith, is currently looking for new management, so it is hoped that the pub will reopen soon.

Stamford & Warrington, Coalville, Leicestershire (above) 

The Pub Heritage Group is sad to announce that landlord Dave Stanton died in June, after 36 years of running the pub. The Stamford & Warrington is a remarkable surviving example of how pubs were refitted in a basic style in the late 1950s/early 1960s. The pub is now shut and is facing an uncertain future. Owner Admiral Taverns said: “We are assessing all our options regarding the future of this site.”

Junction, Southampton, Hampshire (above) 

The closure of this Greene King pub was reported by the Pub Heritage Group in June. The pub has now been taken on by Woodies Wine Bar and is due to reopen on 1 November following a refurbishment. The Junction is a Grade II-listed pub and was built in 1876. It retains many Victorian and early 20th-century features. More information can be found on the Southern Daily Echo website here.

Wharf, Hinckley, Leicestershire (above)

The Wharf is an unspoilt inter-war Tudor-style pub owned by Marston’s. The council, in association with the Hinckley & Bosworth CAMRA branch, has tried to get the pub listed to protect it. Disappointingly, the response has been that the pub did not qualify because the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) has to prioritise designation resources. It added the pub is not under threat, a strategic priority or possesses “evident significance”. The Pub Heritage Group disagrees as so few pubs from this period remain intact. The DCMS said that if the pub is subject to an immediate threat in the future a new application can be made. It remains deeply concerning that underfunding at both national and local government level continues to place our heritage at risk.

One Star Heritage Pubs

Big Gun Hotel, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (above)

The Big Gun Hotel has now closed. It was sold in 2021 to a property developer with plans to convert the building to residential upstairs and convert the ground floor to a pizza takeaway. Planning permission will be required, and an application not yet been lodged. Sheffield CAMRA is monitoring the situation. More news about the closure can be found on the BBC News website here.

George, Fitzrovia, Greater London Central (above)

The George has been highly commended in the Refurbishment category of CAMRA’s Pub Design Awards following an intensive and high-quality refurbishment that conserved the historic features. 

 

Other news

Autumn BEER 

In this edition, Paul Ainsworth looked at eight heritage pubs that have been upgraded to Three Star status as part of the regrading exercise. A round-up of heritage pub news is also included in the What’s Brewing section of the magazine. CAMRA members can log in to read BEER online here.

Real Heritage Pubs online guides 

These are available to download from the Pub Heritage website. They are automatically updated in line with the entries on the website and are not simply a downloadable copy of the printed guides. Download a guide here.

If you have news for the 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 Tolga Yilnaz, Michael Slaughter and Geoff Brandwood.