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

Three Star Heritage Pubs

Royal Oak Hotel, Oldham, Greater Manchester

The Royal Oak (above) closed on 24 November after owners Inglenook Inns sold the Grade II-listed pub to an undisclosed party. The short notice of the sale shocked landlord Dave Sweeney, who has run the pub for 15 years, and the local community which is now preparing an Asset of Community Value application. At the time of writing, the Pub Heritage Group does not know who the new owner is or its plans for the pub. More information about the closure can be found on the Oldham Chronicle website here.

Drewe Arms, Drewsteignton, Devon (above)

The community fundraising campaign to buy the Devon pub has succeeded! The share offer closed on 12 November having raised a phenomenal £552,875 from 508 community shareholders. Closed since September 2021, the long-term future of the pub now seems secure. It is hoped that after necessary repair and refurbishment, the pub will reopen in March 2024. More information on the project can be found on the Drewe Arms Community Pub website here.

Berkeley Hotel, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire (above)

The Sam Smith’s owned Berkeley has now reopened. This great 1940s roadhouse has had a chequered recent history, going through a number of short-lived managers before finally closing in April 2019. It is hoped this reopening is on a firmer footing.

Crown, Glossop, Derbyshire (above)

Another Sam Smith’s owned pub, the Crown, has also reopened this month. The Crown closed in August following the retirement of the previous licensee.

Prince Albert, Brighton, East Sussex (above)

The Pub Heritage Group reported in December 2022 that the Prince Albert, a popular music pub, was under threat due to a neighbouring development. The concern was this would potentially result in noise complaints from the new neighbours. Following an energetic campaign by the local community (including support from resident celebrity Fat Boy Slim), the proposed plans have been dismissed by the council. More information can be found on the Morning Advertiser website here.

Two Star Heritage Pubs

Woodies at the Junction Inn, Southampton, Hampshire (above)

The Pub Heritage Group reported in the September bulletin that the Junction was due to be reopened by Woodies Wine Bar. Following a generally positive refurbishment, it has been given a more contemporary look, and the bar back has been restored to its original state, although now painted slate black. However, some of the internal screens have been removed and the frosted windows that proclaimed the bar areas have been replaced with new branded ones. As a result, the pub’s Two Star status may need reassessment.

Mc Mullan’s Central Bar, Cushendall, Northern Ireland (above)

Originally built c.1850, the B1-listed Mc Mullan’s Bar has been upgraded to Two Star status for its spectacular seven-bay bar back which probably dates back to a refit of 1881.

Crown, Snape, Suffolk (above)

The Pub Heritage Group reported in August that the Crown was due to reopen as a pub and Italian restaurant. It is now back trading after a major refurbishment. The pub is Grade II-listed and has a particularly fine snug made of high-backed settles. The Heritage Group would welcome any update following the reopening.

Lion Royal Hotel, Rhayader, Mid Wales (above)

The Lion Royal Hotel now opens the small bar at the rear of the pub, which is unchanged since 1921, every Friday night from 6pm and on Saturday nights if guests are staying overnight. A call in advance to check if the bar is likely to be open on a particular Saturday is recommended. Unfortunately, no real ale is sold at the time of writing.

New Cross, Court Henry, West Wales (above)

The pub is open Sunday lunchtime from 12-3pm, with lunch being sold in the dining room. It is recommended to call in advance to check if the pub is open on Saturdays. It has one tiny bar, barely changed since it opened in 1909, and there is even a framed invitation to the pub’s initial opening on the mantle shelf!

Pen-Y-Gwryd Hotel, Nant Gwyant, North West Wales (above)

This hotel is in the heart of Snowdonia and was used by the team which made the first ascent of Everest. The amazing Austrian alpine-style log-lined Everest Room is unchanged since the 1950s but can now only be found open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays from 11am-11pm. It is worth checking the website here prior to setting off for a visit.

Waterloo Hotel, Newport, Gwent (above)

The Waterloo Hotel is not currently open to the public as it is housing asylum seekers. It is situated opposite the Transporter Bridge, and the new owners of the hotel do plan to reopen the bar with its amazing ceramic and tiled bar counter.

If anyone is aware of a heritage pub with changed opening hours, send the Pub Heritage Group an email and an update notification via WhatPub.

One Star Heritage Pubs

Magnet, York, North Yorkshire (above)

The Magnet, which was the best preserved 1930s Improved Public House in York, has been demolished. The Pub Heritage Group reported in March 2021 on this long-running battle by the community and York CAMRA to save it. The pub has been shut since 2018 and left to deteriorate by the owners, property developer Moorside, which intends to build houses on the site. Following three unsuccessful applications to demolish it, Moorside then lodged an appeal against the last council decision in April this year. That appeal was upheld by the planning inspector who questioned the heritage value of the pub and reasoned that it had now become unviable due to the dilapidated state of the building, despite that being the responsibility of the owners. This leaves many in York, including York Civic Trust and Osbaldwick Parish Council, deeply disappointed by the decision. More information can be found on the York Press website here.

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

The Pub Heritage Group reported in July that the Ring o’ Bells had been sold to a developer and the tenants given notice to quit. An application for a change of use has now been submitted to the council. Paul Ainsworth is liaising with the local CAMRA branch to make an objection.

Other news

Red Lion, Llandovery, West Wales (above)

Closed since 2016, this celebrated time-warp town pub, which was previously included on the National Inventory, is to be auctioned with a guide price of £75,000. There is hope locally that a sympathetic buyer can be found to restore the pub to its former glory. Having been in the Rees family since 1871, the pub closed when landlord John Rees moved into a care home. John sadly died earlier this year. A tribute to John, which is well worth reading to get a flavour of life at “the Red”, was published in the South Wales Guardian here. Details of the auction, which is due to be held online on 10 December, with pictures of the now dilapidated interior, can be found at Seel & Co.

Dudley Heritage Pubs

Milo Boyd of the Mirror has been exploring the heritage pubs of Dudley, West Midlands which has the most Three Star listings per capita in the country. See the article 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 bulletins.

Photos by Michael Slaughter and Michael Schouten.