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

Three Star Heritage Pubs

Speedwell Bar, Dundee, Tayside

The Speedwell Bar (above) is, for a second consecutive year, both Tayside CAMRA’s Pub of the Year and the Dundee City Pub of the Year. The Speedwell has a lovely Edwardian interior and is known as Mennie’s after the family that kept it from the 1920s until 1995.

New Beehive, Bradford, West Yorkshire (above)

The Pub Heritage Group reported on the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council’s decision to approve planning permission to convert the New Beehive pub in the March bulletin. CAMRA’s national planning policy advisor Paul Ainsworth wrote to the council objecting to and questioning the legality of the decision as it failed to take account of the National Planning Policy Framework’s policy on retaining community facilities. The council has been asked to revoke the planning permission. If this is not forthcoming, then the matter will be taken to judicial review where, in light of recent precedents, the group is confident of a successful outcome. More information can be found on the Telegraph & Argus website here.

Paul Pry, Worcester, Worcestershire (above)

It is with great sadness that the Pub Heritage Group must announce the passing of landlord Alex Pope, who died suddenly in January at the age of 39. The group had previously reported in July 2022 that the Pope family had bought the freehold of the pub, which remains open.

Two Star Heritage Pubs

Fellowship Inn, Catford, Greater London South East (above)

The Fellowship Inn reopened on 23 April after closing in October 2023. This was following an ambitious redevelopment by owners Phoenix Housing Association that was completed a year earlier. Built in 1923-4, it is one of London’s largest pubs and a great example of an improved public house with separate public and saloon bars, off sales (now café), function room and even a cinema.

Nova Scotia, Bristol, Gloucestershire & Bristol (above)

This wonderfully atmospheric harbourside pub will close later this month. The Pub Heritage Group understands that the current licensee’s lease is not being renewed by Heineken’s Star Pubs & Bars – which is taking it into its managed portfolio. Fortunately, the pub is Grade II listed, so it is hoped there will not be any changes to the interior. The group would welcome any further information.

Gatehouse, Norwich, Norfolk (above)

This attractive improved public house, which was built in 1934, has been shut since April 2023 following the death of the landlord. The Pub Heritage Group now hears that its Asset of Community Value (ACV) status has been reinstated and a meeting was recently held to look into future community ownership when it comes on the market.

Pretty Bricks, Walsall, West Midlands (above)

Changes to the pub’s interior will mean that the Pub Heritage Group will have to reassess the Pretty Bricks, as part of the screen attached to the bar has been removed to make room for new glass cleaning facilities. The pub, which is not listed, was built in 1840 with much of the interior dating from a remodelling in 1924. The pub’s name is due to its attractive glazed brick frontage.

One Star Heritage Pubs

Douglas Arms Hotel, Banchory, Aberdeen & Grampian (above)

The Pub Heritage Group reported on the closure of the Douglas Arms in March 2023 when it was put up for sale. It has now reopened and is being run by the owners of the nearby Burnett Arms Hotel. The public bar consists of a classic Scottish long bar counter dating to a refitting of 1900.

Olde Reine Deer Inn, Banbury, Oxfordshire (above)

The inventory status of the Olde Reine Deer Inn has been degraded from Two Star to One as the only room of significant historical importance, the Globe Room, is no longer in everyday public use and access has to be specially requested. The pub itself does contain historic features, but after many alterations, a One Star status was deemed a more appropriate grading.

The following pubs have been upgraded to One Star status:

Old Swan, Atherstone, Warwickshire (above)

Occupying an attractive 16th-century timber-framed building, The Old Swan’s interior has remained essentially unchanged since a comprehensive refit of 1962, which created the current layout of the public bar at the front, lounge and snug.

Denvir’s Hotel, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland (above)

The pub has been included on the inventory for its little altered, small bar which is thought to be Victorian and consists of a white painted bar counter and old back bar with mirrored panels.

Unicorn, Canterbury, Kent (above)

The Unicorn has been a licensed premises since 1664. The interior is included for its discernible multi-room layout and fittings from 1930s and post war modernisations. In particular, the central bar has an attractive sloped ribbed front and there is bench seating and panelling from the same period.

Due to changes, the following pubs that were previously all One Star status, have been removed from the Inventory:

• Cross Guns, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
• Robert Peel, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
• Gamecock, Birchmoor, Warwickshire
• Cricketers Arms, Maybank, Staffordshire.

Other news

Vulcan, Cardiff, Wales

The Pub Heritage Group reported on the rebuilding of this former Regional Inventory pub at St Fagan’s National Museum in February. It has now been confirmed that it will reopen on 11 May. More information about the pub’s reopening can be found on the Amgueddfa Cymru website here.

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, Derek Gibson and Michael Schouten