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 webpage here.
Three Star Heritage Pubs
Bartons Arms, Birmingham, West Midlands
The Bartons Arms (pictured above) is one of the country’s most impressive pubs from the late-Victorian period and there was concern for its future when the previous tenant quit due to spiralling costs in January. Thankfully, owner Oakham Ales has found a new tenant to take it on and the pub reopened on 31 August. Designed by architects James & Lister Lea for Mitchell & Butlers, the Bartons Arms originally opened in 1900. Find more information about the pub’s reopening on Birmingham Mail news website here.
Woodman, Birmingham, West Midlands (above)
The Pub Heritage Group last reported on the closure of the Woodman in October 2023. The pub is scheduled to reopen on 13 September, following a restoration project by Union Inns which promises to return it to its former Victorian splendour. Designed by James & Lister Lea, the Woodman was completed in 1898 and contains a wonderful original bar and bar back, and a fantastic tiled smoke room.
Alexandra, Stockport, Greater Manchester (above)
The Alexandra has now reopened following a refurbishment. The pub, built in 1911, has a largely intact five-room layout with particularly fine art nouveau tile work in the lobby bar, and was Grade II listed in 1994 following a pilot study of Manchester pubs by CAMRA. Owner Robinsons brewery’s refurbishment has focused on the pub’s heritage and has included the removal of the false ceiling in the bar and restoration of the original black-and-white tiled floor in the toilets. More information about the pub’s reopening can be found on the I Love Manchester website here.
Springfield Hotel, Wigan, Greater Manchester (above)
An opulent brick and terracotta pub built in 1903; the Springfield closed in July with the leasehold now up for sale by auction with a guide of £435,000. A planning application has also been submitted for a change of use to turn the upper floors into a hotel with the ground floor remaining as a public house. The Pub Heritage Group would welcome any further updates. More information about the sale can be found on the Addland website here.
CAMRA has named the top 17 pubs in the UK, announcing the national and regional finalists in the annual Pub of the Year competition, which includes three National Inventory pubs:
Bell Inn, Aldworth, Berkshire - Central Southern winner (above)
The Bell has remained in the hands of the Hunt/Macaulay family since the 18th century and is one of the finest traditional village pubs in the country. The Bell has been the winner of numerous CAMRA awards over the years, including the UK National Pub of the Year in 1990 and 2019.
Black Horse, Preston, Lancashire - West Pennines winner (above)
Built in 1898 with a fabulous Victorian interior, the Black Horse features one of only 14 semicircular ceramic bars remaining in the UK. The Black Horse has recently received many CAMRA accolades including the Central Lancashire branch Pub of the Year title for two consecutive years.
Cresselly Arms, Cresswell Quay, West Wales – Wales winner (above)
This delightful riverside pub has been run as a pub since 1880 and retains a simple unspoilt interior dating from the Victorian period. It has been going from strength to strength in recent years under the management of landlord Steve Adams.
Two Star Heritage Pubs
Turks Head, Retford, Nottinghamshire (above)
The Turks Head has been elevated from One to Two Star status due to the many fittings dating back to the 1930s, even with the original three-room layout having been opened up. An application has been submitted to Historic England to list the pub.
One Star Heritage Pubs
Swan, Hammersmith, Greater London West (above)
The Swan, run by Nicholsons, has been upgraded to One Star status. Built in 1901, this grand Victorian pub has a spectacular exterior. While the interior has undergone some changes, it retains many original features including flamboyant arches, a double staircase, stained glass windows and an elaborate moulded ceiling. The smaller rear room is of particular note, containing a large inglenook fireplace and good quality curved panelling.
Bush, Worcester, Worcestershire (above)
The Bush has reopened after being closed for over five years. The star feature of the pub is the wonderfully ornate L-shaped bar back.
Roundhouse, Dagenham, Greater London East (above)
The main bar areas of this imposing pub are closed for a refurbishment with the work due to be completed in October. Built in 1936, the Roundhouse is a classic example of a large interwar pub. It was built to serve the nearby Beacontree housing estate and originally had a tearoom and an indoor bowling green. The pub’s unusual design is the work of specialist pub designer Alfred W Blomfield. While most of the fittings are replacements, you still get a good sense of the original spaces. The pub is not listed, and any updates following the reopening would be welcomed by the Pub Heritage Group.
Roseland Inn, Philleigh, Cornwall (above)
The Roseland Inn, located on the Roseland peninsula, has reopened this summer after being sold by Punch Taverns. The pub dates back to the 16th century and has a three-room layout in a rustic style that has changed little since the 1950s.
Other news
Pub Design Awards
Held in conjunction with Historic England, the annual awards are now open for the 2025 competition. Pubs can be entered into five categories: New Build, Community Local, Historic England Conservation, Conversion to Pub Use and Refurbishment, with submissions closing 17 November. For more information about the Pub Design Awards, visit the CAMRA website here.
Heritage Award
The inaugural Heritage Award, as a category to CAMRA’s Pub Saving Award, is also open for nominations with the closing date of 12 November. The Heritage Award celebrates the successful revitalisation of a heritage pub that is included on the National Inventory at Three, Two or One Star status. For more information about the Heritage Award, visit the CAMRA website here.
St Albans Heritage Pub Tour
As part of the St Albans Beer and Cider Festival, CAMRA’s national planning policy adviser Paul Ainsworth will once again be leading a pub history tour of the town on 28 September. Tickets for the tour can be booked here.
Sheffield Pub Heritage Walk
Dave Pickersgill is leading a new Sheffield pub heritage walk as part of the Steel City 48 Beer and Cider Festival this October. The guided walk takes place on 17 October and focuses on the pubs and fascinating history of the Little Chicago area. Tickets can be purchased here. There is also a pub heritage talk about the Little Chicago area on 18 October. Tickets for that talk can be found here.
An accompanying A5 booklet will be available at the festival and from local retail outlets soon, with further booklets planned for 2025 and 2026. There are now less than 100 copies of the book, Sheffield's Real Heritage Pubs left. For retail enquiries or copies by post, please contact pubheritage@sheffield.camra.org.uk
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 and Michael Schouten
