Whether it was coincidence or not, I don’t know, but, on Beer Day Britain (15 June), Historic England announced that the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport had agreed to either give a statutory listing to or upgrade an existing listing for eleven pubs which have interiors of historic value. They acknowledged the input from CAMRA’s Pub Heritage Group. It was also mentioned on BBC Radio Four’s Today Programme.
Four London pubs were included in the exercise. The following have been listed for the first time, both at Grade II:
•Admiral Vernon, Dagenham (RM10 9HP)
•Blythe Hill Tavern, Forest Hill (SE23 1JB)
Other changes:
•Prince Alfred, Maida Vale (W9 1EE) – upgraded to Grade II;
•Red Lion, Westminster (SW1P 3AT) – relisted at Grade II.
The list included some famous pubs that many readers will know. Just to take a couple, the Bridge Inn in Topsham, Devon (EX3 0QQ) has been relisted at Grade II with an updated description and Whitelock’s Ale House in Leeds (LS1 6HB) has been upgraded from Grade II to Grade II.
The chief executive of Historic England, Duncan Wilson, said, “At a time when many historic pubs in England are susceptible to change or at risk of closure, we are pleased to celebrate pubs that have kept their remarkable interiors. These rare interiors help tell the fascinating story of pubs over the centuries and how they reflected society.” The quality of the work of CAMRA’s Pub Heritage Group is demonstrated by the respect that Historic England has for it and it is something that CAMRA members can be proud of. It is a contribution to pub preservation that no-one else provides.
LATEST LONDON PUB HERITAGE NEWS
While I am on the subject, here are some further items of news, courtesy of CAMRA’s Pub Heritage Bulletin for May 2022:
•Argyll Arms, Soho (W1F 7TP): the pub has reopened after the refurbishment mentioned in the last edition.
•Audley, Mayfair (W1K 2RX): the pub remains shut (since April 2019) but new lessees have taken over and plan to have a restaurant, rooms and an art gallery on the upper floors with the ground floor remaining as a pub. The work will include the restoration of the pub’s historic features.
•Cauliflower, Ilford (IG1 1TZ): the pub, which is a classic gin palace dating from around 1900, has been closed since a fire in July 2018. It is now reported to be under offer. Fingers crossed.
•Duke’s Head, Putney (SW15 1JN): this Grade II-listed Young’s house has recently seen the removal of the dreaded ‘gastropub special’ grey-green paint from its woodwork, now restored to its natural state.
To see how special these pubs are, go to CAMRA’s Pub Heritage website. This contains full descriptions of these and many other wonderful pubs plus some wonderful photographs, many taken by Michael Slaughter LRPS, a good friend of this magazine.