Anyone following the story of the fire and almost immediate demolition of 'Britain's wonkiest pub'?

[SirChenjins]

It's looking a bit suspicious to say the least! Such a shame to see a lovely old building reduced to a pile of bricks.

Statement from South Staffordshire council:

“Our officers carried out a site visit to the site yesterday (August 7th), prior to the demolition of the building.

Officers agreed a programme of works with the landowner’s representative to ensure the safety of the building and the wider site.

“The agreed course of action included the removal of three elements of the first-floor front elevation only. This was only to avoid the weak parts of the structure from falling.

At no point did the council agree the demolition of the whole structure nor was this deemed necessary."

It wasn't in a state of disrepair until these criminals got it, it had been used as a pub until it's very recent closure then sale.

So the scummy idiots rushed the demolition before it could be listed?

This type of coincidence seems typical to pubs. Several where I live have had mysterious fires and/or "accidental" demolitions.

Pubs sit in a lot of land, not just their footprint but usually a garden and car park, often outbuildings. Ripe for development of nasty little houses and a quick profit.

The owners should be made to reconstruct brick by brick.

It would be delightful if they had to rebuild it.
It doesn't return the history. They are utter wankers for the arson attack and demolition (and rather stupid).
But they don't deserve to be able to use the land for their benefit after this crappy stunt.

Yes, I’m from Scotland but it’s been all over the BBC online so hard to miss it. I read that the story has been picked up in Australia too - I think a lot of people are furious about the destruction of a much loved historical building by a couple of lowlifes and their scummy mates. Digger firm owner is also now in the news - ‘I know nuffink, guv’nor’ is about the extent of his response.

No respect for history, these insurance jobs traditionally happen over a Bank Holiday when emergency services are even more understaffed than usual. But luckily, a mysterious pile of rubble appeared in the access road so that was sufficient to frustrate their response. It's an utter mystery.

It was a really famous building. I am not from the area, never been there, but I knew about the balls rolling upwards along the bar thing.

I hope these people go to prison for arson. Don’t know how much chance there is of that. It will be hard to make that crime as opposed to the illegal demolition stick and the demolition probably has lesser penalties, what with it not yet being listed.
Unless they are stupid enough to have talked about it on their phones or the police are stupid enough to give them time to get rid of the evidence, I could see a good lawyer getting them off by arguing that yes they have a motive but there is no actual evidence to tie the fire to them. Very much hope to be wrong.

Hahahaha

Yes, amazing that a huge pile of earth & rubble had appeared in the access road, wasn't it? Which was what prevented the fire engines from accessing the building quickly enough to douse the flames...

It wouldn't surprise me that this is not an insurance job but rather the couple calculated the profit they would make from the development of the land vs the cost of a fine for illegal demolition and were banking on still being quids in after any fines etc.

Presumably if they do not put in a claim to the insurance then there is no insurance fraud. The only fly in the ointment is a potential arson charge or of they are made to rebuild the pub as it was.

I agree @MoustacheTwirler - the fine for this sort of thing usually pales into insignificance in comparison to the money made from developing the land. Let’s just hope the council doesn’t look favourably on any planning application that’s submitted if that’s the couple‘s plan

This wasn’t just a pub to the people of the Black Country. It was a very much loved symbol of their heritage. I’m furious about it.

Thinking about it some more, the reason I am so cross is this.
We have a relatively restrictive planning system in this country. If you want to build something there are a lot of hoops you need to jump through, which takes time and costs money and it’s one reason why house building is so low and consequently house prices so high. Everyone who is struggling with a high mortgage or rent is paying the price for this system BUT the consequence is preservation of heritage and natural environment which in a small crowded island could be easily lost.
If people like him are able to bypass the planning system and get rich (and y I am sure that is correct about dodgy developers just factoring in the cost of the illegal demolition fine) they are doing so off the backs not only of the honest developers but also of everyone who is paying a lot for their homes because our planning system has fed into a housing shortage. While also destroying the precise things the system is meant to protect. 😡

I hope the council are bullish enough to make them rebuild it brick by brick, with the subsidence. That will become very costly.

It would be great but is there even a legal mechanism for that given it was not yet listed?

I'm in Ireland & have been following this avidly.

I first heard of the pub at the start of August & was fascinated by it (and how old it was), at the time it was being sold.

I then read in the Times about the arson & demolition, and the lifestyle of the owners. And their planning application track record.

It's horrifying what they've been able to do, not just here but elsewhere.

I feel so sorry for the local community.

Honestly there’s not a person in a 10 mile radius who hadn’t been taken in by their dad to roll a penny up the bar at some point. And told the reasons why it was so wonky.

everyone is always keen to preserve historic buildings when they are in a beautiful market town, from a fashionable period of history. But a much loved building that symbolises the area’s heritage of industry and working Class history is seemingly dispensable. Why this building wasn’t listed is the question I’d like to ask.

And yes I’m looking at you Historic England. Because you can bet your bottom dollar that if this had been in Marlow, not Dudley, it would’ve been protected.

The tsar of “night time economy” for the West Midlands (wonder how much he’s paid and how many times he’s set foot in Gornal) also missed the point about the area’s distinct cultural heritage.

Signed, historian, proud to be from the Black Country. I’m fuming.

everyone is always keen to preserve historic buildings when they are in a beautiful market town, from a fashionable period of history. But a much loved building that symbolises the area’s heritage of industry and working Class history is seemingly dispensable. Why this building wasn’t listed is the question I’d like to ask.

Black Country heritage means nothing outside the BCLM. You only have to have a look round the local towns - Dudley, Halesowen, Wolverhampton, to see the wanton destruction of anything historic, attractive, interesting or socially important. The local councils have never given a flying fuck about preserving, only about destroying and rebuilding in as cheap and ugly way as possible - preferably involving building a fuck off massive supermarket.

It wouldn’t surprise me at all to find the council were in on the deal in some way.

‘everyone is always keen to preserve historic buildings when they are in a beautiful market town, from a fashionable period of history. But a much loved building that symbolises the area’s heritage of industry and working Class history is seemingly dispensable. Why this building wasn’t listed is the question I’d like to ask. ‘

As I understand it an application for listing had been put in. So there are some questions to answer there. How long ago was the application made, was it being processed promptly?

I hope some good investigative journalist gets the bit between his teeth and really digs into this.

Sus.

I hope they get permission to rebuild but only if they rebuild another wonky pub

Have been following this. It’s about time people like this get investigated.

I should caution that those stating that the owners are definitely behind the fire could be sued for libel. I think it unlikely that will happen, but if the owners did choose to take action it would be up to you to prove that they were responsible. It may seem obvious from the sequence of events that they are, and they are clearly suspects if this was arson, but that doesn't amount to proof.

It appears that there has definitely been a breach of the Building Act 1984 which requires anyone demolishing a building to give notice to the local authority and they have either received permission to proceed or six weeks have passed since serving notice. I don't know if they have broken any other laws. If the owners are behind this, I hope that they are ordered to rebuild it as happened with the Carlton Tavern in Kilburn.

A question for those who had been inside - did it feel all weird or did it just seem straight inside until you rolled something ?

Definitely felt a bit weird at first with some stumbling, but your brain soon adjusted to it. Just had to be extra careful in doorways carrying trays of drinks 😀