The Building Conservation Directory 2023

174 T H E B U I L D I N G C O N S E R VAT I O N D I R E C T O R Y 2 0 2 3 | C E L E B R AT I N G 3 0 Y E A R S C AT H E D R A L C O M M U N I C AT I O N S for its stupendous late-Victorian interior. The quality and quantity of the plasterwork, carved mahogany, mosaics, stained glass, lavish fireplaces, panelling, copper reliefs and friezes is simply mind-blowing – and the men’s toilet with its red marble urinals and other luxurious fittings is also something special. In Scotland, six NI pubs are listed at Category A (the approximate equivalent to Grades I and II* in England and Wales): the Cafe Royal, Kenilworth and Central Bar, all in Edinburgh, the Horse Shoe Bar, Glasgow, the Bull Inn, Paisley and the Feuars Arms, in Kirkcaldy. Northern Ireland has one Grade A pub – the remarkable Crown Liquor Saloon in Belfast, notable for its exotic tiling, ceramic counter and row of small drinking booths. Grade II* status has been awarded to 27 NI pubs in England, though in a few cases this is down to the antiquity of the building they occupy. The two that achieved this grade in the recent HE enhanced interior descriptions exercise are Whitelocks in Leeds and the Prince Alfred, Maida Vale, London. The former was known in the 1890s as Whitelock’s First City Luncheon Bar and was a decidedly upmarket establishment. Within the long, narrow plan-form is a rich late-Victorian scheme of dark wood panelling, glittering copper and brass work and a fine display of old mirrors. The tile- fronted bar counter is a particular delight. The Prince Alfred is an amazing survival, its peninsula-style servery still opening on to all five of its original surrounding drinking areas, each with its own outside entrance. The smallest compartment retains its snob screens – small, swivelling glazed panels that afforded customers a degree of privacy. The tall, carved fitment in the centre of the servery is a wonder to behold. Not all the II* listings are of ornate urban Victorian pubs though. The Blue Bell, York, for instance, although refurbished just a little later in 1903, is on an altogether more modest scale, with two small rooms and a corridor that widens out slightly to accommodate standing drinkers. Its Edwardian fittings survive mostly complete. In Ipswich, you can find the Margaret Catchpole, dating from 1936 and the epitome of inter-war pub building – refined vernacular-style architecture, high-quality furnishings and community facilities, including a bowling green. It is currently run down but still well worth a visit. Drewsteignton, Devon is the home of the Drewe Arms, an excellent example of how to expand a heritage pub without allowing the accretions to impact adversely on the historic core. In this case, the latter comprises a simply-appointed public bar with a ground-floor ‘cellar’ behind. For 75 years, it was kept by Mabel Mudge who retired in 1994 aged 99. Although no Welsh NI pubs have achieved Grade I or II* status, the country is not short of excellent Grade II inventory pubs. A couple of contrasting examples are the Golden Cross, Cardiff and the Dyffryn Arms, Pontfaen, Pembrokeshire. The former is a city centre pub famed for its display of ceramics by Craven Dunnill of Shropshire. The same firm supplied the gorgeous ceramic bar counter, one of only 14 examples remaining in he UK. The latter is a classic, unspoilt rural pub, whose heart is the simple, squarish public bar. Instead of a counter, there is a sliding window to the ground floor cellar, through which your pints of Bass will be passed. The vast majority of NI pubs have interiors dating largely from before 1939, but a handful of post-war pubs also make the top rankings. Cream of the crop is arguably the Laurieston Bar in Glasgow, built in 1960. Behind a frankly unprepossessing exterior, there are two rooms plus an intact off- sales. The decor is quintessentially sixties, with plentiful Formica, leatherette seating, period-style panelling and even an original heated glass food display unit. A genuine reminder of times not too long passed, it was listed in 2010 following a successful application by CAMRA. So, what does the future hold for our National Inventory pubs, listed or otherwise? At the time of writing, pubs are arguably facing their toughest trading conditions ever. A combination of escalating costs, especially for energy, depleted customer spending power and serious staff shortages have left them facing a perfect storm, particularly in the colder months. Many pub businesses have already gone under and many more are certain to follow. What must be ensured, though, is that pubs themselves are not lost. As with the pandemic, property developers will no doubt submit opportunistic planning applications to change the use of or even demolish pub buildings on the grounds that the business is no longer viable, as proven by recent events. However, better times will return and will find the public appetite for pub-going undiminished – and, ironically, until very recently more pubs and bars were opening than were permanently closing. CAMRA has therefore written to all planning authorities asking them to guard against the unnecessary permanent loss of pubs because of what we all hope will be relatively short- term difficulties. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT A challenge that many listed pubs will continue to face derives from their ownership. A great many are in the hands of large pub companies who regard them as property assets first and foremost. Changes of use, especially to residential, can be very lucrative and these companies Prince Albert, Maida Vale, London W9 was first listed in 1970. It was upgraded to Grade II* by Historic England in 2022 due to its remarkably well-preserved 1890s interior. Historic England describes it as the best example nationally of a highly compartmentalised plan form found in many urban pubs at the end of the 19th century. Whitelocks, Leeds: upgraded to Grade II* by Historic England in 2022, is described as a very good example of a ‘yard inn’ evolved from a row of late 17–18th century early tenement cottages fronting on to a narrow passage (the yard). The atmospheric main bar and dining room retain a fine Victorian decorative scheme and a wealth of high-quality features from 1895.