Pub Heritage Bulletin 278 May 2026

Surrey, BELL, Walton-on-the-Hill. We last reported on the Bell in June 2025 when owners Brakspear had successfully applied for planning permission to convert the Bell to residential use. At the time Paul Ainsworth of Pub Heritage Group made an application to Historic England for statutory listing of the pub in the hope that, if successful, this could make conversion to residential less attractive to a developer and could potentially result in the Bell continuing as a public house. So, we are very pleased to hear that the application was successful and the Bell is now grade II listed. We strongly feel that the pub in the right hands is viable and there is much local support for this unique establishment.

The reasons given for the designation in Historic England’s notification report are the survival of its rare and complete 1950’s interior in Charrington’s ‘house style’ that comprise ‘ an exceptionally complete suite of fixtures in the brewery’s ‘house style’, which include public and saloon counters, the bar stillion with illuminated signage, fireplaces, fielded panelling, doors, leaded glazing, fixed seating, plaster relief motifs and decorative cornice’ Also noted is the survival of the mid-19th Century domestic character of the earliest part of the Bell, which reflects its 19th Century origins as a beerhouse.

Whilst the listing greatly improves the chances of the interior surviving, its future as a public house is still very precarious given that it has been granted permission for change of use. We wait to see what Brakspear’s response to the listing will be. The pub is still open with the current licensee’s tenancy due to end this summer.
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West Midlands, WAGGON & HORSES, Oldbury. We are pleased to report that The Waggon & Horses has reopened following its closure in February. We covered the closure in the March bulletin amid concerns over its future. The pub was built in 1890 by Holt’s brewery, the highlights being the wonderful Victorian tiling displayed in the drinking passage and public bar – which also has a highly unusual copper panel ceiling and the original bar counter and bar back.
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West Midlands, VINE, Wednesfield. Congratulations to licensees Richard and Laura Wilkes for being awarded Wolverhampton CAMRA’s City Pub of The Year 2026. The Vine, built in 1938, is owned by Black Country Ales and is a rare example of an intact simple working mans pub from the interwar period. The pub regularly has at least ten cask ales and ciders on offer and is holding a summer beer festival from 22nd to 25th of May with 40 real ales available, an ideal time to make a visit!
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Norfolk, GATEHOUSE, Norwich. The latest news from the Gatehouse comes from a brief report in CAMRA’s Norfolk Nips magazine, spotted by Jamie Hooper. It is reported that unauthorised works to the interior of the grade II listed pub have been halted by Norwich City Council. Also reported is that it may be put on the market again. The current owners purchased the pub in April 2025 outbidding a local community group who had formed a Community Benefit Society in order to purchase the pub, which had closed in April 2023. The Gatehouse is still listed as an Asset of Community Value, so perhaps the community group will have a second chance? The pub, which was built in 1934 as an ‘improved public house’ was listed in 2015 following Historic England’s review of interwar public houses. Further updates welcome.
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Greater London East, 553 LONDON (previously CAULIFLOWER), Ilford. We reported in the December bulletin on the re-opening of the Cauliflower, which had been closed since 2018. Now rebranded as ‘553 London’ and functioning primarily as an upmarket halal mediterranean restaurant, the lavish contemporary overhaul had left us questioning its two-star credentials. But now Will Johnson has visited, and reports that the ornate Victorian fittings have been have been carefully restored, resulting in its two-star status being maintained. Customers can also enjoy a drink (no cask ale) without ordering food in the ground floor public bar areas, which is good news as we had feared that this would be restricted to the first-floor bar. (Photo pre-refurbishment)
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Greater London South West, RED LION, Barnes. The Red Lion has been added to the inventory at One Star. Originating in the late Georgian period, the Red Lion is included on the inventory for the interior of its early 20th century extension to the rear of the pub. This remarkable panelled room is separated into three areas by timber divisions with posts carrying large elaborate brackets decorated with carved marine creatures including seahorses, scallops and crabs. It also contains other features from the period including a fine fireplace, a rare glazed dome and original glazing to the windows. The original Georgian rooms at the front of the pub have been modernised. Thanks to Angus McKean, joint manager of the Red Lion, for submitting details of the pub for assessment.
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Greater London North West, MASONS ARMS, Kensal Green. A planning application has been submitted to Brent Council to demolish the Masons Arms and replace it with a six-storey block containing 26 flats with a new bar on the ground floor. North London CAMRA are leading a campaign to save the pub urging locals to object to the application, and an application has been made by Jane Jephcote of London Pubs Group to Historic England for statutory listing . See: Ham & High. Although opened up, the Masons Arms retains some exceptional Victorian fittings including the original bar counter and bar back. It has been closed since 2024 and was sold last year for £2.5 million.
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South Yorkshire, TRAVELLERS REST, Sheffield. The Travellers Rest, built around 1900 and retaining a three-room layout, is owned by Samuel Smith’s Brewery, and to our surprise, as they rarely dispose of any of their pubs, has been put on the market through Fleurets with an asking price of £180,000. See: Right Move. With chairman Humphrey Smith reputedly retiring from the business, does this sale herald a change in management direction from the Tadcaster-based brewery? Thanks to Dave Pickersgill for this news.
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Greater London South East, WHITE HART, New Cross A planning application has been submitted for refurbishment works to the White Hart, with the intention to reopen it as ‘The Broken Wheel’ see: London Now. The pub, which has been closed since late 2020, was built c.1870 for Watney’s and, although opened up, still has its original bar counter (with a new counter top) and bar back along with other period features. The proposals appear to be sympathetic to the historic features despite compromises to the interior that occurred during works to convert the upper floors to residential in 2021. Thanks to Hugh Steele for this news.
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Greater Manchester, SWEET GREEN TAVERN, Bolton. The Sweet Green Tavern has been shut since October when the tenants were obliged to close for necessary repair works under their tenancy agreement with owners Star Pubs & Bars. There is no sign yet of a reopening and there is doubt locally as to whether this will happen due to the alleged cost of the repairs and the general downturn in trade. The Sweet Green Tavern originally dates to the 1830s, with its surviving interior primarily from the 1950’s. Further updates welcome.
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