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Historic Birmingham pub closes today to be bulldozed for HS2

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yorksrob

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Birmingham does seem to have a bit of a blind spot with architecture - the demolition of the magnificent old Snow Hill station being a case in point.
 

satisnek

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It's a graffiti-covered eyesore (as seen from a train) so I for one won't miss it. I agree that the Woodman is better, but both have the feel of a derelict pub hastily reopened.
 

diffident

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It's a graffiti-covered eyesore (as seen from a train) so I for one won't miss it. I agree that the Woodman is better, but both have the feel of a derelict pub hastily reopened.

Indeed, as is so often the way with stories like this, there has been ample time and opportunity for buildings like this to be "saved", moved and/or plenty of other options of varying similarity. None have come to pass.

If there was such an appetite for it, it would have been brick-by-brick shifted to say, the BCLM in Dudley, but even there, no-one wants it.

As has already been said, the Woodman is staying, and that is the nicer building anyway. If every building that stood in the way of development and progress was saved, where on earth would we be now?!?!?
 

Bald Rick

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It's a graffiti-covered eyesore (as seen from a train) so I for one won't miss it. I agree that the Woodman is better, but both have the feel of a derelict pub hastily reopened.

The Woodman has barely changed in the 30 odd years since I first set foot in it, albeit the beer is now much better.
 

Jurg

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Birmingham does seem to have a bit of a blind spot with architecture - the demolition of the magnificent old Snow Hill station being a case in point.
Nothing to do with Birmingham this one, though. An act of Parliament from Westminster rather than local planners. HS2 is obviously supported by the City Council, but they'd have had little choice or influence on the loss of the pub.
 

Edders23

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you would think with the massive budget of HS2 they could afford to dismantle it and rebuild it on a new site
 

Jurg

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you would think with the massive budget of HS2 they could afford to dismantle it and rebuild it on a new site
It would've probably taken English Heritage arguing that the building is of national importance for that to be paid for by HS2. It's not unheard of for councils to take buildings down and move / store them, but in this instance does the building warrant that in relation to BCC's ever squeezed resources? I agree it's a sad loss as a pub, but saving the building is unlikely to happen.
 

STEVIEBOY1

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This echos the closure and I think by now, the demolition of a nice old pub near Euston, (We went there after a London Meal some time ago.)
 
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Jurg

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This echos the closure and I think by now, the demolition of a nice old pub near Euston, (We went there after a London Meal some time ago.) Is HS2 certain to go ahead now, since the recent General Election?
The Bree Louise? Lovely pub that was.
 

B&I

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What vital aspect of HS2 requires a building with that small a footprint to be demolished ? I suppose someone's going to tell me now that it's bang in the middle of where the main line is supposed to go
 

tomuk

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What vital aspect of HS2 requires a building with that small a footprint to be demolished ? I suppose someone's going to tell me now that it's bang in the middle of where the main line is supposed to go

It is right in the middle of the new Birmingham HS2 station.
 

jimm

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What vital aspect of HS2 requires a building with that small a footprint to be demolished ? I suppose someone's going to tell me now that it's bang in the middle of where the main line is supposed to go

You'll find more about the plans for the station and the city council's redevelopment scheme for surrounding area at these links.

https://hs2inbirmingham.commonplace...rzon-street-station-design-engagement/details

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/birminghamcurzonhs2
 

RPM

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Part of the pub's historic importance (as mentioned in the linked artice) is that is used to be frequented by the band UB 40, and indeed it appears in the video for "Red Red Wine".
I've long felt the building would have been a good fit for the Black Country Living Museum, which badly needs a second pub, so I do feel it is a shame it cannot be saved.
A year or so ago rumours were circulating that the pub would not be demolished but would instead be incoroprated into the new station as a feature. It seemed a rather far fetched idea.
 

B&I

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Part of the pub's historic importance (as mentioned in the linked artice) is that is used to be frequented by the band UB 40, and indeed it appears in the video for "Red Red Wine".
I've long felt the building would have been a good fit for the Black Country Living Museum, which badly needs a second pub, so I do feel it is a shame it cannot be saved.
A year or so ago rumours were circulating that the pub would not be demolished but would instead be incoroprated into the new station as a feature. It seemed a rather far fetched idea.


Would have been a nice touch. More interesting than the usual in-station building
 

Ferret

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Sat in the Eagle & Tun right now. Part one of my doom-bashing this evening. Sadly part two is The Flapper, which I shall miss far more.
 

Mikey C

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The Bree Louise? Lovely pub that was.

That was a sad loss, though to be fair more for its vast ale range rather than its architecture (which was nice but nothing unique)

Interestingly the old Underground station building hasn't been demolished yet, I assume it's trickier due to what's underground?
 

Ferret

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Sat in the Eagle & Tun right now. Part one of my doom-bashing this evening. Sadly part two is The Flapper, which I shall miss far more.

PS, this pint I have is bloody terrible!
 

peteb

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Sadly this pub is not statutorily listed whereas the nearby Woodman is Grade II. Listing didnt save the nearby C18 Fox and Grapes however...........Seeing as the future of HS2 is still meant to be in the balance, it'll be rather irritating if the pub is demolished for nothing. You can bet the contractors will waste no time in raizing it to the ground however!
 

Ferret

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Sadly this pub is not statutorily listed whereas the nearby Woodman is Grade II. Listing didnt save the nearby C18 Fox and Grapes however...........Seeing as the future of HS2 is still meant to be in the balance, it'll be rather irritating if the pub is demolished for nothing. You can bet the contractors will waste no time in raizing it to the ground however!

Yeah, Mr Barker and co definitely chose the right pub to buy - The Woodman. Not been in there since a close personal friend ceased working there, but it’s certainly a lovely pub.

(For those who know who I mean, the young lady with the red dreads has just opened her own pub in Cotteridge, called Redbeer’d)
 

Facing Back

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I think its always a shame when a pub closes but if the Bree couldn't be saved this place would have to be quite special to be picked up and moved brick by brick
 

PartyOperator

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With UK pubs still closing at a rate of 10 per week, it's hard to get too excited about one more. In most cases we end up with nothing more than a house to show for it at best, often it ends up a decaying eyesore for years... At least this one is being lost to provide something useful.
 

STEVIEBOY1

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That was a sad loss, though to be fair more for its vast ale range rather than its architecture (which was nice but nothing unique)

Interestingly the old Underground station building hasn't been demolished yet, I assume it's trickier due to what's underground?

Was that an old entrance to Euston Underground?
 

The Ham

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With UK pubs still closing at a rate of 10 per week, it's hard to get too excited about one more. In most cases we end up with nothing more than a house to show for it at best, often it ends up a decaying eyesore for years... At least this one is being lost to provide something useful.

Between 2008 and 2018 and 2000 and 2018 it was about 14 per week.

However there's still 47,000, which equates to a pub for ever 1,400 people. Which is better than the 1 GP per 2,000 people which we have.

Now whilst it's true that people will frequent a pub more regularly and for longer than as doctors, a pub can serve more people than a GP can and often have longer opening times.
 
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