Penkridge pub to reopen as an Indian restaurant

A pub in Penkridge has closed for conversion to an Indian restaurant. The George and Fox is to re-open as Basmati.

The Wolverhampton Road pub was built as a replacement for the original George and Fox coaching inn at Crown Bridge which was demolished in 1931.

The pub was owned by Ansells before its sale to Punch Taverns. For a while it changed its name to Foxey's and was also a Mr Q's pool pub for a while.

A £166,000 refurbishment in 1997 was followed by a £540,000 one five years later.

Restaurant scheme applicants' bid for free-standing and three wall-mounted illuminated signs were rejected by South Staffordshire District Council last month.

The building is within a conservation area.

Penkridge town crier and parish councillor Bevan Craddock said: "It is sad to see the village losing another pub becoming a restaurant.

"Although it is in the conservation area though it is not a particularly old pub."

The George and Fox — once also the village post office — dates from the 18th Century and was the birthplace of John Hewitt, whose son Abraham Hewitt was Mayor of New York in 1886.

Punch Taverns tried unsuccessfully to make the George and Fox a pub appealing to younger drinkers.

It had a dance floor and cheaper beer than other pubs, but was not popular with real ale drinkers. It was known as both the George and the Fox by locals.

The closure leaves nine pubs surviving in the main village and surrounding area. There are already two Indian restaurant, Flames at William Harding's House, Mill Street, and Noor Mahal in Boscamoor Shopping Centre, Wolverhampton Road.

There is also a Cantonese, Minh's of Penkridge at Boscomoor Shopping Centre and, Wing Fat Chinese Restaurant and Takeaway, Clay Street.