Black Country real ale campaigners to step up pub protection after loss of The Crooked House
Real ale campaigners have agreed to step up efforts to protect threatened pubs in the Black Country and South Staffordshire area.
Members of the Dudley and South Staffordshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale have been horrified by the loss of The Crooked House at Himley, within its area, earlier this month.
The branch committee has backed the use of The Crooked House as a symbol for concerted efforts to prevent other pubs suffering a similar fate.
Since the fire and rapid demolition of the 18th Century building it has emerged that the iconic pub did not have listed status.
Branch chairman John Corser said that the branch would now be making efforts to ensure that pubs of architectural and historical importance in its area, which also takes in Bearwood, Cradley Heath, Old Hill, Oldbury, Smethwick, Rowley Regis and Tipton, were listed.
"We had been planning to seek to get The Crooked House registered as an asset of community value to ensure it was retained as a pub.
