Thursday 7 August marks two years since the Crooked House pub in Himley, Staffordshire, was unlawfully demolished, just 48 hours after a blaze ravaged the building.
Campaigners have asked pub lovers across the globe to show their support by posting their own ‘cheers’ selfies online.
This includes a mass-toast on Thursday 7 August at the Great British Beer Festival at the NEC, Birmingham, marking the anniversary of the demolition.
Organiser of the #ToastToTheCrookedHouse campaign Ian Sandall said: “Two years on and the Crooked House rebuild has been bogged down in legalities, it’s really important to keep this loss front and centre, and not be allowed to be resigned to just to memory.
“Let’s break the internet raising a glass to the Crooked House, wherever you are, whoever you are with, post your selfie in support and #ToastToTheCrookedHouse."
Serious issue
CAMRA pub and campaigns director Gary Timmins added: “Trying to ‘break the internet’ might seem like a bit of fun, but it’s to raise awareness of a really serious issue.
“I’m proud to be working alongside these dedicated campaigners, and I just hope we won’t be marking another anniversary of the tragedy without a rebuild order in place.
“The scandalous demolition of the Crooked House was a tragedy, and CAMRA wants the Government to bring in new rules so that people who flout the law and destroy pubs face serious consequences.”
The pub, which dated back to the 18th century, was one of 65 sites sold by Marston’s in January 2023 and its sale completed two weeks before the blaze. Six people were arrested in connection with the fire.
Last year, South Staffordshire Council ordered the pub to be rebuilt to its original plans within three years and served an enforcement notice for the unlawful demolition of the building, labelling it a breach of planning control.
However, the owners, ATE Farms Limited, lodged an appeal and requested to rebuild the pub in a new location, describing the current site as “not viable” for a pub.
In addition, the owners told the council they were “not in any way responsible” for the fire or ensuing destruction. Investigations into the inferno are ongoing and the pub is yet to be rebuilt.
Big frustration
Two years later, investigations are ongoing into what happened at the Crooked House, leaving campaigners frustrated at delays to the rebuild.
CAMRA pub and club campaigns director Gary Timmins previously told The Morning Advertiser (The MA): “The delays in delivering justice for the Crooked House show action is desperately needed from the UK Government to strengthen planning laws and enforcement, so our much-loved locals are properly protected from unwanted and unlawful demolitions or conversions.”
The consumer group has continued to campaign for more stringent planning protections for pubs since the destruction of the Crooked House, including sharing support for the Heritage Pubs Bill, which was launched by Dudley South MP Marco Longhi last year.
Following the fire, the local community set up the ‘Save the Crooked House Campaign’, which has also been left frustrated by the lack of development regarding the rebuild.
In April this year, campaigner and Sedgley councillor Ian Sandall told The MA: “I don’t understand it. It is very frustrating because the three-year rebuild doesn’t actually start until the appeal has been heard and it rules in our favour.
“We’ve got 37,000 followers on Facebook and each one of them is very eager to get this pub rebuilt. It is a big frustration among the community.”
