Lost Pubs from the WME Archives: Part 16

The recent tightening of Covid restrictions which categorise much of the West Midlands as a Tier 2 High Risk area means that socialising inside pubs or other hospitality venues is banned for the time being. It's going to be a hugely challenging time for those in the licensed trade and I hope that as many establishments as possible can survive to see the end of the pandemic; if not, I fear there could be scores of watering holes joining the likes of this quintet in being consigned to the history books...

- Old Crown, Brettell Lane -

A particularly sad loss as far as I'm concerned is the Old Crown on Brettell Lane, an unspoiled traditional boozer just up from the former Harris & Pearson works. There are several excellent watering holes in the area but I had a soft spot for this one after Rog and I called in during Mr SBI's 40th birthday bash; no-nonsense M&B Mild, a pool table and an antique jukebox were the hallmarks of that visit. It closed for good in August 2016 and nothing much has happened with the place since. 

- The Trent Valley, Lichfield -

Staffordshire beckons for our second selection whereby the Trent Valley used to be handy for its namesake railway station on the edges of Lichfield. The station architecture is hardly the prettiest (think lots of paving slabs) yet the pub offered little visual improvement when photographed in April 2010, boarded up and awaiting its new use as the Humpty Dumpty Day Nursery and Pre-School facility. 

- Somerset House, Stourbridge -

To Stourbridge next and an establishment that was part of the 'Enville Street Run', a challenging crawl that included several pubs between Wollaston and the town centre. The Somerset House was a Banks's number where full pint glasses were said to stick to the walls unaided; I never tested the phenomenon myself but there were some intriguing theories as to why it happened, varying from wallpaper glue to poltergeists. The building was repurposed into a community care office although I'm not sure what's become of it recently.

- The Antelope, Sparkhill -

We finish off with a couple of Birmingham offerings, both from the A34 Stratford Road. Standing on the corner with Baker Street, the Antelope is a very handsome landmark having been built in the 1920s by Mitchells & Butlers; the Grade II-listed features include mullion windows, an archway door and a relief carving of an antelope superimposed over a tree. Many of these original elements have been retained in its subsequent guise as the Hajees Spices buffet restaurant. 

- The Shakespeare, Stratford Road -

Last but not least is another Stratford Road stalwart whereby the Shakespeare could be found at the junction with Henley Street, south of the railway bridge and Camp Hill Circus. This would have been popular haunt with the Irish community back in the day, but alas it has joined several of its Sparkbrook counterparts in failing to survive when the demographics of the district changed. A rather crude conversion for possible residential or office use meant this was at risk of becoming an eyesore when last I saw it - such a shame.