Pubs and an Asset of Community Value and how it affects what building works can and cannot be carried out to a pub

Pubs are public buildings

A Pub has a unique position in the community as well as it being owned by a brewer or landlord and being their business as well as usually their home a Pub is also considered a community property too.  A Pub is a hub of many towns and villages and somewhere that everyone believes is part of the area and a facility that they either use or know of and often has played some part in the history of the area or events in their lives.  This gives Pubs a unique position although until recently this unique position has not been established in a formal manner.  There have been traditional ways of managing the Pub property.

Pubs, Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas

There are restrictions via Planning Laws and Requirements with regard to what building works can be carried out to many of the older Pubs where they are Listed Buildings

Definitions of Grade I, Grade II*, Grade II Listings

Grade I - buildings of exceptional importance – 2.5% are Grade I

Grade II* - particularly important buildings of more than special interest – 5.5% are Grade II*

Grade II – buildings that are of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve them – 92% are Grade II

Or where they are in a Conservation Area, which relates more to the appearance of the overall area and can again limit what works can and cannot be carried out to Pub buildings.  In addition to this we have Building Regulations and Planning Permission for any developments and alterations as well as Licensing Laws.

Building Regulations Approval Defined

Building Regulations looks at the safety and the standard of building such as the adding in of the structural steels and the windows.

Planning Permission Defined

Planning Permission looks at the aesthetics and how this is appropriate for the area with such things as additional windows at the gable end.

Grade I Listed Pubs in England

The first pub to be Grade I Listed was the combined George Hotel and Pilgrims Inn in Glastonbury, Somerset listed in 1950.  Since then just ten more pubs have gained the Grade I listing these are:-

Bristol – Black Castle Public House

Calderdale, West Yorkshire – Kershaw House

Three in Chester, Cheshire – The Falcon Inn, The Bear and Billet and The Blue Bell

Gloucester – Dick Whittington Tavern

Hambleton – The Sun Inn (Spout House)

Newcastle Upon Tyne – Theatre Royal Lounge and Restaurant

Poole, Dorset – The Waterfront Museum

Windsor, Berkshire – Monkey Island Hotel

The above list includes a theatre and a museum, which are included as they both incorporate bars.

Grade II* and Grade II Pubs in England

There are just over 8,690 pubs in England that have Grade II* or Grade II listings although several may no longer operate as Pubs. 

Pub Surveyors are listed buildings experts - we understand listed pub buildings

 Historic pub buildings are special - call us for specialist advice

Asset of Community Value Register

The Asset of Community Value Register was introduced by the Localism Act 2011.  There are many people very keen on giving value to areas and buildings that were perhaps not originally considered an asset. For example the specialist group The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) established in 1971 is very keen on establishing all Pubs as Assets of Community Value and have on their website details of how to submit your Pub to be included in the Listing together with identifying the benefits.

Asset of Community Value – what does this mean to the community? and what does this mean to the Pub owners?

1. To give the community a voice over what occurs to the Pubs in your local community.  If your Pub is threatened your community will be consulted.
2. Permitted development rights are removed if your Pub is listed ensuring protection for your community in Planning law if it becomes under risk.
3. Your community will be connected with MP’s and Councillors, local groups and members of the community to campaign to protect your community local Pub.
4. Engagement with the licensees/landlords/property owners.

CAMRA’s view on Assets of Community Value

At the time of writing this article CAMRA has over 850 Pubs listed on the Asset of Community Value Register and hopes to increase this number to 3,000.

Developers went a step too far with the Carlton Tavern

The London pub – The Carlton Tavern in Carlton Vale, Kilburn was being demolished by developers assuming that they would be granted permission expecting only to receive a fine.  The Local Authority Westminster Council degreed that The Carlton Tavern is required to be re-built brick by brick and then they will look at any applications.  Until The Carlton Tavern is re-built it stays as a partly demolished building.

Other restrictions on Pubs

Pub Leases

When taking on a Pub building you are only permitted to carry out building works as set out within the pub lease.

Pub Full Repairing and Insuring Leases (FRI leases)

With a Full Repairing and Insuring Lease (FRI) you are required to “put and keep” the pub in the order in which you got them in.

Pub Building Surveyors - helping You save money

Pub Surveyors carry out Dilapidations reports and assistance helping you to reduce your Dilapidations claim and Schedules of Condition to protect you by limiting future Dilapidations claims.