Historic pubs submitted for Grade II-listed status

The Mitre, in Lower High Street, Stourbridge dates back to 1714

A group of historic pubs have been submitted for Grade II-listed status in a bid to protect their legacy.

Five pubs across the Black Country were nominated by the public as part of the List Your Local initiative by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) in partnership with the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra).

The list has been sent to Historic England to be reviewed and if agreed, the public body will then ask the secretary of state for culture, media, and sport, for approval.

It follows the arson attack and demolition of the iconic Crooked House pub.

Once known as "Britain's wonkiest" inn, the pub in Himley, near Dudley, caught fire on 5 August last year. and was demolished two days later. Police are treating the fire as arson.

The Mitre, The Duke William, The Queens Head, all in Stourbridge, Pretty Bricks, in Walsall, and Ye Old Leathern Bottel, in Wednesbury, are all being considered for Grade II-listed status.

The Duke William was rebuilt in 1903 as the flagship taproom of nearby North Worcestershire Breweries with distinctive terracotta and glazed brickwork, the WMCA said.

The legacy of the Mitre dates back to 1714 but it was rebuilt in 1935 by local architect, Percy Clark. It retains several features of the original pub.

The Duke William pub is among the five that have been submitted for review by Historic England

Both sites are within an existing conservation area.

The Queen's Head Inn was once the home of Edward Rutland's brewery and dates to 1862.

The Pretty Bricks dates from 1845, taking its name from the coloured glazed bricks on the front. Ye Olde Leathern Bottel dates from 1510 and is said to play host to paranormal activities.

Members of the public have submitted more than 150 submissions to the WMCA to protect popular pubs with some as far away from the area as Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

Camra and WMCA are also looking into extending the hospitality discount rate

As well as reviewing historical sites, the WMCA and Camra are also recommending an extension to the hospitality discount rate.

Pubs currently benefit from a 75% discount on their business rate bills, capped at £110,000, which is due to be discontinued at the end of March.

"Six months on from the Crooked House tragedy, it's a reminder to appreciate our precious cultural heritage - not least our local pubs," said Andy Street, mayor of the West Midlands, and chair of the WMCA.

"They are vital community assets deserving of protection and we're working with CAMRA to do just that."