*This bulletin is a bit earlier than usual this month as I’ll be off on 
hols, exploring the great pub riches of the Dodecanese and drinking that 
marvellous beer the Greeks are so famous for! So:*

* *

*BIRMINGHAM, BRITANNIA, ASTON. This fine c.1900 pub right by Aston 
station is reported to have been sold following a long period of closure 
(thanks to Nigel Barker and Andrew Maxam for this info). Hopefully this 
is a prelude to its reopening. More news if and when it develops. (You 
won’t find it on any National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors listings because of its closed status).*

* *

*GLASGOW, PORTLAND ARMS, SHETTLESTON.** **Chris Witt reports: ‘*To 
feature in a major film release in 2008 "The Stone of Destiny" set in 
the 1950s. Three full days of filming (pub closed!) will result in 11 
minutes of film. Won't see much of the ceiling detail as all the film 
lighting was set up there (photos are in the pub). Worth looking out for?’

HINCKLEY, LEICS, HOLLY BUSH. Chris also says ‘Passed on Tuesday and 
noticed a large sign outside by Cottons (0121 247 2233) stating the 
property is offered at a "Freehold Auction" to be held next Thursday, 
13/9, but no venue listed. Will this seal the fate of the building, or 
will any reserve not be met? Several of the windows are boarded up and 
there has been forced entry at the rear, including the outbuildings, one 
of which still has a number of (empty?) kegs inside!!’

NEWPORT (GWENT), WATERLOO, 113 Alexandra Road, Pill, NP20 2JG. Not a National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors 
pub but famous in pub heritage circles for its fine ceramic bar counter 
which was chopped in half with the chopped off bit shipped to the USA. 
Nigel Clubb reports it is open again after a very long period of closure 
– but as a restaurant, not a pub (although he thinks you can probably 
pop in just for a drink: no real ale). From a report I note on the web 
the three-course meal is a £19.95 job (unclear if lunch or eve) and has 
good reviews. The hot chocolate fondant dessert came in for particular 
praise!

WELCOME TO CAMRA REGIONAL DIRECTORS. This bulletin is being sent for the 
first time to all CAMRA RDs. On behalf of Pubs Heritage Group I do hope 
you find it useful. If you or your branches have any news on National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors pubs I’d 
be delighted to hear. Good news – reopenings, real ale being put on, 
sensitive refurbishment – is preferred to bad – closure, damaging work 
etc – but any news is worth having so we can monitor what’s happening to 
our most precious pub interiors.

CONSULTATION ON National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors ENTRIES. Everybody’s having consultations, so why 
should it be different with National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors pubs. There has been recent 
correspondence between Worcester CAMRA and Pubs Heritage Group re the 
dropping of the Paul Pry, Worcester, from the National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors listing. This was quite 
simply because the pub has been closed for some time and shows no sign 
of reopening in the short term. The PHG policy has been to transfer such 
pubs – which also include the likes of the Britannia (Brum), Crocker’s 
(London), Holly Bush (Hinckley, Leics), Crook (Tweedsmuir, Borders) – to 
a separate list unseen to the public but monitored by PHG for obvious 
reasons. The reasons this approach was adopted were that a string of 
closed pubs (and we are dealing with about a dozen at one time – that’s 
5% of the National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors) is a negative measure and people can’t get in to visit and 
thus the general public get no benefit from such a listing. On the other 
hand it is a campaigning matter to highlight the plight of such pubs and 
to work for their restitution (although in practice and in practical 
terms CAMRA cannot do much in most cases). Both are good arguments so 
what should we do? Do let me know and we can discuss the responses in 
PHG. Send me an email with your vote (but NB it’s unlikely I’ll be able 
to engage in correspondence). To keep it simple: please vote A or B or 
take option C.
A – do not include closed premises in listing of National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors pubs.
B – include closed premises in listings but with the warning ‘Closed’ or 
‘Currently closed’.
C – some hybrid – please specify. E.g. you may say exclude from the GBG 
listing or any printed list but mention on the website.

NEXT National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors PUB TO BE FEATURED IN ‘BEER’. Three Horse Shoes, Boroughbridge, 
N. Yorks.

Geoff