TWO LANDMARK LISTINGS.

The last couple of months have seen grade II-listed status granted to two of our top-flight unspoilt rural pubs – the RED LION, AMPNEY ST PETER, GLOS and the SUN, LEINTWARDINE, HEREFS. The Sun, in particular, breaks new ground in that it is little more than a room in an ordinary house given over to drinking – in other words like thousands of basic rural pubs would have been in centuries past However, we should remember that, while this means future decisions about running the place and any structural changes that might be in mind, will have to have the heritage value factored in, this doesn’t mean any guarantee that it will be preserved as it is or run as a pub. You can’t make people run pubs or expect that pubs will remain unchanged. But they are there – up and running – and they do provide very special experiences for anyone who fancies a step back in time. They make you realise the true meaning of the term ‘public house’, i.e. you are entering someone’s private house which happens to be open to the public for getting a drink. Note – they both have restricted hours: Sun Inn – 8pm onwards plus 12-3 at weekends: Red Lion 6pm onwards plus 12-2.30 at weekends

CROOK INN, TWEEDSMUIR, SCOTTISH BORDERS. Altogether less welcome news here. The BBC website reports, ‘In January councillors decided that the Crook Inn should be put back on the market for four months before it would decide on the proposal for the site.

‘However, agents for the developers have argued that the authority has no policy to justify such a condition.

‘Planning officials have now recommended the Tweeddale Area Committee approve the plans when it meets next week.

‘Inverwest Ltd wants to convert the Tweedsmuir building into four flats and a house.

‘The move has been the subject of 155 letters of opposition.

‘A community trust set up to save the inn has also expressed an interest in buying and running the business.’

(Thanks to Andrew Blagborough and Mick Slaughter for this information).

Geoff