“Listed buildings” are those which are officially recognised as being of special architectural or historic interest. The “lists” are maintained by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport who act on expert advice provided by English Heritage in England, Historic Scotland in Scotland and Cadw in Wales.

Listed buildings enjoy a greater measure of protection than others. Any alteration affecting their character needs “listed building consent” from the local planning authority. CAMRA has been working hard to get listed as many National and Regional Inventory pubs as possible and has made considerable progress in doing so.

Anyone can apply for an English building to be listed by writing to the English Heritage, Heritage Protection Operations Department, 1 Waterhouse Square, 138-142 Holborn, London, EC1N 2ST. The English Heritage web site has a lot of information on the process of listing buildings.

Bartons Arms, Birmingham - Picture: Michael Slaughter

In Scotland applications should be sent to Historic Scotland Inspectorate, Listing Team, Room 2.20, Longmore House, Salisbury Place, EDINBURGH, EH9 1SH, and the Historic Scotland web site has listing process in Scotland.

In Wales, administration of listing buildings is the responsibility of Cadw, Welsh Assembly Government, Plas Carew, Unit 5/7 Cefn Coed, Parc Nantgarw, Cardiff, CF15 7QQ, and their web site has information of the listing process in Wales.

In Northern Ireland, listing application should be made to Environment & Heritage Service of Northern Ireland, at Waterman House, 5-33 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LA.

Here is more specific information on getting a pub listed.

Old Swan, Netherton, West Midlands - Picture: Michael Slaughter