CAMRA wins battle over historic pub

A historic pub has been the subject of a landmark High Court battle between the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and a UK city council who twice gave permission for its destruction.

The Cock And Bottle in Bradford (Photo: Michael Slaughter)

CAMRA on two occasions has succeeded in getting the High Court to overrule the decisions of Bradford City Council to grant planning permission and listed building consent for alterations to The Cock and Bottle – in connection with its proposed conversion into a restaurant – including destroying most of the historic interior.

Dave Gamston, member of CAMRA’s national Pub Heritage Group and Editor of Yorkshire’s Real Heritage Pubs, said of the building’s history:

“The Cock and Bottle pub in Bradford preserved one of the best and most intact Victorian pub interiors in the UK. Its national importance was clearly recognised in its Grade II listing and in its inclusion as one of only 270 entries on CAMRA’s National Inventory of outstanding historic pub interiors. It really is a tragic loss.”

Taking the case to the judicial review stage was the first-ever such action by CAMRA. However, a second action was needed less than eight months later as planning permission and listed building consent was once again re-applied for and granted by Bradford City Council – prompting the second High Court battle.

The interior of the pub prior to work beginning to dismantle it (Photo: Michael Slaughter)

“This outcome corrects what was a truly shameful decision by Bradford’s planners and should send out a strong message to planning authorities across the country that protecting our important pub heritage is to be taken extremely seriously – and that CAMRA may now be less hesitant in calling them fully to account. For the Cock & Bottle itself, though, the ruling is somewhat bittersweet as the pub’s owner had already jumped the gun and stripped out much of the interior – another wrong that still remains to be righted.”

Colin Valentine, CAMRA chairman, added:

“This is a landmark case of national importance and is an important step in our fight for the protection of Britain’s few remaining heritage pubs. Concerted action by CAMRA’s dedicated volunteers, and the subsequent case brought by CAMRA’s lawyers Susan Ring of Richard Buxton Solicitors and Richard Harwood QC, has challenged the illegal ripping-out of the pub’s listed interior and is another step forward to seeing public justice done.”