A public house in the Bradford City area which is of outstanding historic interest has been the subject of legal challenges by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
CAMRA writes:
A historic pub of national importance has been the subject of a landmark High Court battle between the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and Bradford City Council. 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 conversion to a restaurant – including the tearing out of most of the historic interior.
The Cock and Bottle in Bradford is a listed building with an interior of ‘outstanding historic interest’ according to leading pub heritage campaigners.
Dave Gamston, member of CAMRA’s national Pub Heritage Group and Editor of Yorkshire’s Real Heritage Pubs*, explains the building’s historical importance: ‘The Cock and Bottle pub in Bradford preserved one of the best and most intact Victorian pub interiors in the whole 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 initial Judicial Review 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.
‘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.’
