The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), Hull & East Yorkshire Branch, is to lead a campaign for sympathetic development of a pub and the adjoining WW2 bomb site.
The Swan Inn on Beverley Road is historically important to the region because it is though to be the last pub in Hull and East Yorkshire that still has its original bow fronted shop-style facade. Next door, the former National Picture Theatre is national important because it is the last WW2 bomb site in the country that has upstanding remains, including the front of the building.
Although the pub avoided major damage by the Luftwaffe during the war, one of its former owners, Bass Brewery, did their best to destroy the internal layout in the 70’s. The pub and the former cinema is presently owned by Punch Taverns and they are advertising the building and site for sale freehold for offers around £150,000. However, enquiries to the estate agents suggest that the company is looking to sell by Friday of this week and therefore an offer of between £50,000 and £100,000 could probably secure the purchase of the pub and adjoining land.
CAMRA sees this as a perfect opportunity for the new owner, preferably an individual or brewery, to return the pub back to its former glory and for the next door site to be finally established as a monument to mark the heavy bombing that the city suffered during the war.
Various discussions have taken place over the years with a view to the bomb site being appropriately developed. Many individuals and conservation groups have lobbied the land owners and sympathetic council representatives to try and get things moving. For one reason or another very little has been achieved. CAMRA believe that this year, the 60th anniversary of the end of the war, should be the year when action replaces all the past words of good intention.
Although CAMRA’s main interest is the renovation of the pub, the next door site is recognised as being important for what it represents. If developed it would certainly attract business to the pub and surrounding area. CAMRA believe that the fact that the bomb site is currently attached to the pub could be detrimental to any prospective buyer. Therefore they would like to see the land either donated to, or purchased by, the council so that it can be maintained separately.
CAMRA have already had discussions with a number of concerned and interested individuals, including Fredrick Mole (Chairman of the Beverley Road Community Business Centre) and Hilary Byers and Philip Hampel (Conservation Officers for Hull City Council). However, the campaign is only just beginning, and all interested parties are asked to join together to push for sympathetic renovation of the pub and the long awaited development of the next door bomb site.
| Alan Canvess (Branch Chairman) | Tel: (01482) 446320 |