#016 The Old Crown, Deritend, Birmingham : 1998 to 2021

 This is a real oddity - back in 1998 when I first took pictures of these pubs, The Old Crown was the only one that was not open! This is what I wrote back in 2011 on my first revisit: -

"This is the sixth in my 'Birmingham Eastside' series.

Back in 1998 The Old Crown was closed and boarded up, but I took a picture anyway as I knew it couldn't be knocked down.

This is Birmingham's oldest pub and dates from 1368. I'm not sure when it reopened but it is now a pub that also does a lot of food, although I'd hesitate to call it a restaurant type pub as you can still go and just drink for a session! I've been a couple of times since it reopened and whilst it's great to see it thriving, inside you don't get the feeling that it dates back to the 14th Century. Since putting these photos up I've noticed that the chimneys have been rebuilt, seemingly in the original style.

 

Part of the renewed success of The Old Crown is almost certainly because of the Custard Factory which reopened in the late 1990's as an arts and media venue. (The coloured buildings behind The Old Crown are part of the Custard Factory.)  This was the factory where Bird's Custard was made for many years until 1964 when production moved to Kraft's factory in Banbury."

 

Since then, The Old Crown continued to thrive and added a quite substantial beer garden (as have many city pubs over recent years). On our Proper Pubs Day Out in Birmingham we looked into The Old Crown, but didn't drink there, mainly because the choice of real ale wasn't great. This picture is from earlier in the year.

 

Little had changed as befits a Grade I listed building. And so, we move on to 2021 where there is little change in the scene and, hopefully, all will be back to 'normal' in a few weeks (more likely months!).

 

So, there you have it...another tale of optimism and renewal!