Arguably one of the most maligned and fastest disappearing boozers is the good old fashioned estate pub.
There have been many well documented blogs on this subject and if you spend ten minutes looking through Mudgie’s excellent closed pubs blog regards closed and boarded up pubs in Britain, you will get an idea of just how many have bitten the dust.
I’ve blogged on it before with the dearth of pubs in Brummie suburbs such as Castle Vale so it was great to see an estate pub alive and kicking in 2018.
185 – The Saxon B90 4JA is the only pub on a 1970’s built estate between Solihull and Shirley known as Cheswick Green.
It has some very plush houses on the main drag into the estate but also has some of the cheapest housing stock in the south side of Solihull on the estate, so there is a good mix within the community.
There is a bus route but there is no reason for anyone to visit Cheswick Green unless they live there, as it is bypassed by the A34 and even if you used Creynolds Lane as a cut through toward Earlswood you still wouldn’t need to go onto the estate.
An early disclaimer is that I lived here with Mrs BB for a few years so have a soft spot for Cheswick Green and it was nice to see the local in good nick when I popped in with my youngest son today.
The Saxon was built in 1974 and apparently the Mayor of Solihull at the time pulled the first pint…could you imagine that nowadays!
It’s clearly had a refurb recently and is now being run by the Craft Union Pub Company and is very smart inside and out.
Pool table, dart board and an abundance of screens showing the latest sport (on this occasion the build up to Joshua and Parker) and, a rarity in Solihull, some top notch ale.
Peaky Blinder Pale Ale (Sadler’s) was excellent and whilst most of the other old boys in the boozer were drinking Carling, this was very well kept.
At around 1pm on Good Friday it wasn’t packed but there were around 20 people in and the atmosphere was good with most of the boys congregating at the bar.
The age range was definitely 50+ with Sky Sports making good background noise for the boys whilst they debated life on the Cheswick Green estate.
A younger lad walked in with a timeless Tachinni tracksuit top on that I haven’t seen anyone wear since The Vaults in Knowle recently (!) There was also a nice touch on the wall above the pool table and it is clear someone has put a bit of thought into the decor in this boozer.
There were weekly quizzes advertised along with a no nonsense food menu but, there are definitely more than enough chimney pots on this estate to support The Saxon.
In true estate pub fashion there was a no baseball cap policy in operation but I think that is a CUPC edict as it was the same at The Bull Ring Tavern. Brum
Estate pubs should be cherished and supported as they clearly can survive in the modern world…they just the need a bit of investment and TLC.
“Arguably one of the most maligned and fastest disappearing boozers is the good old fashioned estate pub.”
Yep. And, as you mentioned in your last post,
“I am incrreasingly leaning towards pubs like this rather than serious and earnest drinking haunts…”
It’s always better to have variety. An estate pub is just that, a place for the locals within walking distance. It can do sports and quizzes and whatnot, as long as it appeals to most of the locals at least one night a week. Or, even better if possible, have a few separate rooms to do the same thing. 😎
“It has some very plush houses on the main drag into the estate but also has some of the cheapest housing stock in the south side of Solihull on the estate so there is a good mix within the community.”
There you go; sports on Saturdays combined with a quiz night and maybe a wine/beer and cheese tasting night. 😉
“could you imagine that nowadays!”
I think it would be better if some of them did. 😏
“(on this occasion the build up to Joshua and Parker)”
Sadly, I have no idea what that means. 😊
“Peaky Blinder Pale Ale (Sadler’s) was excellent”
Argh. Love that show. Would love to have a beer named after it, especially if it was good. 😎
“with a timeless Tachinni tracksuit top on that I haven’t seen anyone wear since The Vaults in Knowle recently (!) ”
I’m not sure it’s a good thing that I get that! 😏
“There were weekly quizzes advertised along with a no nonsense food menu”
See! Oh and love the food menu. 👍
“In true estate pub fashion there was a no baseball cap policy in operation”
Is that like a gang thing?
“Estate pubs should be cherished and supported as they clearly can survive in the modern world…they just the need a bit of investment and TLC.”
Exactly. I’d prefer a choice of something semi fancy with the Mrs, something down to earth with the lads, and a few places in between.
Cheers
PS – “and is now being run the Craft Union Pub Company ”
I think you need a by after run.
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This pub company seems to have no baseball cap policy which I kind of understand but not sure that anyone causing trouble always wears a baseball cap!!! Yes Sadlers ales are close to Birmingham and they seem to have made best fist of cashing in on Peaky blinders theme… original peaky blinders pub still standing derelict by Birmingham city ground (Garrison Tavern) not sure it’s financially viable but can’t believe an entrepreneur hasn’t taken a punt on opening it
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“original peaky blinders pub still standing derelict by Birmingham city ground (Garrison Tavern) not sure it’s financially viable but can’t believe an entrepreneur hasn’t taken a punt on opening it”
Agreed. It’s certainly a head scratcher. 🙂
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Great post…
Never heard of Tachinni track suits (sheltered life) but sounds like they may making a comeback.
Totally agree on your closing comment my post yesterday on similar lines and Martin highlighted both on Twitter.
Estate pubs are like blank canvasses in a way – so adaptable – as you say with a bit of tlc, creativity and knowing what the local community wants, they can be real successes…
Interesting implication in the ‘no baseball cap’ policy – that eradicating baseball caps, eradicates a certain kind of unwanted behaviour🤨
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I think they are in the Lacoste/Fila ‘classic’ eighties look! Totally agree re estate pubs – as long as there are enough peopel in close proximity who actually want to go to a pub then there is no reason why they can’t work. I’m not convinced removing a cap means you get better behaved people as there is a whole range of headgear you could wear that might mean you are causing/not causing trouble. I saw an old boy with a great fedora on when I was in there!
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