The Craven Arms (1), 47 Upper Gough Street, Birmingham

Image: © P L Chadwick Taken: 25 Nov 2012

Located on the corner of Blucher Street and Upper Gough Street. This is an ornate traditional public house and a back street gem. It is a rare survivor from the pub estate of the long closed Holders Brewery, not to be confused with Holdens Brewery which still exists. The former Holders Brewery was established about 1872 by John Charles Holder. The brewery known as the Midland Brewery was in Novia Scotia Street, just north of the former Curzon Street railway station. The company was acquired by Mitchells & Butlers in 1919 who closed the brewery in 1923. Both brewery and street have disappeared. On the outside of the building there used to a sign stating it was established in 1838, which predates the establishment of Holders Brewery. By 1906 the pub had been acquired by them because in that year they commissioned alterations to the design of Arthur Edwards. The present tiling on the exterior was part of this. At some point the pub passed into the hands of Banks's Brewery who certainly owned it in 2004. By the time this photograph was taken in November 2012 it had ceased to be owned by them and was for sale. The present owners Black Country Ales re-opened it in early 2013. They removed the modern facia boards carrying the pub's name to reveal the original tiled facias installed in 1906. The pub is a listed building. For other photographs, please see this link:- Image

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