Crooked House owners appeal against order to rebuild 

The owners of The Crooked House pub in Dudley have appealed against an order to rebuild the demolished pub to its original form. 

South Staffordshire Council had served an enforcement notice on the owners, after reaching a point where formal action was necessary. 

The pub, which was originally built in 1765, was sold by Marstons to a “private buyer for alternative use” in August and was “unlikely to open its doors again”.

But the landmark caught fire days later in a suspected arson attack and was then demolished by its new landowner ATE Farms two days after the blaze, all whilst police said an investigation into the cause of the fire was ongoing. Six people have since been arrested in connection with the fire and remain on bail. 

ATE Farms is registered to the same address as Himley Environmental – the company that runs the quarry and landfill next to the site.

The council says it now awaits a date for the appeal and the appointment of a planning inspector.