Crooked House gets go-ahead to be rebuilt 'exactly as it was' before fire

The owners of the Crooked House pub have been told to rebuild the pub 'back to what it was' before a fire destroyed it last year. The wonky 18th century pub was a staple in the Dudley area of the West Midlands, which earned its name because it leaned to one side as a result of land subsidence, and had a sloping floor and walls.

But two days after it was gutted by a fire in August 2023, the historic pub was demolished - which angered local residents. South Staffordshire Council announced on Tuesday (February 27) that it had served an enforcement notice to the owners, who must rebuild the pub back to its original state.

The owners have 30 days to appeal the notice which must be complied with within three years. West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street, expressed his joy that the pub would be rebuilt exactly as it was before.

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Sharing the news on X, formerly Twitter, he said: "CROOKED HOUSE ORDERED TO BE REBUILT. An enforcement notice has been issued against the owners for its unlawful demolition. They have been ordered to rebuild the pub back to what it was before the fire - just as we’ve been lobbying for. Fantastic work from @south_staffs."

The famed pub caught fire on August 5 last year in what police are treating as arson, reports Birmingham Live. It was then unlawfully demolished prompting protests from the local community.

More than 35,000 people threw their support behind the campaign to see the pub rebuilt brick by brick. Dudley North MP Marco Longhi, who had fought for a law to protect heritage pubs, previously said: "This is an act of commitment from the community, very publicly, where we are renewing our vows to see the