Raise a glass for the fight to rebuild Crooked House pub 2 years on
Campaigners from across the country have joined forces to kick-start the Toast to The Crooked House social media campaign in honour of the second anniversary of the tragedy, calling for people to post a selfie of themselves raising a glass to the pub to raise awareness about the campaign.
Members of the Toast to The Crooked House gathered today (August 4) bright and early at The Chapel House in Gornal to officially launch the latest awareness campaign, with one goal – to break the internet.
Toast to The Crooked House was launched live on BBC Radio WM by presenter Ed James by the campaign spearheads, the local MP, directors from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and the man behind a popular social media channel which highlights the importance of our pubs, The Great British Pub Crawl.
(Image: Sally Shillingford (pub pic), Rich Riley (rubble) and PA (fire-gutted pub pic)) In true 'it's five o'clock somewhere' fashion, the first pints were raised and the campaign was afoot before the clock hit nine.
Ian Sandall from the Toast to The Crooked House group said: 'From today, the world can now show its support, stand up and make a difference.'
Liz Shanley from the group added: 'Last year's 12 month event was fantastic, but it was limited to the number of people who could get involved.
'This is more inclusive and is a way for everyone to get involved and raise support, not only for The Crooked House, but for all UK at-risk pubs.'
The demise of The Crooked House made national headlines and sparked international outrage, with Staffordshire Police treating the blaze as arson.
Six people were charged over the incident but have all been released on bail, and, until the criminal investigation is concluded, the decision on the rebuild is on hold after the order by South Staffordshire Council to rebuild the building brick by brick was appealed.
Garry Timmins, CAMRA's Pub and Club Campaigns Director, said pubs are 'the beating heart of society in the UK' and the work to ensure The Crooked House stands tall once again sets a precedent for other heritage boozers in the country.
Dales Harvey with BBC WM presenter, Ed James, live from The Chapel House (Image: Olivia Warburton / Newsquest) Planning reforms, law changes, and more support from the government to protect the historic drinking holes in the country are all being called for, so an incident like this never happens again.
'We put the world to right in pubs,' Mr Timmins said. 'We need places like this to gather and if we don't fight for this, as we get older, where will the next generation get together?
'It's not just about the beer – you can drink whatever you want, but it's a place where you can find warmth and camaraderie.'
J Mark Dobbs, the National Executive at CAMRA, added: '53 years since it started, CAMRA's role in fights like this is more important than ever.
'Every time we lose a pub, we lose something that's a deep part of our community and cultural heritage.'
Dale Harvey spends his spare time documenting his quest to visit every pub in Great Britain as part of The Great British Pub Crawl, while simultaneously fighting to save them.
Throwing his support behind the toast, he said: '[The Crooked House] isn't just the most famous pub in the Black County, or the West Midlands or even just in England – it's one of the most famous pubs in the world.
(Image: Nick Maslen/Alamy) 'What happened to it was an absolute travesty, and it can't be allowed to just go under the radar – we need to keep it in the forefront of people's minds.'
Since the blaze, South Staffordshire MP Mike Wood has been a fierce advocate to get it rebuilt, trying to raise his Heritage Public Houses Bill in parliament.
He said: 'I grew up locally and so went to The Crooked House with my family as a kid, rolling the marbles along the bar and trying to work out how that happened.
'It's a devastating loss that such an iconic part of our industrial heritage has literally gone up in flames.
'The community has been working so hard to get it rebuilt – and that's what we need, and to make sure those responsible are held to account.'
Already, selfies with the #AToasttoTheCrookedHouse are pouring in from across the globe, from Great Britain to Greece and beyond - a testament to how much this pub means to so many people.
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