Pre-match drinking - all change next season

[pauliewalnuts]

I wasn't aware that Aston Hall & the church were scheduled for demolition and Aston Park was being built on.

That will be the only area with any character around the ground by the time the Planners have finished.
I would not hold your breath because the park will be built on before long. Pretty green areas are Planners favourites's.

They've just spent a fortune creating a brand new park in the city centre.

Is that not due to an EU directive that states that all city centres have to have a certain percentage of ''Green'' land ?
I thought that was the case.

I doubt it, but that could be the case.

I am pretty sure I read somewhere that Birmingham has more park land within its borders than pretty much any city in Europe.

[pauliewalnuts]

Absolutely agree. You don't have to believe in God to appreciate the beauty of a church. Likewise, you don't have to be an old soak to understand that there's history, cultural heritage and aesthetic value in most old pubs. But it helps.

.. and on a similar note, you don't have to be a bulldozer worshipping hater of our architectural history to foresee a situation in which there might be a compelling case to demolish a pub.

There also needs to be someone with the belief they can make a profit and the willingness to run a pub, which is why so many of them in Aston are closed down.

[Jimbo]

Absolutely agree. You don't have to believe in God to appreciate the beauty of a church. Likewise, you don't have to be an old soak to understand that there's history, cultural heritage and aesthetic value in most old pubs. But it helps.

.. and on a similar note, you don't have to be a bulldozer worshipping hater of our architectural history to foresee a situation in which there might be a compelling case to demolish a pub.

There also needs to be someone with the belief they can make a profit and the willingness to run a pub, which is why so many of them in Aston are closed down.

Quite true. Usually the case isn't very compelling, often being based primarily on how much money a developer or contractor can make out of it. A prime case being the Woodman on Easy Row, demolished along with the rest of the Georgian street to make way for a slightly wider road, an area which will be developed yet again when the Copthorn et al is torn down. Here's a warning: if you like stunning old pubs, don't google pics of it. It'll screw you up for life.

[Billy Walker]

When I first went to Villa Park as a kid it was the original Trinity Road Stand that blew me away,  I just didn't expect a football team to play within such grand surroundings.  I'm sure things could have been done to make it fit for purpose for the twenty-first century besides knocking it down.  For me it was an incredibly short-sighted decision to replace it - especially when the carbuncle that is the North Stand is ripe for replacing.

As for the old boozers around Aston and the rest of Birmingham, well, I don't think you actually realise how great those old red-bricked buildings are until you have spent a few years away from Brum. When you return they really are a genuine pleasure to behold.

[Des Little]

At the risk of the wrath of many on here, if it were the Bartons being torn down would we be as philosophical? I'm not sure we would, and to be honest there's not a fat lot in it.

[pauliewalnuts]

At the risk of the wrath of many on here, if it were the Bartons being torn down would we be as philosophical? I'm not sure we would, and to be honest there's not a fat lot in it.

The Bartons is one of the most historical pubs outside London and is a grade II* listed building.

I say that as one who hasn't been in it for about 25 years, too, so I don't have any agenda in that sense, but in terms of history, it is right up there.

[dave.woodhall]

At the risk of the wrath of many on here, if it were the Bartons being torn down would we be as philosophical? I'm not sure we would, and to be honest there's not a fat lot in it.

The difference between the Edward and the Barton's is the same as between a Mk II Cortina and an E Type.

[walsall villain]

Was in the Bartons on Monday. Away fans often present in there as it is not the least threatening. Such a shame it appears to be struggling for trade on a non match day. Man C fans told me how much they hoped we would survive this season for no other reason that they loved the annual trip to the Bartons for a pre match drink.

[Pete3206]

At the risk of the wrath of many on here, if it were the Bartons being torn down would we be as philosophical? I'm not sure we would, and to be honest there's not a fat lot in it.

The difference between the Edward and the Barton's is the same as between a Mk II Cortina and an E Type.

Never been in The Bartons. I must try it one day.

[FatSam]

Good urban design builds on the existing local distinctiveness of an area. In deprived areas with little urban structure, sometimes the small fragments of value that do exist can be missed when there is an unsophisticated desire for wholesale change. Whether or not the Eddies is as impressive as some other pubs in the area, or viable in its current guise, I think its disappointing that a new role can't be found for a local landmark.

It looks from the Area Action Plan that the pub is being demolished to make way for junction improvements. The unerring rationality of highways engineering has the habit of destroying everything in its path, rather than serving a wider purpose of creating places with character. I can't help thinking that insufficient consideration might have been given to other scenarios for the junction improvements which would have retained the pub, and the path of least resistance has been taken.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

At the risk of the wrath of many on here, if it were the Bartons being torn down would we be as philosophical? I'm not sure we would, and to be honest there's not a fat lot in it.

The difference between the Edward and the Barton's is the same as between a Mk II Cortina and an E Type.

Quite.
And apart from the massive difference in the buildings, The Edward was never frequented by Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy.

Also, the Bartons makes money (just about).

[Jimbo]

The Edward isn't a patch on the Barton's, but it's a Rolls Royce among the Ladas and Skodas that make up the architectural landscape in that particular area.

FatSam, couldn't agree more.

[Dave Clark Five]

I see that work has commenced on the Aston Tavern. The scaffolding is up and it has been gutted.

[Chris Smith]

Good urban design builds on the existing local distinctiveness of an area. In deprived areas with little urban structure, sometimes the small fragments of value that do exist can be missed when there is an unsophisticated desire for wholesale change. Whether or not the Eddies is as impressive as some other pubs in the area, or viable in its current guise, I think its disappointing that a new role can't be found for a local landmark.

It looks from the Area Action Plan that the pub is being demolished to make way for junction improvements. The unerring rationality of highways engineering has the habit of destroying everything in its path, rather than serving a wider purpose of creating places with character. I can't help thinking that insufficient consideration might have been given to other scenarios for the junction improvements which would have retained the pub, and the path of least resistance has been taken.

I think it falls back to the problem of lack of demand for pubs in the locale outside of match days. They're struggling to survive in most areas but the demographics of Aston make it even more of an issue.

[Jimbo]

Good urban design builds on the existing local distinctiveness of an area. In deprived areas with little urban structure, sometimes the small fragments of value that do exist can be missed when there is an unsophisticated desire for wholesale change. Whether or not the Eddies is as impressive as some other pubs in the area, or viable in its current guise, I think its disappointing that a new role can't be found for a local landmark.

It looks from the Area Action Plan that the pub is being demolished to make way for junction improvements. The unerring rationality of highways engineering has the habit of destroying everything in its path, rather than serving a wider purpose of creating places with character. I can't help thinking that insufficient consideration might have been given to other scenarios for the junction improvements which would have retained the pub, and the path of least resistance has been taken.

I think it falls back to the problem of lack of demand for pubs in the locale outside of match days. They're struggling to survive in most areas but the demographics of Aston make it even more of an issue.

Maybe that might change when there's a large influx of thirsty / hungry workers at the proposed enterprise zone to the rear of the pub?