Pre-match drinking - all change next season

[pauliewalnuts]

Also worth remembering that not all new buildings are guff that needs knocking down in a short period of time.

Look at Brindleyplace, for example, a really high quality development, which replaced an area with plenty of old buildings. Who would opt for not having had Brindleyplace and keeping what was there before, for example?

Brindleyplace is good because it mixes the old and the new very effectively, but then again, Brindleyplace is an extremely high value area in very valuable land, in the city centre, next to a massive convention centre.

It gets harder to make the case for similar buildings in areas like Aston. That's not to say they should just be flattened, not at all, just that, if they're not listed or protected, the economic case for keeping a building is bound to be harder to make.

I'd rather they kept the KE and built the access road around it, but then again, I don't know if it is feasible financially or structurally, and I have no idea how much it would cost, and whether the pub would be a viable venture even.

It is too easy to just assume the worst all the time.

[pauliewalnuts]

One man's "aesthetically pleasing" is another man's "monstrous carbuncle" , it's all subjective.

Well, I'm sure some people might find Florence a monstrous carbuncle, and Milton Keynes aesthetically pleasing. But they'd probably be idiots.

And I'm sure some people could see the point Chris was actually trying to make, without having to reduce it to that level.

[Chris Smith]

One man's "aesthetically pleasing" is another man's "monstrous carbuncle" , it's all subjective.

Well, I'm sure some people might find Florence a monstrous carbuncle, and Milton Keynes aesthetically pleasing. But they'd probably be idiots.

The King Edward as Birmingham's answer to the Ponte Vecchio, it's certainly an angle I hadn't considered.

[Jimbo]

One man's "aesthetically pleasing" is another man's "monstrous carbuncle" , it's all subjective.

Well, I'm sure some people might find Florence a monstrous carbuncle, and Milton Keynes aesthetically pleasing. But they'd probably be idiots.

And I'm sure some people could see the point Chris was actually trying to make, without having to reduce it to that level.

Come off it, Paulie, it wasn't entirely serious.

[freethinker]

For anyone still interested in this, the latest issue of Private Eye discusses the King Edward in its 'Nooks and Corners' regular feature. The pub's popularity with Villa fans gets a mention.  I don't think the whole article is available free online but a brief summary is on their website here:

http://www.private-eye.co.uk/sections.php?section_link=nooks_and_corners&issue=1248

Their columnist comes down very strongly in favour of retaining the building and criticises the planning committee for voting for its 'gratuitous destruction'.

[robbo1874]

If you can take a step back from the building for a moment. What makes a place is more about the space around buildings rather than the actual building itself.

From what I know of this building, yes it is old and yes it could definitely be argued it is a link to the area's past, not withstanding there are arguably better examples in the  area, so it's architectural merit is questionable.

Now if you take the context of its site and the space around it in the proposal plans to develop the area it loses its reason to be there and would probably look a bit out of place like an over-sized gatehouse. There really doesn't appear to be any compelling reason to retain it, other than nostalgia.

I love old boozers, but there are more worthy specimens than this that deserve public support for their retention.

[Jimbo]

Why does it lose its reason to be there? People who work in huge industrial parks still need to eat and drink. And there are still Villa fans who'd use it on match day, unless the council are proposing to demolish Villa Park as well? You're right about one thing, though. A characterful 100-year old building would look terribly out of place among all that corrugated steel.

What I'd like to see from the council are compelling reasons why it really has to go. It appears they haven't been diligent in researching or inspecting the site, so it's difficult to have faith in their judgement.

[StefanAVFC]

Maybe they're going for gentrification. It worked in New York.

[Des Little]

Does anyone know when the Aston Tavern is due to re-open?  I might start queuing up this weekend

[martin o`who??]

Maybe they're going for gentrification. It worked in New York.

My genitals are staying here.

[bertlambshank]

WTF!
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/aston-villa-pub-king-edward-1727576

[bertlambshank]

Also found this.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 – REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

I refer to your request for the following information, made under the
 Freedom of Information Act:

Work has begun to move the King Edward VII pub to the Aston Tavern.   A
 large workforce is currently restoring a derelict and fire damaged Grade
 II listed building at what would be a considerable cost. As the council is
 relocating a business due to a proposed    development this is being
 undertaken at cost to the public purse.
     
 What is the total cost of this project?

Response

The King Edward VII Public House site is required as part of a junction
 improvement scheme to support the delivery of the Advanced Manufacturing
 Hub. The Advanced Manufacturing Hub is seen as the key proposal to deliver
 economic growth and new employment in this area. As part of the overall
 vision, the current landlord of the King Edward VII will be relocating to
 the nearby Aston Tavern Public House which he has acquired from the Homes
 & Communities Agency and is undertaking the renovation works at a cost to
 himself. The cost of which is not known to the City Council.

Review of Decision
 If you are not satisfied with the decision you may ask for an internal
 review.  To do this please contact Birmingham City Council’s central FOI
 Team at this address:

Corporate DP/FOI Team
 Performance and Information (WS)
 PO Box 16366
 Birmingham
 B2 2YY
 Tel: 0121 303 4876                email: [1][Birmingham City Council request email]

If subsequently you are not satisfied with the Council’s decision you may
 apply to the Information Commissioner for a decision.  Generally, the ICO
 cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure
 provided by the Council.  The Information Commissioner can be contacted at
 the following address:

The Information Commissioner
 Wycliffe House
 Water Lane
 Wilmslow
 Cheshire
 SK9 5AF
 Telephone: 01625 545745
 Web Address: [2]www.ico.gov.uk

[martin o`who??]

Change??, i`ll still be gettin` lashed, no change there.

[Dave Clark Five]

There will be as many who used to go in the Aston Tavern every week as went to the 8000 attendance Southampton game.

[pauliewalnuts]

There will be as many who used to go in the Aston Tavern every week as went to the 8000 attendance Southampton game.

That's a good point.

However, I would like to point out that I was, really, at the Southampton game.

I vividly recall sitting in acres of space on the Holte. Yes, sitting.










me and 25,000 others