The Crown in Birmingham is known as the venue where Black Sabbath performed their first gig
Tributes to Ozzy Osbourne outside The Crown pub in Station Street, Birmingham(Image: Ioannis Alexopoulos/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Birmingham residents and Black Sabbath fans have issued a clear demand this week – save The Crown.
The pub in Station Street, known as the place where the legendary Birmingham band performed their first gig, has been vacant for many years despite its cultural importance.
The future of the street and its historic venues, which include the recently-closed Electric Cinema and The Old Rep Theatre, has now been thrust back into the spotlight following Ozzy Osbourne’s death last month.
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The Black Sabbath singer was among the stars who backed a campaign to ‘save’ Station Street, joining the likes of Succession star Brian Cox and Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.
Campaigners saw a glimmer of hope recently after divisive plans by the pub’s owner Toyoko Inn were refused by the city council.
The company, which has insisted it has plans to restore the pub, was seeking approval for an extension of the car park use on the site for three years.
The proposals sparked fresh anger earlier this year, with Darren John, from the Save Station Street Campaign, arguing in his objection that they would mean “Toyoko will just twiddle their thumbs for another three years”.
But the city council ultimately found the plans would be contrary to current policy.
The Crown pub in Station Street, Birmingham(Image: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
With these car park proposals being refused, calls to restore The Crown have intensified among Birmingham residents.
“It’s the most important landmark place in the city,” Carl Kesterton said. “It needs saving badly.”
Dawn Edwards commented: “I hope they keep this historic building dedicated to Black Sabbath!”
One reader wrote: “It’s vitally important that the Crown on Station Street is preserved and reopened as a memorial site to honour Ozzy and Sabbath’s cultural heritage.
“Surely Birmingham City Council must do something now to ensure the long term future of the birthplace of heavy metal.”
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Rachel Anne said: “I used to be a valid licensee under M&B – if I had the capital I would take my exam again and buy the pub to run as its former glory, if not better!
“An inclusive pub for new metal and rock bands to showcase a set for free once a month – filling up the month with a different band each week.”
“What can we do to save this pub,” one reader asked, while another simply said: “Save. The. Crown.”
“They should restore that whole street,” another added.
“Time for Toyoko Inn to put forward proper refurbishment plans for The Crown as a pub and music venue right now or sell up,” the Save Station Street campaign said.
Tributes at Black Sabbath Bridge (Image: Graham Young)
“For what it’s worth – we don’t ultimately care who owns the site….if it is run with integrity, for Brummies and with respect to its legacy as one of the UK’s most progressive and historic venues.”
Jez Collins, of the Birmingham Music Archive, added: “It’s heartening to read the planning application for the continued use of the car park behind the historic Grade II listed The Crown was rejected.”
Why were the car park plans refused?
The city council said applications or time extensions for temporary car parks will not be supported “unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated”.
“The applicant has not demonstrated exceptional circumstances,” a council report said.
It continued: “Moreover, a key focus for the city centre is to reduce the need for private car journeys.
“The applicant has not sufficiently justified the necessity of extending the use of this car park, thus the proposal contradicts the council’s public transportation goals.”
Toyoko Inn has previously said it has plans to not only restore The Crown but also build a new hotel.
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A cover letter, included within the recent proposals, said the plans for the car park would have ‘enabled a stable revenue stream’ for the company.
This would help with bringing forward a planning application for a major project at the site, it went on to say.
“At the time of writing Toyoko Inn are finalising their plans of the wider site,” the letter stated. “It is the intention that the scope of the future project will deliver two connected and coherent elements.”
They included a new hotel with around 300 beds on the existing car park at the rear of the site and the restoration of The Crown, according to the document.
“The pub is a historically important site and its new vision will reflect and celebrate this heritage,” it said.
The Crown pub in Birmingham’s Station Street, shortly before the Black Sabbath concert(Image: Alexander Brock)
It also argued that the proposed project would also make an “important contribution” towards the regeneration of Southside District – with the economic impact predicted upwards of £4 million.
On what progress has been made to advance the project, the letter added that Birmingham City Council had committed its support to the project.
“Discussions and expressions of interest are well advanced with funders in respect of the restoration and construction works,” it said.
Councillor Sharon Thompson, deputy leader at the council, also recently hit out at a suggestion during a cabinet meeting last month that nothing was being done when it came to The Crown.
“I sit in the meetings,” she said. “I know we are doing things around Station Street.”