![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1_escenic-72.jpg\")
The Crown pub in Birmingham’s Station Street\/Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath performs during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony(Image: Graham Young \/ BirminghamLive\/Alex Pantling\/Getty Images)<\/p>\nThe Crown in Birmingham is where Black Sabbath performed their first gig – but the pub has been vacant for many yearsThe Crown pub in Birmingham’s Station Street\/Ozzy Osbourne of Black Sabbath performs during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony(Image: Graham Young \/ BirminghamLive\/Alex Pantling\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The owners of a pub described as the birthplace of Black Sabbath insisted progress was being made on restoring the venue – but their latest move has angered campaigners.<\/p>\n
The Crown Inn in Station Street, known as the venue where the iconic Birmingham<\/a> band performed their first gig, has been vacant for many years despite its historic importance.<\/p>\n Campaigners have been fighting to \u2018save\u2019 the city centre street, arguing the road was steeped in cultural importance and that Black Sabbath\u2019s<\/a> legacy should be properly celebrated.<\/p>\n READ MORE: <\/strong>Mansion of one of Birmingham’s most famous residents could become ‘international attraction’<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The future of the street and its venues, which runs behind Grand Central and New Street, was thrust back into the spotlight last year following the sudden closure of the Electric Cinema.<\/p>\n But new plans by The Crown’s owner Toyoko Inn, which has insisted it has plans to restore the pub, have sparked a fresh wave of anger among campaigners.<\/p>\n The company is seeking approval for an extension of the car park use on the site for a three-year period.<\/p>\n Darren John, from the Save Station Campaign, argued in his objection that the council granting the application could mean \u201cToyoko will just twiddle their thumbs for another three years, neglecting The Crown and Station Street despite their promises.\u201d<\/p>\n He claimed Toyoko Inn had \u201crepeatedly failed to make any meaningful progress on their development plans\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe urge the council to reject this application in full and hold the site owners accountable for their long-standing failure to deliver,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cA clear, enforceable timetable for permanent development should be required as a minimum.\u201d<\/p>\n But a cover letter, included within the application, said the proposals for the car park would \u201cenable a stable revenue stream\u201d for Toyoko Inn.<\/p>\n It said this would \u201cassist with bringing forward a planning application for the car park site and the reuse of The Crown as a potential music venue\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the time of writing Toyoko Inn are finalising their plans of the wider site,\u201d the letter said. \u201cIt is the intention that the scope of the future project will deliver two connected and coherent elements.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE: <\/strong>Question over if Birmingham city centre ‘wants to go in New York direction’ amid major plans<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n It said 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, described as one of Birmingham\u2019s most famous historic music venues.<\/p>\n \u201cThe pub is a historically important site, and its new vision will reflect and celebrate this heritage,” the document said.<\/p>\n It continued that the proposed scheme would make an \u201cimportant contribution\u201d towards the regeneration of Southside District, with the economic impact predicted upwards of \u00a34 million.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2_JS272112664.jpg\")
The Crown pub is currently closed and where Black Sabbath played their first show in 1968(Image: Birmingham Mail\/Graham Young)<\/p>\n
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The Black Sabbath bench on Black Sabbath Bridge on Broad Street.(Image: Graham Young \/ BirminghamLive)<\/p>\n