Crooked House pub owners ordered to stop a demolition 'set to net them £10m'

22 November 2023 , 10:19

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The Crooked House was destroyed in a fire in August (Image: BPM Media)

The owners of the fire-hit Crooked House pub have been ordered to stop the illegal demolition of another site set to earn them a £10million profit, according to reports.

Health and safety officials are said to have stepped in to halt Carly and Adam Taylor's plan to raze a former bank headquarters after council permission to do so ran out. The couple are linked to companies which began the destruction of Giro Building, a former Santander hub in Bootle, Merseyside. A business linked to Mr and Mrs Taylor bought it for £3.2million in March, it is understood. However, it's said untrained operatives were at the Giro Building and dangerous asbestos was being disturbed.

Adam and Carly Taylor, who owned the wonky pub in Dudley, were reportedly ordered to stop the demolition of another site

The Taylors have subsequently since been told they can't continue with the demolition project, The Sun reports. Selling the empty site would have netted a £10million profit, it is claimed. It is believed the couple initially had permission from authorities to demolish it in 2019 - but only for three years.

Police, meanwhile, continue to investigate the suspected arson attack on the 18th century Crooked House near Dudley, West Midlands. The boozer, dubbed Britain's "wonkiest pub" because of an optical illusion caused by the ground it was built on, suffered a massive blaze in August.

Fire crews from across both West Midlands Fire Service and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue remained at the scene, tackling the blaze for hours but the building was destroyed. Locals have been paying tribute to the landmark this morning, with many expressing their deep sadness at its loss. One woman wrote online: "More history/memories gone up in smoke. Its so sad." A further regular at the pub said online: "The Crooked House has gone up in flames. Words fail me." Another posted: "Tragic. The Crooked House, by definition, can never be rebuilt."

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Earlier this year, Marston's had sold The Crooked House to a "private buyer for alternative use". Dating back to 1765, it started sinking into the ground due to mining subsidence in the area and became known as 'the wonky pub' across the West Midlands and beyond. Made structurally safe in the 1940s, it was a family favourite over several generations.

Speaking previously about The Crooked House when he was in Corfu, Mr Taylor said: "We didn’t answer anything in the UK because of the police investigation so we’re not f***ing gonna answer anything here, are we? Just p*** off and let us have a holiday away from all the lies and bull***t in England. When the police finish their investigation I’ll put a story out then, when I’m ready."

Bradley Jolly