The Old Crown: Birmingham's Oldest Secular Building
The Old Crown is reportedly Birmingham's oldest pub and central Birmingham's oldest secular building.
It was built in 1368, and some parts of the original building still exist, although most of the Old Crown dates to the early 1500s when modifications were made to the original property.
Queen Elizabeth I is said to have stayed at the Old Crown in 1575 whilst travelling from Kenilworth Castle, and slept in the gallery chamber above the main entrance.
It’s now Grade 2 listed, meaning it’s defined as a UK building or structure that is "of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve it".
It is thought to have been originally built as the Guildhall and School of St John Deritend.
The earliest documentary evidence of the building's use as an inn is from 1626; and it being "called by the sign of the Crowne", from 1666.
The building, however, was converted into two houses in 1684 and then converted into three houses in 1693. It remained three houses until the 19th century.
In 1851, Joshua Toulmin Smith saved the Old Crown from demolition when proposals were made to "improve the street".
Again in 1856 and 1862, the Corporation proposed to demolish the building; Smith saved the building each time.
In 1991, a local pub company owned by the Brennan family bought the Old Crown.
In the summer of 1994, Pat Brennan and his youngest son, Peter, were doing repairs and clearing out the old sheds to the rear of the property when they found the old well, which had been closed off for more than 100 years.
Now restored, it is situated at the rear entrance of the pub.
At the end of May 1998, under the guidance of Pat and Ellen Brennan and their sons Patrick, Gary and Peter, after the family's £2 million investment into Birmingham's most famous hostelry, The Old Crown was restored to its former glory and reopened.
Today, it’s now a popular pub and winner of ‘best traditional pub’ at the 2019 Midland Food and Drink Hospitality Awards.
It also has 10 bedrooms and 1 apartment available to book.
Rooms are individually decorated with a mix of en-suite and shared bathrooms - facilites include: TV, tea & coffee, towels and free wifi.
The pub also has a restaurant which is open for residents from 12PM – 9PM Monday to Saturday and 12PM – 6PM Sunday.
One recent visitor said: “Externally it has the crooked, twisted look of just such a property while the interior looks mock-Tudor with ceiling beams.
”Even the obligatory modern touches like fruit machines do little to break the sense of the past in a bar close to the main coach station and a few minutes walk from the Birmingham Bull Ring markets and main train station.
”Lovely service and a decent selection of ales too.”
Another person added: “We booked our stay at The Old Crown in Birmingham for a last minute weekend away, our stay was amazing.
”The staff were fantastic especially Roy and Joanne! Both went out or their way to make us both feel most welcome and comfortable.
”Roy was full of local knowledge (literally should be a tour guide) absolutely amazing couple! Can't wait to book our next stay..
”Thank you Roy and Joanne! Looking forward to seeing you both again soon!”
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