02 Nov 2023
Campaign group Save St Albans Pubs is garnering support for plans to refurbish of the Rose & Crown in St Michael’s village to ensure this beautiful historic pub is not lost to residential housing.
In 2016, with the help of South Herts CAMRA, the pub was designated an asset of community value (ACV) to help prevent its conversion to homes.
Then in 2019, the pub was put up for sale by national pub company Punch. Some residents of St Michael’s, fearing the loss of the pub, formed an action group, chaired by Bill Free, vice-chair of The Society of St Michael’s and Kingsbury, with the intent of buying the pub, and sent through an expression of interest.
The pub was subsequently sold to a local company with the blessing of CAMRA and the residents action group. The local company wished to restore the pub to its former glory, and as a result, the ACV status no longer applies.
The refurbishment plan includes enhancements to existing accommodation, in keeping with the historic building.
The St Albans Times understands that, despite strong support for the plan, which was developed in consultation with archaeologists, historians and the local community, St Albans district council planning department raised pre-application concerns regarding internal works and their impact on the listed building, the design of the proposed extensions and the possible impact on viability of the pub.
In 2022 SADC officers advised a local ward councillor that the most recent application provided amendments to the design of the scheme.
However, the application was then refused due to concerns raised by the conservation officer about the impact of the design of the extensions on the listed building and insufficient information on internal works.
The owners took this feedback on board and went back to the drawing board, with the final application now up on the SADC planning portal site.
This is the last week for public comments in support of the application to be made.
Alan Oliver, landlord of Six Bells and a Save St Albans Pubs spokesperson said: “The Six Bells would welcome the re-opening of the Rose and Crown, once again making St Michael’s village a destination able to offer customers a choice in hospitality venue. Since its closure there has been a marked decrease in footfall through the area, with people favouring walking straight to the city centre in case they can’t get into the one pub that is open in St Michael’s. Hopefully the Rose & Crown can thrive once again as a village pub.”
David Worcester, landlord of the Lower Red Lion located on Fishpool Street, also a spokesperson for Save St Albans Pubs agreed with Alan.
David said: “It is so important to keep these pubs alive in this day and age, not only for the heritage of the actual building but what it represents within the community.
“A pub is not just a drinking hole, it is a place for people to come together, meet and have the kind of social interaction that cannot come from simply looking at a screen. A lot of our clientele is older, so getting out and meeting friends and neighbours is greatly needed, the alternative often being the four walls of their home, a television and 24 hours of loneliness.
“The Rose & Crown has historically always played its vital role within the community of St Michael’s village, and since the closure of the other two pubs [The Black Lion and the Blue Anchor] it has linked the Six Bells to us at the Lower Red Lion and further into town.
“More reasons to visit the village means more footfall, a chance to stop en route from a walk round the park, or an extra stop after a waffle, at the iconic Waffle House.
“The permanent closure and change of use for this wonderful old building can only have a detrimental effect to both of our pubs and the village. We try, as a community of independent pubs within St Albans, to offer different things, to always care and give back to our area and the loss of the Rose & Crown just inhibits our ability to connect with each other and the local community.”
David, Alan, and Save St Albans Pubs are asking for the support of the local community. You can help save this invaluable asset by providing a comment in support of the planning application, before the end of this week: https://tinyurl.com/stalbansroseandcrown
And write to the local Verulam ward councillors:
Cllr Julian Degg Cllr.J.Degg@councillor.stalbans.gov.uk;
Cllr Dawn Gamble Cllr.D.Gamble@councillor.stalbans.gov.uk
Cllr Edgar Hill Cllr.e.hill@councillor.stalbans.gov.uk
Together the local community can help save and reopen this iconic St Albans pub.
