Britain’s Quirkiest Pub Devastated by Mysterious Blaze

The Crooked House pub, renowned as “Britain’s wonkiest” due to its slumping foundation and sloping walls, was engulfed in flames under mysterious circumstances on Saturday. Authorities are now treating the incident as a case of arson. Despite the ongoing investigation into the fire, the 18th-century pub located in Dudley, England, was surprisingly demolished. Staffordshire Police released a statement stating that, based on the assessment of a fire investigator, it is believed that the fire “may have been started deliberately,” according to the AP. The destruction of the pub has caused anger among the local residents, and their outrage was further exacerbated when the remains of the pub were demolished using a mechanical digger on Monday.

The fire occurred just two weeks after the pub and hotel operator Marston’s sold the historic building to a local firm. The new owners had plans for an “alternative use” for the pub. The company is controlled by Carly Taylor, whose husband is a former director of the neighboring landfill site, as reported by the Times of London. More suspicions were raised when it was discovered that piles of dirt obstructed the firefighters’ access to the blaze, and the digger used to demolish the remains of the pub had been hired shortly before the fire. Authorities are now investigating whether the demolition was conducted illegally.

Originally built in 1765 as a farmhouse, the Crooked House pub had begun to sink on one side due to extensive coal mining in the area. This sinking phenomenon made it a unique attraction for visitors, who were amazed to see coins and marbles seemingly roll uphill on the bar. In 1830, it was converted into a pub and had since been a popular tourist spot. Andy Street, the mayor of the West Midlands, has expressed the desire to rebuild the pub “brick by brick.” The rubble from the fire has drawn numerous visitors, including Tom and Laura Catton, former live-in managers of the pub for over two years, who went back to have a final beer amidst the ruins, as reported by the BBC.