The Crown Inn (Station Street) - A Birmingham Gem!

The Crown was a public house on the corner of Station Street and Hill Street, opposite Birmingham New Street Station. Built in 1881 to the designs of Thomson Plevins. It closed in 2014.


Where is The Crown Inn on Station Street?

The Crown Inn is at 65 Station Street, Birmingham, B5 4DA

 

In brief

The Crown Inn was a classical public house located on the corner of Station Street and Hill Street in Birmingham. To the Southside entrance of Birmingham New Street Station. Built in 1881 to the designs of Thomson Plevins. Over it's history, the pub had hosted the likes of Black Sabbath, Status Quo, Led Zeppelin, and UB40. It closed down in 2014 when it was bought by developers. But Birmingham Open Media was hoping to reopen the pub as a live music venue from the mid 2020s. This fell through in but Historic England designated it as a Grade II listed building in the middle of March 2024.

The Crown Station StreetThe Crown at the corner of Station Street and Hill Street (January 2011). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Crown Station Street - history and details

The Crown Inn was built in 1881, in the stucco classical style, the architect was probably Thomson Plevins. Original name was the General Elliott

The Crown Station StreetThe Crown at the corner of Station Street and Hill Street (January 2011). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Sober compared to his Victoria with alternating single and triplet windows, original ground floor with Corinthian pilasters.

The Crown Station StreetThe Crown at the corner of Station Street and Hill Street (January 2011). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Between the 1960s and 1980s, The Crown on Station Street was host to Black Sabbath, Status Quo, Led Zeppelin, and UB40.

The Crown Station StreetThe Crown at the corner of Station Street and Hill Street (April 2011). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

It closed down in 2014, when developers bought it, but it could reopen in 2023 as a live music venue. Was where Black Sabbath rehearsed in the late 1960s.

The Crown Station StreetThe Crown from Birmingham New Street Station towards Station Street and Hill Street (April 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

When the new Birmingham New Street Station fully opened in late September 2015, you could see The Crown from the Southside Steps, heading down to Station Street and Hill Street.

The Crown Station StreetThe Crown on Station Street from the Southside Steps of Birmingham New Street Station (September 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

When John Lewis opened at Grand Central during September 2015, if you went up several floors, you could see The Crown on Station Street, but obscured behind the patterns in the windows. Sadly John Lewis closed down in 2020 during the pandemic never to reopen. Although it was used in 2021 as a film set for Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part I (opening in cinemas in 2023).

The Crown Station StreetThe Crown on Station Street from John Lewis Birmingham (October 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Southside BID put up Christmas fairy lights along Station Street, including in front of The Crown from November 2019 to January 2020.

The Crown Station StreetThe Crown from Birmingham New Street Station towards Station Street and Hill Street (November 2019). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

In the years since it closed down in 2014, local street artists and vandals had been sticking their art or posters on the windows and walls.

The Crown Station StreetThe Crown at the corner of Station Street and Hill Street (August 2020). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

From 2021, you can hire Voi eScooters of West Midlands Cycle Hire bikes opposite The Crown, near the Southside Steps of Birmingham New Street Station.

The Crown Station StreetVoi eScooters opposite The Crown on Station Street (April 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

In October 2022, it was reported that Birmingham Open Media (BOM), might reopen The Crown in the near future, as a live music venue. But will need a complete rebuild and restoration, and that might take years.

The Crown Station StreetThe Crown from Birmingham New Street Station towards Station Street and Hill Street (October 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Crown on Station Street in 2024. Will these historic buildings be saved, will Historic England give them all Grade II listings? Hopefully the authorties listen to the petition. Became Grade II listed in the middle of March 2024.

The CrownThe Crown from Birmingham New Street Station towards Station Street and Hill Street (March 2024). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

 

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21 Oct 2022 - On-going

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History & heritage, Food & drink, Classic Architecture

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Jonathan Bostock

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jonathan.bostock@ yourplaceyourspace.com