‘It’ll cost them’, gloat thrilled locals after Crooked House ordered to be rebuilt as they fear owners will do ‘zero’

LOCALS have warned the owners of Britain's wonkiest pub "it'll cost them" after they were ordered to rebuild it.

The Crooked House burned down in a suspected arson last August, two weeks after it was sold to Adam and Carly Taylor.

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The husband, 44, and wife, 34, now have three years to re-build the pub brick by brick but some residents fear "zero" will be done about it.

Campaigner Ian Sandall teared up as he told The Sun: "We have fought for this to happen, it had been draining and exhausting but now we have a result - the one we always hoped for.

"Whilst we are all delighted we’ve also got this feeling, ‘Is it really going to happen?’ It is our heritage and culture and it was demolished which is a crime."

The Crooked House had stood near Himley, in Staffs, since 1765 until it was razed to the ground on August 5.

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Just 36 hours later, bulldozers reduced the still-smouldering shell to rubble.

South Staffordshire Council said it had engaged with the Taylors since the demolition but had reached a point where a formal enforcement notice was considered necessary.

The ruling follows a previous call from West Midlands Mayor Andy Street for the pub to be built "brick by brick".

Ian and fellow resident Paul Turner spearhead the Save the Crooked House Campaign and supporters were out in force at the site on Tuesday.

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Grandma Jackie Marsh said: "I said at the time of the tragedy that the owners had messed with the wrong community, and you haven’t half proved that right.

“I cant wait for it to be re-built and I’ll be bringing my little grandson with his marbles to roll along along the slopes."

The boozer was put forward for listed status protection days before it was destroyed.

It would have meant that the owners, who bought the pub in October 2023, would have needed council permission to knock it down.

The Taylors have 30 days to appeal their notice and the re-building must be finished by February 2027.

If work is not completed within the time limit, the local authority can prosecute for failure to comply with the notice.

Paul Turner believes the pair “may appeal” and fears they may do “absolutely zero” to re-build the Black Country icon.

He added: “We hope that they have realised they have made a mistake with gutting the pub, and do the right thing.

"It will cost them quite a bit of money."

The building had been sold by brewer Marston's to ATE Farms Ltd, which at the time was controlled by glamorous ex-nail technician Carly Taylor less than a fortnight earlier.

The pub had been listed for sale for £675,000.

Staffordshire Police said five men and one woman were arrested in connection with the fire, which the force is treating as arson, and remain on conditional bail.

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A woman, 34, and two men, aged 23 and 44, all from Leicestershire, have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent or being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

The Taylors were approached for comment.

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