Inside Britain’s ‘crookedest pub’, up for sale amid fears of closure

A pub dubbed ‘Britain’s craziest pub’ is up for sale amid fears it could close for good after 192 years.

The Crooked House in Himley, Dudley, West Midlands has attracted visitors from all over the world.

Bartenders often leave customers stunned with an optical illusion trick in which coins and marbles appear to roll uphill along the bar.

The ‘Leaning Boozer of Himley’ was built as a farmhouse in 1765 but became a pub in the 1830s, with people flocking to see how one side is 4 feet lower than the other.

But the unlikely tourist attraction now faces an uncertain future after brewery Marston’s announced it is being sold – just months after a refurbishment.

The Crooked House in Himley, Dudley, West Midlands has been dubbed Britain’s ricketiest pub

The Himley Crooked Drunk was built as a farmhouse in 1765 but became a pub in the 1830s, with people flocking to see how one side is 4 feet lower than the other

Inside, all the windows and walls appear crooked due to a bizarre effect of subsidence caused by 19th-century mining. The pub is now being sold to punters amid fears they may close

The Crooked House is one of 61 pubs the group announced would be sold following a review of their UK estate.

The news comes amid plans by pub company Wetherspoon to shut down dozens of alcoholics across the country.

Locals now fear the popular crooked pub could be closed forever unless a suitable buyer is found.

Derrick McConell, 64, from Dudley, who has been drinking at the pub for more than 20 years, said the venue has struggled to get back on its feet in the wake of the pandemic.

He added: “It’s a brilliant pub but like most it has had its issues despite being such a unique place.

“I know they struggled post Covid and then had to spend money on refurbishments.

Bartenders often leave customers stunned with an optical illusion trick in which coins and marbles appear to roll uphill along the bar

The Crooked House is one of 61 pubs that brewer Marston revealed are being sold following an inspection of their UK property. Regulars are dying for it to be saved and say it’s popular with visitors from around the world who come to check out its unusual layout

“Since these old buildings need a lot of maintenance, I know that many regulars are concerned that they will not be taken over. We really fear for his future now.

“It would be a shame to lose it because there is nowhere else like it.”

Originally called “The Siden House”, which means “crooked” in the Black Country dialect, the pub got its bizarre appeal from subsidence caused by 19th-century mining.

People from America, Australia, Japan, China and New Zealand have flocked over the years to sip a pint at the Black Country Boozer.

Pub-goers often say that when they stumble through the sloping front door, they feel like they’ve had one too many before they’ve even touched a drop.

The strange structure is held up by buttresses made of brick and metal rods.

The pub’s lopsided nature has attracted gamblers for decades, with walls, doors and windows all appearing skewed

Derrick McConell, 64, from Dudley, who has been drinking at the pub for more than 20 years, said the venue has struggled to get back on its feet in the wake of the pandemic

Another regular, Jim Knowlson, 54, added: “To me it’s a great opportunity for someone to breathe new life into it.

“We are concerned for his future as we have seen so many pubs here close for good. But this place is very special, it must be preserved for future generations.

“This is a chance to own what has been dubbed Britain’s weirdest pub and Britain’s drunkest pub. There’s definitely a certain appeal to it. It’s a piece of history.”

Wolverhampton-based Marston’s is selling the pub along with dozens of other “non-core properties”.

They can be purchased individually, in small groups, or as a group package.

The quirky entrance to the Crooked House that the Marston’s brewery is now looking to sell

Judith Rafique, Head of Estates at Marston’s, said: “Following a routine review of our property, we have made the decision to offer a variety of property types.

‘This allows us to focus on our strategic goals and maximize returns from our core business.’

Noel Moffitt, Senior Director at Christie & Co, the corporate property advisers leading the sale, added: “This is a fantastic opportunity for individuals and multiple operators to acquire established successful hospitality businesses across England and Wales.

“The pub sector has been very resilient in recent years and has adapted well to the challenges and despite interest in the sector there is a shortage of property in the market.