George PUB 2020

George Pub 2020

The following article/blog has first appeared on another publication I write for https://www.facebook.com/theBPLbible/

Traffic disruption as Central Drive in Blackpool sectioned off due to 'unsafe' pub

Temporary traffic lights have been installed on Central Drive amid safety fears for The George Hotel, A major road in Blackpool has been sectioned off by the council due to an 'unsafe building'. Council officers were called to Central Drive today (June 11) following concerns over The George Hotel.

Blackpool Council told LancsLive they received reports of 'dangerous brickwork' on the front second floor and the 'windows are unsafe'. Pictures show the pub cordoned off with metal fencing and safety cones and two of the top floor windows have been boarded up. Central Drive has also been reduced to one lane with temporary traffic lights installed to manage local traffic.

Diversions have been put in place for pedestrians.

Traffic website AA shows delays on Central Drive between Palatine Road and the roundabout junction with Grasmere Road. Blackpool Council wrote on Twitter: "Due to an unsafe building, an area of Central Drive has been sectioned off for safety reasons. "Temporary traffic lights will be in place and a diverted route for pedestrians."
In 2017 the following happened !

Resort pub faces £7,500 bill for illegally screening football

A Blackpool pub has been told it must pay thousands of pounds for illegally screening top flight football. The George in Central Drive was one of 22 venues across the UK ordered to pay nearly a quarter of a million pounds for breaching Premier League copyright.

The George Hotel/The Revoe Inn

The cottage at the corner of Ibbison Street and Central Drive became a beer house with James Bagot as landlord. Known as the Revoe Inn, it was bought in 1887 by Leo Waddington with Thomas Lingard as tenant. A joiner in Preston Old Road, he lost his arm in a machine, so his wife Elizabeth acted as landlady, taking the beer round in quart mugs. Around 1893 it was demolished for the George Hotel, a great centre for fisticuffs from the unruly element of Ibbison Street. After one brawl a man had to send for a doctor. He shouted through the letterbox "Quick, a gentleman from Ibbison Street has been injured." Back came the reply "There are no gentlemen in Ibbison Street."

Elizabeth Lingard was then the true landlady – Thomas had clearly had enough of one-armed pint pulling. The George was finally bought by Threlfall’s Brewery in 1897 but was described in 1901 as “a mean inn”.

It was originally a farm and dairy, which made way for the pub. 1893 - The Revoe Hotel was built on the site of the Revoe Inn at the corner of Ibbison Street and Great Marton Road (Central Drive). It changed its name to the George Hotel in 1894, being bought by Threlfall’s Brewery in 1897. Ibbison Street demolished 1974 ( extra information from Alan Stott/Nick Moore/Blackpool’s Past archive/JWG ) 

The George closed in November 2012, but although it re-opened shortly afterwards, trade had declined. In June 2019, planning permission was granted to turn its upper floors into apartments.

Safety Concerns

On 11th June 2020 Blackpool council erected a safety fence outside the front of the building after concerns were raised about the buildings structure  specifically relating to the top floor and fascia of the building which appeared bowed accompanied by some large visible cracks.
The building is locally listed however this would not stop the building from being condemned if it’s deemed too dangerous.

Jack one of the licensee’s had the following to pass on to us “The building owner and licensee have been down, engineers and the planning department from the council to access what had been happening.”

“The pub had only recently opened up in Dec 2019 after being closed for a long time so we only had a couple of months to get all set up and then lockdown happened.”
“Now the council has condemned the front of the building they have been monitoring on google earth for quite a long time they have seen recently that it has got worse , so it has to be fixed and the council have blocked off half the road we have to put scaffolding up immediately and get it sorted. We at the George have spent so much time and money trying to get the pub back open and now we are hit with this, but it is a historic listed building”.

When we asked how long this all could all possibly take, “Well with all the building scaffolding, engineers and the council it could take a couple of months. we have to get a big crane in to get the big sandstone George sign off ! “
“We believe that when the scaffolding goes up they will be able to reduce the barriers around the building.”

Local residents who live opposite are concerned on the impact the remedial work will have on where they live, but are very much part of the “Revoe” community and want to see the “George” back to its former glory with potential flats above the pub having been granted planning permission. As always the Bible will keep you updated.