A 200-year-old Wolverhampton pub that was saved from being turned into homes by the local community has taken another step towards reopening. The former Old Stags Head in Penn, Wolverhampton, which closed in 2018 and is now being refurbished, has applied to City of Wolverhampton Council for a new alcohol licence.
Licence Application Details
The application by Sukhwinder Singh asks for permission to sell alcohol between 9am and midnight every day. This move brings the historic pub closer to serving customers once again after years of uncertainty.
Community Campaign Saves Pub
Locals fought off plans to convert the building, which has stood for more than 200 years in the village, into a new home on two occasions in recent years. The pub in Church Hill closed in October 2018 after a decline in trade. City of Wolverhampton Council approved plans last year to re-open the venue, which was described as dilapidated and in a serious state of disrepair, with a new layout and larger restaurant.
The decision made by the council’s planning officers stated: “The principle of development is acceptable in that it supports the retention of the original use of the site, and therefore overcomes the concerns expressed by the local planning authority on previous refused schemes at this site. Support for the retention of the public house use has been expressed by Penn Residents Association and neighbouring properties. With the submission of amendments during the course of the application and the imposition of the relevant conditions, the [council] are satisfied that the development would preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area and would not harm neighbours’ amenities or highway safety.”
Public Benefits
The council’s planners added that the pub re-opening would “provide a wider public benefit” by offering time-restricted free car parking for neighbours and the village during the day.
Previous Rejection of Housing Plans
The pub was put up for sale after closing and was still available more than five years later, with the price reduced from £750,000 to £495,000. A plan by the pub owner to turn the former watering hole into a six-bed home was rejected by City of Wolverhampton Council in 2022, with the decision then upheld by government planning inspectors after an appeal. Another application to turn the former pub into a house was again put forward in 2024 but rejected by the council for a second time after more than 300 people objected.
Asset of Community Value
The pub is also registered as an asset of community value, giving locals further protection against redevelopment. The community's determination has been instrumental in preserving this historic establishment for future generations to enjoy.
