Protest planned over decision to sell Darlaston pub
Angry campaigners are planning to stage a protest at a brewery’s headquarters over a decision to sell off a landmark pub.
The Prince of Wales, in Walsall Road, Darlaston, has been entered into an auction next month by owners Holden’s.
But the decision has sparked anger locally among those who want to see it re-opened.
The pub has been closed for about two years but Darlaston councillor Doug James said he believes there is enough support for the business to have a viable future.
The Prince of Wales has a rich history in the area and has been featured in several Good Pub Guides.
However, Holden’s said the pub had been struggling for years before the decision was taken to sell up.
Councillor James said requests for a meeting with the firm had been turned down and that there were now plans to stage a protest.
The pub is set to go under the hammer early next month and has a guide price of £168,000.
It is feared new owners will either convert the pub into housing or knock it down.
Councillor James said: “Various local people and representatives from Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) said they would like to attend a meeting. I contacted Holden’s to do that but they said they weren’t going to meet.
“It was disappointing. I didn’t just want to talk about the Prince of Wales, I wanted to sit down and talk about their strategies for pubs in the area.
“The pub is in good condition, there was investment in it about five years ago. If it was in a dilapidated condition I could understand them wanting to sell it off.”
Councillor James said protesters with placards were planning to visit the brewery HQ.
He added: “We have lost that many pubs in Darlaston – we lost the Vine and now we are going to lose the Prince of Wales. Local people are fed up of losing landmarks.”
Holden’s director Abigail Kent said: “The decision to sell the Prince of Wales has been neither quick nor easy and we have tried for several years with different operators to make the pub financially viable again.
“From a business perspective, sadly, it is no longer practicable to keep the pub open and trading.
"Being both directly and indirectly responsible for the jobs of over 150 people across the entire business the board’s responsibility is to ensure the financial stability of the company and in turn the future of Holden’s Brewery.
"We must all ultimately consider the bigger and wider ranging picture rather than on a pub by pub basis.”
