Fresh calls to save Oldham's historic pubs from demolition

At the beginning of June, demolition began on the Three Crowns pub in the town centre.

Built some time before 1891, the pub had a long history in the town but had been vacant since 2020, when Oldham Foodbank moved out of the premises.

The pub’s demolition is part of the ongoing regeneration of the town centre and the site will be redeveloped into commercial and learning space, according to the planning documents.

The One and Three pub next to the original Three Crowns, which was demolished in 1974 (Image: Planning documents)

This is one of the examples put forward by Oldham MP Jim McMahon in his recent letter to the council, asking for the borough’s pub heritage to be preserved.

He said in a statement: “Pubs are an important part of Oldham’s story, our heritage, and the character of the communities we call home.

“Regeneration matters but so does preserving the buildings and landmarks that give our borough its identity.

“Though not everything can be saved, most precious regeneration activity has sought to retain pubs because of the often distinct character they have.

“In many working-class areas, they are often the buildings which stand out alongside civic buildings like libraries, and churches as architecturally interesting.

“We shouldn’t be wiping away our history in the name of progress.”

In his letter, the Labour politician raised concerns about the “continuing impact of pub closures and the subsequent pressures for change of use or demolition.”

Along with the Three Crowns, McMahon has also highlighted the demolition of the Snipe Inn after 130 years in 2024 as an example of a heritage pub being lost from the borough.

He has also raised concern about the plans to demolish Harry’s Bar, which were announced by the council last year. McMahon said he is “seeking an assurance” that the demolition will not go ahead.

Mr McMahon has believes that the pubs could play a part in the town’s regeneration.

He said: “Oldham is a town largely shaped by the Industrial Revolution. It is not a new town without history, and regeneration should not simply follow the fads or immediate priorities of the moment.

“Previous regeneration schemes have deliberately retained local pubs for this reason, recognising that they provide continuity and identity even when surrounding buildings have been removed.”

The MP has criticised the council’s track record of planning decisions regarding these historic buildings and the impact its having on the borough.

He said: “It is clear that the council and the borough would benefit from a more active strategy for safeguarding historic pubs, both within regeneration proposals and through wider planning policy.

“This is particularly important given the current pressure for substandard conversions into HMOs and other low-quality uses, including takeaways, where insufficient consideration is often given to protecting the character, quality and appearance of the buildings involved.”

His letter concludes: “I would ask that the council takes a proactive approach by reviewing all pubs across the borough for registration as Assets of Community Value where appropriate, and that a broader review of the council’s approach to protecting historic pubs is undertaken.”

Which historic Oldham pubs do you think need to be saved? Let us know in the comment section.