More than one pub per day is predicted to have shut across the UK this year, and Wolverhampton has not escaped this sobering national trend. The city and its surrounding towns have witnessed a continued decline, with many once-thriving locals now standing as derelict eyesores after years, and sometimes decades, of emptiness. Yet, amidst the closures and demolitions, the past twelve months have also revealed plans offering a glimmer of hope for some historic buildings, promising to breathe new life into their old walls.
Pubs Lost: Demolition and Redevelopment
Several well-known establishments have met their end or face significant change. The Swan Inn on Church Street in Bilston, a pub dating back to 1898, was demolished in 2025. Having closed in 2021 due to falling trade, the site was purchased by Lidl to provide additional car parking. The supermarket itself is also slated for demolition and replacement with a new building.
In a controversial move, The Cleveland Arms on Stowheath Lane will be converted into a Toby Carvery restaurant, following plans approved earlier in the year. This decision sparked significant local opposition, with an online petition gathering over 1,500 signatures. Pub owner Mitchells & Butlers stated the new venue would retain the Cleveland Arms name and continue community activities.
Meanwhile, the former Bagot Arms in Heath Town faces compulsory purchase by the City of Wolverhampton Council. The pub, which closed after a fatal shooting in 2008, has become a hotspot for anti-social behaviour. The council plans to acquire the site to make way for affordable housing.
Pubs Found: New Hope for Historic Venues
In contrast, other pubs are set for a welcome revival. Plans approved in the summer of 2025 will see The Old Stags Head in Penn refurbished and reopened. The 200-year-old building, located in a conservation area and described as in a 'serious state of disrepair', closed in October 2018. The new layout will include an expanded restaurant, following successful local campaigns to prevent its conversion into housing.
Further good news came in September 2025, when the council approved plans to reopen The Boat Inn in Wednesfield as a 'desi pub and grill'. This Grade II listed building on the corner of Church Street and Graiseley Lane has been vacant since its closure in 2020.
A Mixed Picture for Local Heritage
The story of Wolverhampton's pubs in 2025 paints a complex picture of loss and potential recovery. While some buildings, like The Swan Inn, were deemed to hold 'little' heritage value by the council, others have been protected by their listed status or community action. The fate of these establishments often hinges on a combination of commercial viability, planning decisions, and local campaigning. The conversion of traditional pubs into chain restaurant formats, as seen with The Cleveland Arms, continues to be a contentious issue, balancing business needs against community asset preservation.
As the year concludes, the landscape of Wolverhampton's social scene continues to evolve. The closure of long-standing locals remains a sad reality, but the approved plans for The Old Stags Head and The Boat Inn demonstrate that, with the right investment and support, some pieces of the city's social history can be preserved and adapted for future generations.
