The Woodman, a Birmingham pub on Curzon Street near Eastside City Park, has been awarded the Historic England Conservation Award as part of the Camra Pub Design Awards. The awards celebrate outstanding examples of pub design, restoration, and adaptive reuse across the United Kingdom.
Award for historic preservation
The pub was recognised for its careful preservation of historical architectural features. Originally built in 1897 as a public house for Ansells Brewery, The Woodman underwent a £300,000 renovation in 2024 that restored Victorian tile walls and woodwork throughout the building.
Located near the Old Curzon Street Station, which is part of the upcoming HS2 line expected to open in 2030, the pub has maintained its character while adapting to modern use.
Other winners at the Camra Pub Design Awards
The Conversion to Pub Use Award was shared by two venues: The Blue Stoops in London near Notting Hill Gate Station, and St Peter's Tavern in Liverpool, a former Roman Catholic church converted into a pub. The Leyton Engineer in London won the Refurbishment Award after a major overhaul, while The Lord Southampton in London received the Community Local Award.
Judges' praise for industry efforts
Andrew Davison, chair of the Camra Pub Design Awards judging panel, said: “In these troubled times, the pub still has a key role to play in our communities, and those who are working to conserve, repair and renovate them should rightfully be applauded. The Pub Design Awards recognise the extraordinary amount of effort, the imagination and design, plus high-quality craftsmanship which have gone into all of these projects.”
