The Hussey Arms, taken just after closure at the end of July 2010. It's currently boarded up, and it's condition continues to deteriorate.
It has come to my attention that a planning application has been submitted for the long-closed Hussey Arms pub in Brownhills. Shuttered now for nearly a year, the fate of this landmark pub has been causing concern for many locals, and has been the subject of some speculation.
The application for the pub is reference 11/0298/FL, and can be perused on the Walsall Council ‘PlanAccess’ service. It seems that Greene King wish to convert the pub into a ‘family orientated public house/restaurant’, as stated in their Design and Access Statement, supplied with the planning application. In this document, the developers state:
The Greene King offer is for a food led, family friendly pub that will sit well within the site and will provide a valued service to both commercial and residential areas surround the site. The accompanying Planning Statement provides further detail regarding the’ Hungry Horse’ operation.
And…
The development of a pub/restaurant will create around 40/50 new jobs for the local community, a positive factor in the current economic climate.
Also…
At the front of the pub an existing external patio with smoking shelter has been retained. A paved patio extends round to the side of the pub where there’s a new family beer garden and play area.
For the curious, a drawing of the proposed exterior elevations is online, as is a nicely detailed site plan.
Personally, I think this is an excellent proposal. The Hussey has been a landmark for decades, and it would be sad to see it decay to rubble like MacWarreners or so many other lost local pubs. The proposed extensions and facelift seem sympathetic and in keeping with the general character of what is a lovely building. This pub has always – even in the good times – seemed to be dozing, to never have reached it’s full potential. Let us hope, that with decent management, good beer and food, that this lost hostelry can thrive again. Brownhills is getting desperately short of good boozers these days, with the nearby Swan closed again.
Proposed front elevation of the refurbished Hussey Arms, from the planning application. Click on the image to see the full plan.
While I’m on the subject, does anyone have any idea what’s going on with the former Spring Cottage at Shelfield? No planning applications seem to have been submitted, yet work goes on apace. I’ve heard the rumours of the conversion to a Co-op supermarket, but the building wouldn’t seem entirely suitable without a lot of alteration, which would presumably require planning permission. Any contributions welcome on that one…
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I dont know if you have “Hungry Horse’s” in the Midlands , but I know the one they took over in Yeovil (Preston Rd , The Bell) they made it SO family friendly and the garden was great. They turned that pub around! And the decorations were based on the local area….
Will it be called the Hussey Arms?
P.S. My mum and dad met here at a Rotaract Event!
Rose: It’s nearly finished (opens BH weekend) and has a very shiny “Hussey Arms” sign, so I reckon so.
My husband and I enjoyed a complimentary main course each at The Hussey last night. The pub is lovely and fresh inside although, apart from the extension, the layout is pretty much as it was before. Loads of waiting staff on hand and very helpful. The food….nothing to write home about unfortunately. My husband ordered a medium rare steak but it was well done and I had the lamb shank which was served with mash & peas and a drizzle of gravy. Could have done with more gravy and, the shank itself, wasn’t overly tender. It had to be prised from the bone. We didnt complain as we saw comment cards being given out and were going to put our findings on that. However we werent offered a comments card so didnt bother. It was free after all. Its my understanding that the people from The Crown are running the kitchen here now. I think it’ll do ‘ok’ especially in the first few months I wish them all the best for the future.
Had a great meal in here last night, my steak was perfect as was our starter and desert. Menu is good and is great value for money too. The pub is now full open, with a ‘grand ‘opening’ bank holiday monday. The pub manager is Garry Leek who used to be manager at Newhall Farm pub in Cannock. The people who used to run the crown also work there, as far as i know the head chef is head chef from the crown.
The new Hussey Arms looks fantastic and the food and service were a brilliant. My family and I enjoyed our recent visit and will be going back great to see life back in this pub.
Does anyone have a phone number to contact the pub for reserving a table?
ME AND MY FRIEND WENT HERE FOR A MEAL LAST NIGHT AND WERE VERY DISAPPOINTED. I HAD STEAK, CHIPS (CHANGED FOR CURLY FRIES), SHE HAD CHICKEN NEW YORKER WITH TWO SIDES ONE GARLIC CIABATTA AND HALF A RACK OF RIBS. SO MY STEAK WAS 80% FAT TO 20% MEAT, I PAID AN EXTRA 69P (NOT ALOT I KNOW) FOR CURLY FRIES AND THEY GAVE ME A PORTION TOO SMALL FOR A TWO YEAR OLD..NOT TO MENTION THEY HAD GONE COLD AND A LITTLE SOGGY. MY FRIENDS NEW YORKER LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BEEN REHEATED IN THE MICROWAVE AND WAS CHEWY TOO. THE HALF RACK OF RIBS WERE COLD AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY HAD RAN OUT OF BBQ SAUCE AND GAVE US AS MUCH AS THEY COULD SCRAPE OUT OF THE BOTTLE. THE PINT OF LAGER I HAD TASTED ABIT SOUR AND WATERED DOWN?? IM NOT REALLY SUPRISED AT HOW CHEAP EVERYTHING WAS AS IT SEEMED THAT WHOEVER DOES THE SHOPPING THOUGHT MORE ABOUT QUANTITY RATHER THAN QUALITY. THE ONE THING I CAN SAY WAS DECENT WAS THE GARLIC CIABATTA AND HER PINT OF FOSTERS. WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT WE COULD OVERHEAR THE COUPLE SITTING BY US COMPLAINING ABOUT THEIR MEAL.