Pub hopes to survive years of HS2 building works
A LONG-standing Birmingham pub is determined to survive despite HS2 station works cutting off road access.
The 124-year-old Woodman pub in New Canal Street sits opposite the old Curzon Street Station entrance.
The landmark is being restored and will sit alongside the huge new HS2 Curzon station when complete.
But in the meantime the road it sits on has been closed, hitting trade at.
Manager Will Young said: “I’m all in favour of HS2, but as its station is not due to open for years, we’ve got to hope we can hang on and that customers continue to find us on foot. It looks like you can’t get here, but you still definitely can.
“It’s miraculous that we are still here after 125 years or so.
“If we can survive the HS2 disruption we’ll be extremely pleased and it will take us to a whole new level.
“But that’s the challenge that we face at the moment, staying positive, sticking at what we do to help the HS2 guys get everything done as quickly as possible because it’s in everyone’s interest.”
One of the benefits of The Woodman’s position in recent years has been the growth of neighbouring educational establishments in place of the old industrial buildings and depots.
Mr Young continued: “With BCU, the Conservatoire and Aston University on our doorstep there’s no reason to be entirely negative and hopefully this level of roadworks right on our doorstep won’t be here for ever.
“So we’re hoping to carry on doing what we should be doing before this pandemic hopefully dies down.
“We’re looking forward to the next few years and beyond. If HS2 gets finished and if we’re still here then we’ll be immensely proud and we’ll be doing Birmingham proud.”
The terracotta pub was built in 1897 and survived two world wars.
An HS2 spokeswoman said it was striving to help The Woodman to carry on trading.
“We continue to work with the owners of the Woodman pub to ensure they can stay open and that we minimise impact on the business.
“We have been able to reschedule works to outside of opening times, provided new outside benches and temporarily relocated their outdoor seating area to maximise customer
numbers during the restricted Covid period.”
Although the restoration of the Old Curzon Street Railway Station will be completed in June, a fixed date for the completion of a neighbouring Curzon Square has not been announced, but is expected to be delivered as an integrated part of the station works. Eastside Park will be reinstated next year once HS2 utility works have been completed.