Time called on old pub hit by fire as bulldozers move in
DEMOLITION work is under way on the former Blundell Arms pub, in Birkdale.
Planning permission was granted in January to knock the disused building down and replace it with housing.
Campaigners, led by resident and care worker Jason McCormack, had battled to save the pub and reopen it as a community enterprise featuring a microbrewery, meeting rooms and a dementia cafe.
But the costs of restoring the building substantially increased after a devastating fire hit the pub in June last year, destroying parts of the roof and walls throughout.
An arson investigation began after the fire, but no arrests were made.
It was once a focal point for the community where the function rooms hosted many celebrations such as weddings, birthdays, christenings and wakes.
It was also the home for 38 years of Southport’s Bothy Folk Club but, having briefly been renamed as Mr Q’s and converted to a pool hall pub, it closed its doors in 2016.
Demolition crews have now moved on to the site, at Upper Aughton Road, and begun the process of clearing the historic pub.
Under planning permission granted by Sefton Council, eight houses will be built on the site.
On the Visiter Facebook page, readers have been sharing their memories of the Blundell Arms.
Simon John Moorhouse wrote: “I was playing pool in a pool team in the pub. I’m sorry that the Blundell Arms pub is going and made in to housing.”
Josephine Garrett added: “I remember the Bothy folk club had some great evenings there.”
John LeFebvre said: “Used to play at the rear of there in the ’70s. Found some nice pre-decimal coins, too.”
And Arkadiusz Burczyk added: “Shame they couldn’t transfer it into the flats or something, and keep the original building.”