Music heritage celebrated in new era for famous venue
WHISPER it quietly... but Birmingham has got another live music pub back on track.
And if anyone doubts the importance of music to a city’s cultural history all visitors have to do is to read the wallpaper at the Prince of Wales.
Walls have been decorated with old copies of Brum Beat, the legendary music paper which captured the golden years of rock and roll across the city classic while images of Birmingham and some of its most famous stars, from Black Sabbath to Roy Wood, take pride of place.
The Victorian pub first opened its doors 160 years ago in 1858 but had been closed for eight months even though it is in a prime spot, halfway between the Library of Birmingham and the Arena Birmingham concert venue.
It has been brilliantly revamped by Lisa Travers – daughter of UB40’s saxpohone star Brian Travers – and has a fully booked December roster of live music. Lisa has joined forces with business partner and fellow general manager Nick Rendall from the Cuban Embassy (Bulls Head) in Moseley, signing a three-year lease with Star Pubs and Bars Ltd.
The pub can already be classed as a celebrity haunt after Lady Gaga turned up for drinks there in 2010 following her show at the nearby Arena Birmingham.
Welcoming the pub’s reopening, Jez Collins from Biirmingham Music Archive, said: “The Prince of Wales is a great pub with a long and distinguished history.
“Secondly, and probably more importantly, Lisa and the team are bringing back live music to the Prince of Wales. It’s always great to hear of new venues opening up that add to the vibrant live music scene in Birmingham. As an added bonus they’ve even decorated the pub with photos of some of the legends of Brum music and old copies of Brum Beat – fantastic!
“It goes to show that there could be an appetite for a dedicated Brum music museum at The Crown on Station Street where Black Sabbath played their first gig 50 years ago.”
Lisa has helped to run a pub in Stafford and been synonymous with the city’s music scene at both the Cuban Embassy and the Blue Piano in Edgbaston.
As well as being an artist like her prolific dad, she also loves the atmosphere of socialising.
“We’re going to be a traditional pub with live music selling real ales, cocktails with a bit of an edge and have a focus for live music, too. And we’ve restored a historic venue – that’s where we are at.
“We’ve signed a lease for three years, but I want to stay for the long haul.
“Star Pubs took it over in 2017 and along with the council have said they want to keep it open.”
It goes to show that there could be an appetite for a dedicated Brum music museum Jez Collins