Historic pub to roar back to life
CHINESE OWNERS WILL REVAMP THE CRESCENT, WHERE MARX AND ENGELS DRANK, AND GIVE IT A NEW NAME...
THE Salford’s historic Crescent pub is set roar back to life as The Red Dragon. And two former customers would definitely approve.
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels are believed to have drunk there together as they formulated the ideas of communism in the 19th century.
The Grade II listed pub closed in 2017 and is in a poor state. There were fears it would go the same way as the nearby Black Horse Hotel and be demolished to make way for apartments. But now its Chinese owners have revealed plans to restore the pub; give it back its original name; and construct a new building at the rear of the premises.
They aim to bring live music back to the venue which was once a favourite haunt of undergraduates and life-long students of ale, getting regular mentions in good beer guides.
The pub stands on The Crescent on the A6 corridor - the location for part of a masterplan to create a new ‘city’ district on 244 acres.
The revamp of the The Crescent is one part of what is billed as a £800m ‘investment opportunity.’
There are plans for five different development zones; 2,500 new apartments and houses; a new school; a 2,000-space multi-storey car park; and 700 new accommodation flats. The magnificent red brick Peel Building, dating from 1896, on the University campus, will remain.
But others, including the Newton Building and the derelict old Salford police headquarters, will soon disappear. The aim is to preserve listed buildings such as The Old Fire Station, Joule House, Salford Museum and Art Gallery, and the Working Class Movement Library, while building new facilities.
The owners of the pub hope their plans will fit with the regeneration plans. It was sold in 2016 to Chinese investors for £325,000.
A spokesman for the owners said: “Plans are moving forward to restore the Crescent Pub as a public house. Although initial suggestions were for a Chinese Cultural Centre which would have been open to the general public, the owner has decided to create a traditional pub, with a lot old features restored to inherit the local rich culture and history. This will include serving traditional ales.
“The pub would be at the heart of the local community and would provide a bar and food offer. It is intended to return the pub’s use as a venue for local bands as a platform for local musicians as well.
They intend to make the most of its reputation for being a footnote in the rise of communism.
“The historic links the pub has been assumed to have with Marx and Engels the founders of Communism, will be emphasised as will the buildings’ long history.”
The pub would be at the heart of the local community and would provide a bar and food offer. Owners of The Crescent