Calls for Black Sabbath pub to reopen

Calls to reopen the pub known as the ‘birthplace’ of Black Sabbath have intensified once more following the band’s momentous farewell show.

Thousands of rock fans from across the world descended on Birmingham last weekend to say goodbye to Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath as they took to the stage at Villa Park.

The Back to the Beginning concert thrust the buzzing city firmly in the spotlight on Saturday, along with Jeff Lynne and ELO’s own farewell show.

Following the enormous success of the Black Sabbath spectacle, which reportedly raised £140m for charity, attention has now turned again to how the city can honour its musical heritage in the future.

Those campaigning to ‘save’ Birmingham’s Station Street, a road steeped in cultural importance, have been recently calling for further action to celebrate the band’s huge impact.

The street is home to The Crown Inn, best known for being the venue where Black Sabbath performed their first gig. But despite its historic importance, the pub has been vacant for many years.

Station Street is also home to the Electric Cinema, the UK’s oldest working cinema which suddenly closed last year.

Speaking at a Birmingham council meeting this week, Liberal Democrat councillor Deborah Harries said more should be done to celebrate the “cultural heritage” of Station Street following Black Sabbath’s show.

“Thousands of devoted fans from America, Canada and Scandinavia flocked to the home of heavy metal,” she said. “What fantastic publicity and tourism for the city.

“I am, however, disappointed that this moment has not galvanised the city to make progress to protect the cultural heritage of Station Street.”

She went on to argue that the city council “remains tin-eared” when it comes to the campaign to save Station Street.

“Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Jeff Lynne and ELO are rock royalty,” she said. “Ordinary lads from ordinary streets in Birmingham and they have given this city a gift of musical heritage.

“We should celebrate and honour it more and permanently.”

Such sentiments were echoed by the Save Station Street campaign, which has been backed by the likes of Succession star Brian Cox, Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and Ozzy Osbourne himself.

“It is time to save The Crown,” it wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “The High Priests of Heavy Metal deserve a Rock and Roll site of unholy pilgrimage at their birthplace.”

Darren John, from the campaign, told the Local Democracy Service earlier this year that more than 20 Rock and Roll Hall of Famers learned their trade in The Crown pub.

“John Bright Street, Hill Street and Station Street were the centre of the musical universe,” he said.

“You can trace Led Zepellin, ELO, Judas Priest, UB40, The Beat, Fleetwood Mac, Steve Winwood, Sabbath and dozens more to that triangle of venues.

“The Crown should be the inspiration and platform for a new wave of Brummie music and Hall of Fame stars while shouting about the best of local culture.”

Regarding Station Street, Labour cabinet member at the council Saima Suleman said the authority was talking to grassroots organisations to highlight the city’s “rich musical heritage”.

“We will continue to engage with our partners to really celebrate and champion our amazing musical heritage and indeed around Station Street,” she said.

The Crown’s Toyoko Inn has also insisted that it has long-term plans to restore the pub.

The company recently lodged an application seeking approval for an extension of the car park use on the site for a three-year period.

A cover letter said the proposals for the car park would “enable a stable revenue stream” for Toyoko Inn.

It continued that this would “assist with bringing forward a planning application for the car park site and the reuse of The Crown as a potential music venue”.

“The pub is a historically important site, and its new vision will reflect and celebrate this heritage,” the document said.

However, the Save Station Street campaign remain frustrated and argued that “meaningful progress” on the development plans has not been made.

Black Sabbath has sold over 75 million albums worldwide and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

The band currently has a star on the Broad Street Walk of Stars, alongside individual stars in their own right, together with a bench in their honour on Broad Street.