Three years on from the suspicious fire that destroyed 'Britain's wonkiest pub' it's STILL wasteland - as its flash car-driving owners remain under investigation

It was one of Britain's quirkiest and best-loved historic pubs, renowned for its 'wonky' appearance – so when it was illegally demolished soon after a mysterious fire there was international dismay.

But though later there seemed to be a happy ending when a furious judge ruled that it should be rebuilt brick by brick exactly as it was, three years on The Crooked House remains just a pile of bricks.

Drug paraphernalia, fly-tipped rubbish and weeds now proliferate among the ruins of the once hugely popular inn in the village of Himley, Staffordshire.

The 18th century pub was well known across the country for its comically tilted appearance, caused decades ago by a shift in the land due to subterraneous mining activity – and it was treasured by residents in the Black Country for generations.

But in August 2023, it was sold by brewer Marston's for £675,000 to a company owned by Bentley-driving couple Carly and George Taylor, from Lutterworth in Leicestershire, who own and run a 37-acre quarry and landfill site nearby.

Nine days after the Taylors had acquired 'Britain's wonkiest pub', it burst into flames.

Once Britain's wonkiest pub, The Crooked House in Himley, Staffordshire, is now nothing more than a pile of bricks

Drug paraphernalia, fly-tipped rubbish and weeds now proliferate among the ruins of the former inn which burst into flames three years ago

The Crooked House, pictured before the fire, was treasured by residents in the Black Country for generations

Former nail technician Carly Taylor and husband Adam Taylor, of Lutterworth, Leicestershire, controlled letting and real estate firm ATE Farms Ltd, which bought The Crooked House pub just nine days before the blaze

The pub, which dates from 1765 and had been registered on the Historic Environment Record as a building of local importance, caught light during the night of August 5 in circumstances which remain unclear.

The building suffered extensive damage during the blaze. And then the remains of the building were demolished without permission less than 48 hours later – by the couple's firm, ATE Farms.

The result was public uproar – not just across the county but the whole country and even internationally, comparable to the reaction to the notorious illegal felling of the Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland which happened just a month later.

South Staffordshire District Council responded by ordering the firm to rebuild the 290-year-old protected tavern brick by brick within three years.

This ruling initially caused a euphoric local reaction but then ATE launched a High Court appeal against the enforcement notice and any hearing was postponed until a parallel criminal investigation was resolved.

This was because by this point the Taylors, and four others, had been arrested on suspicion of arson. They remain under investigation to this day, awaiting a charging decision.

The hearing into the ATE appeal against having to rebuild the pub was supposed to be held in March last year. But the council says it cannot enforce an order until after the criminal investigation concludes.

On that front Staffordshire Police say they submitted a file of evidence to the CPS in February this year.

But seven months on, a force spokesperson told the Daily Mail the 'file remains with the CPS', adding those arrested remain 'released under investigation' as they have for more than two years.

The pub, which dates from 1765, caught light during the night of August 5, 2023, in circumstances which remain unclear

The pub was well-known across the country for its comically tilted appearance, caused decades ago by a shift in the land due to subterraneous mining activity

Residents and former regulars said the sight of the rubble where the pub once stood brings them to tears 

Furniture, child car seats, builder's waste, car tyres, metal and plastic are among the mounds of rubbish strewn along the lane to the pub

Meanwhile, the CPS says it is still working with the police to clarify evidence and they are unable to provide a timescale on whether charges will be brought.

They told the Daily Mail: 'The CPS received a file of evidence from the police. We have been working closely with the police on actions arising from that evidence and to clarify the material provided. We are unable to provide timescales on any charging decision.'

Meanwhile ATE, the company which was ordered to rebuild the pub, has gone into liquidation, leaving debts of £1.2million when it was wound up last year.

So even if this legal quagmire is ever resolved it remains unclear who would be ordered to rebuild it and how they could pay for it.

Locals and former regulars have been left enraged by the slow pace of progress.

And while the furore drags on, the site of the Black Country alehouse, near Dudley, has become a hotspot for fly-tipping and antisocial behaviour.

Today dumped furniture, child car seats, builder's waste, car tyres, metal and plastic are among the mounds of rubbish strewn along the lane to the pub, and banked up against the entrance to act as a barrier.

Many told us the sight of the rubble pile brings them to tears while local MP Mike Wood admits it makes him feel 'sick to the stomach'.

Paul Turner, who leads the Save The Crooked House campaign group, says he believes the authorities are simply 'not bothered'.

He said: 'We're very angry because this is a Black Country icon. It was treasured by the people of the area.

'It was owned by a lot of different people but it always felt like it was still ours. If we had visitors to the area we'd always take them - and we were very proud to show them the pub.

The pub was illegally demolished just two days after the suspicious fire, prompting widespread fury 

'All the little quirks - like you'd roll a marble against the ledge - never stopped making you laugh because it was so unique and bizarre.'

Mr Turner added: 'The whole thing is on hold because the criminal case is outstanding. We're not happy with the CPS, they've had files for months.

'The police point the finger at the CPS and the CPS do the same to the police. It can't be that difficult.

'It doesn't seem like anyone is putting any effort into sorting it out. It's appalling and we don't understand why.

'No one's bothered.'

Mr Turner, who set up the campaign group a week before the fire, already fearing new owners would try to close the pub, says the community is 'as angry now as we ever were'.

Another former regular said: 'Going to see it demolished shortly after made me feel ill and I haven't been back since other than passing the entrance which gives me chills every time.'

As well as devastation at the pub's ongoing closure, neighbours are fearful at the rising levels of antisocial behaviour and fly-tipping on the site.

A pensioner, who lives nearby, said: 'Nothing's happened at the site over the past three years, apart from the piles of rubbish getting higher and the antisocial behaviour over there getting worse.

'The authorities don't seem to care and just let it happen.'

The retired heavy goods driver, 67, who used to drink at his local across the road, told the Daily Mail: 'What happened there was terrible and despite an order for it to be rebuilt nothing has happened.'

He claimed the council has been forced to install large CCTV cameras outside his home because antisocial behaviour in the area has become so frequent.

He said: 'The pub should have been rebuilt by now, that's what people want, but prosecutors and police are dragging their heels over whether to bring any charges against the owners.

'Meanwhile the site has gone to complete ruin. The amount of junk over there is horrendous and you get druggies going over and doing whatever, rough sleepers, fly-tippers and all sorts of undesirables.

'The sooner it is all cleaned up and the pub is rebuilt and restored to its former glory, the better.'

Many point out the rebuilding order is for the illegal demolition of the pub – not the fire – and must be carried out even if there are no charges over alleged arson.

Campaigner Ian Sandall said: 'It is heartbreaking to see the place like this.

'We are really frustrated. It has taken so long and seems to be going absolutely nowhere.

'All the support we had initially had from MPs and local groups has got us nowhere so far and it is really worrying it will be forgotten.

'We want the pub to be re-built and we are determined that all our hard work won't get swept under the carpet.'

Mr Sandall, who lives in the neighbourhood, added: 'It is disgraceful that it has been allowed to remain in rack and ruin.

'We are still pressuring the police, CPS and local officials.

'The campaigners and locals have been beyond patient but our patience is now wearing thin.

The Taylors were ordered to rebuild the pub by the local council but they launched a High Court appeal against the enforcement notice which has been delayed until criminal proceedings are over

'The police and CPS are giving us no feedback or keeping us in the loop. We have no idea what is going on.'

Mr Sandall went on: 'The site has been left in a very sorry and heartbreaking state. But we won't give up.'

The Taylors had previously bought another traditional pub, the Sarah Mansfield Country Inn, three years before the blaze – only to rip out its interior. It remains vacant and for sale.

The Daily Mail has attempted to contact the Taylors for comment.