The Bell & Bear pub will close for renovations, aiming to enhance its charm and community appeal with a fresh look and new features.
Cradley Heath: The Bell & Bear on Gorsty Hill Road is set to close after last orders on Saturday, January 25. It will reopen in late February after a complete makeover.
There’s even more planned! A second phase will revamp the garden just in time for summer, adding a play area for kids, seating for 120, and an outdoor bar.
Chad Hudson, a local resident and the new operator, is teaming up with former managers David Clynshaw and Zoey Maycock. They stepped in to save the pub from closing when the last licensees retired.
Since then, they’ve been hard at work refreshing the place. They’ve added a glass-sided terrace with stunning countryside views, a £30,000 commercial kitchen, and top-notch coffee from a local roaster.
The outside will get a fresh coat of classic dark green and cream paint, along with new signage and lighting. It’s going to look great!
Inside, they’re keeping the rustic charm with old timber floors, wood paneling, and the fireplace intact. Chad shared, “I’ve loved this pub for ages. It feels like a country inn, even though it’s in town.”
He added, “We couldn’t let it close. Our goal is to unlock its potential and create a fantastic local spot with the best beer garden around.”
David, who’s been managing the pub since 2014, expressed gratitude for the community’s support. “We’re putting our all into The Bell & Bear to make it even better,” he said.
Lee Dishington from Star Pubs is excited about the investment, noting the trio’s strong local ties and passion for the pub. “It will be a lovely local when the works are done,” he said.
Fun fact: The Bell and Bear was once Gorsty Hill Farm and started brewing beer for local workers during the Industrial Revolution. It became fully licensed in 1851 and was renamed The Bear and Bell in 1988.
